The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1903-06-05

Mlcnlgun PRISONS ana cOntempluteS
the employment of convicts manu-
featuring articles used in state in
situations, has passed the house and
Is before the senate. The bill, which
was passed by unanimous vote,
makes 1t the duty of the various
In six months In joint session for the
purpose of determining what lines Of
productive labor shall be carried on in
each prison, 1t being stipulated that
the boards, In so determining, shall en-
deavor, as far as possible, to arrange
for the manufacture Of such articles
as the state purchases, uses and con-
sumes in any of the public institutions,
asylums, schools and homes, colleges
and universities maintained by the
state, and all schools, homes or other
institutions maintained at the expense
Of the state" 1t Is provided that these
articles shall be furnished the various
institutions at the market price as
near as may be. The piece work sys-
TEN is to prevail and the convicts are
to work eight hours per day.
Expected Clash Averted.
The expected clash between the two
houses over the amount to be APP
propriated from the Michigan exhibit
ut the St Louis exposition has been
averted by the action Of the senate in
yielding and concurring in the house
amendment fixing the appropriation at
$4,000 This is $4,000 less than the
bill carried when passed by the upper
house.
Representative Randall's second at
tempt to have the tax for the support
of the Michigan university reduced
from one-fourth to one-sixth Of mill
on the equalized valuation of the
state has proved unavailing. The
house committee gave a hearing on
the Randall bill few evenings since,
and so convincing was the argument
made by President Angel Of the uni
versity in support of the proposition
that the law should not be amended,
that all further effort to pass the bill
has been abandoned.
The VandercOok bill which sought
to amend the railroad law so as to
increase the earnings per mile OF road
that is governed by the 2A per cent.
per mile passenger rate was quickly
killed in the house The effect Of the
bill was to make it possible for the
Grand Rapids & Indiana Railway
company to charge cents per mile
Notwithstanding the fact that it is
claimed by the state that it's present
earnings put it in the 21s per cent. per
mile class. There is now pending in
the courts a case, thus far won by the
state, involving the right of the COM
pany to charge cents per mile. The
passage of the Vandercook bill would
have disposed of this legislation in
favor of the company.
Jealousy Between the Houses.
The proposition to empower the
the ramshackle and practically use
less old stare Office building at the
corner of Washington avenue and AL
Logan street and use the proceeds OF
the sale in providing proper quarters
for those state departments which can
not be accommodated in the state
house has fallen down between the
jealousies of the two houses. meas
ure providing for such sale was in
troduced in each house. The senate
passed the bill introduced by Senator
Kelly, and the house passed the bill
introduced by Representative Byrns.
Then, because neither intrOducer
would consent to the passage Of the
others bill, the entire scheme failed.
In the language Of the highway,
wouldn't that jar you?' The result
bids fair to be the adoption of meas
ure authorizing the board of state au-
ditOrs to expend a considerable sum
Of money in fixing up the old building
for office purposes. No matter how
much is spent on the old plant it will
never be suitable for the housing Of
the departments.
Some time ago the house passed q
joint resolution providing for submit
ting to the people proposition to
amend the constitution so as to pay
members of the legislature an annual
salary of $3.50. The senate has passed
this resolution aIter amending IL 50
as to reduce the salary to $500
The house experienced n decidedly
economical streak late in the week,
and put to sleep several bills which
would have cut down the general fund
to considerable extent. These pro-
vided for an appropriation for mark
ing the position of the Michigan
troops at Vicksburg. increased the
number of deputy state oil inspectors
by four and provided for state sys-
tenn of boiler inspection. The last
mentioned bill is believed by many to
have been worthy Of better fate. it
being admitted that the saving of life
and property would doubtless result
from a proper inspection Of boilers.
state Board OF Pardons.
Before the session comes to an end
this week determined effort will be
made to pass bill amending the law
creating the state board Of pardons |
The bill reduces the membership of
the baord from four to three. provision
being made for such reduction at the |
close of the terms Of the two men, |
bers whose terms will expire In No
vember. 1t Is argued that much bet |
ter work could be accomplished under |
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