The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1903-01-30
Punish ment for Anarchists. +.

10 ONCE by the SONernOr Snall ne Dy
and with the advice anc consent of the
senate.
Punishment for Anarchists.
If a bill introduced by Senator
Brown becomes n law Michigan will
be in position To mete out proper pun
ishment to such anarchists as may
undertake to stir up trouble within
its borders. The bill defines criminal
anarchy as ''the doctrine that organ
ized government should be overthrown
by force or violence or by assassina-
ton Of the executive head or Of any
of the executive officials of the gov
eminent. or by any unlawful MEANS"
The penalty provided in the bill also
runs against any person who shall by
word of mouth advocate, advise or
teach such a doctrine, or who shall
print, publish or knowingly circulate
or publicly display any book, paper,
document or written or printed matter
in any form which promulgates this
doctrine. The penalty fixed for vio-
lation of any of these provisions is
fine of not to exceed $1,000 or i'm
prisonment for not to exceed 10 years,
or both. The bill goes even further
than this, and provides a fine of $4,000
or Imprisonment for two years, or
both, for the owner, janitor, agent,
caretaker or occupant of any building
or room, who purposely permits such
loom to be used for gatherings of per-
IONS to discuss or promulgate the pro-
hibited doctrines. The major penalty
Is also to be visited upon any two or
more persons who assemble for the
purpose of advocating these doctrines.
Assessment of Railway Properties.
One of the most important bits Of
work in the history of the state was
completed last Thursday when the
state board of assessors attached their
signatures to the perfected roll setting
forth the assessment Of the railroad
properties of Michigan. The result of
the boards deliberations previous to
the review provided by law fixed the
valuation of these properties at $685.
212,5 800. Under the law the companies
had 30 days in which to be heard,
and nearly every company In the state
sent representatives to Lansing to
submit its side Of the case to the as
SCISSORS. Without exception, these rep
resentatives insisted that the respect
i've assessments were too high. This
hearing ended on the 18th inst, and
although the assessors had until the
end Of the month in which to complete
the rolls, they wound up the business
as indicated.
Total Valuation Reduced.
They reduced the total valuation as
at first determined by $9,522 900, thus
leaving the amount on which the COM
panies will be required to pay the
average rate of taxation in the state
at $19S,690, 500. To this amount about
100000 will be added as the assess
ment of car loaning companies, thus
making the assessment of both classes
of companies about $2O0,OOO,OOO. The
average rate of taxation as deter
mined by the assessors is $13.55 per
$1,000 of valuation. The railroads
will, therefore, pay nearly twice as
much in taxes as they paid last year.
The farmers Of the state will be
interested in a bill that Is fathered
by Senator Glasgow. 1t seeks to do
away with the practice of a few
of the farmers mutual fire companies
of the state which fail to levy an as
sessment sufficient to cover all their
Indebtedness. but seek to make as
sessments low by not providing for
the payment of all that is owing. The
bill in question requires this class Of
companies to levy assessments suffi-
cient to cover all liabilities owing at
the time each assessment Is made.
To Keep Down Expenditures.
The people of the state have cause
for congratulation in the fact that
the present legislature appears to be
constructed along economical lines.
Already 1t has given evidence Of de-
sire to keep expenditures down gen.
orally, having plugged up several lit
tie leaks and given evidence of de-
sire to push the good thing along.
One Of the legislators who will have
much to do with the matter of eX-
penditures is Representative +. S.
Neal of Wayne, chairman of the house
committee on ways and means, to
which all appropriation bills will be
referred. Representative Neal has
had a training which ought to stand
him in good stead in the important
work he will have to perform this
winter, having two years ago been
member Of the committee of which he
is now the head. His experience last
session put him onto a number Of
things 1t is important for the chair
man Of this committee to know, and
gave him very thorough knowledge
of the needs of the various state in
situations and the demands which the
state is annually called upon to meet.
His friends have no doubt that he
will prove equal to the occasion.
How Some Legislators Figure.
Too many legislators lose sight of
the fact that there are continuing APP
preparations which must be provided
each year, and take into consideration
only those which the legislature of
which they happen to be members is
asked to make. They figure that If
the latter are kept within apparent