Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1903-05-28
MICHIGAN LEGISLATURE.

IN taVor or this proposition. the eHect
or which think will be wholesome.
ana IS cer-anly In line with public
sentiment expressed in many states or
the union. ana in addition the national
mouse or representatives have twice
paSSeu oil having the same general
queer IN View. As | said 10 you III
III! FORMER letter regarding the prlm-
airy election law believe that the pup
lie service will be improved when
nominations are made directly by the
people. and | sincerely hope that the
legislature may see its way clear 10
give force ana effect to the sentiment
widespread throughout our state re-
gardlng this npitter
Some Of the members of the house
are beginning to realize that II might
De well to shut Off the establishments
or new institutions. as 1t means the
raising Of taxes not only for the build
lhgs ana sites. but means additional
annua expense for maintenance. ana
when once established the boards or
such institutions are always lobbying
and scheming for more buildings. adj
dltional land, etc. 1t is being pointed
out that while Michigan's population
Is increasing the number Of inmates in
her public institutions Is growing
much faster and taxes are piling up
out OF proportion 10 the increase IN
population
The primary election bill seems to
be gaining Roadway. On Thursday
some Of its opponents expressed slight
ly altered views. Amendments are
now being prepared at the instance OF
the opposition which propose that can
didates for county offices. members or
the legislature. pnd candidates for
governor shall be nominated by direct
vote of the people. and by the time the
conference committees get together
again next week 1t is quite likely that
some arrangement with the house will
have been arrived at.
Following is said TO cover the es-
sential points Of the new libel law
which may he Introduced at this SEES
sion. The bill provides for the collec-
ton OF damages by offended parties
for carelessness in or lack Of reason
able investigation before the publica-
ton of untrue statements whether such
statements are libelous or not; pro-
vldes for the collection OF damages by
parties who suffer mental anguish
from statements in the public press.
whether true or not.
The following appropriation bills.
aggregating the sum OF S443,OO0. are
before the senate committee on finance
and appropriation. and will probably
not be passed this session: Governors
mansion at Lansing, $4,000: White
Cloud hospital and sanitarium, for
consumptives. $4,000; additions to the
state capitol building. $253.O00: psyco-
pathic Ndrkat the University of Mich
igar hospltuf. $4,000; monuments at
Chickama ugd and Chattanooga, $780,
900.
The bill providing that retail deal
ers proposing TO sell stocks OF goods
in bulk, which was vetoed by Gov.
Bliss. was introduced by Senator
Brown. of Lapeer, who fought Gov.
Bliss's plan to secure the establish
ment of a separate institution for
epileptics. and limitations are heard
that the governor took revenge. Sem
ator Brown is trying TO line up
enough members of both houses to
pass the bill over the governors veto.
Gov Bliss has signed the bill to pro-
vide indeterminate sentences for Grim
inals. The original Sill YVES introduced
by Vaughan, but the house substituted
the measure that finally passed both
houses. The governor also signed the
bill providing for the junket TO Georgia
to dedicate the monument at Anderson
vile.
The senate passed the bill by which
liquor sellers on the st. Clair Flats
will have 20 pay taxes to st. Clair
county They will be allowed TO take
out licenses for six months at $3.50.
instead of the annual $500 for which
ordinary liquor dealers pay.
The house has passed the Ferry bill
to provide that upon petition OF 800 or
more qualified electors OF Detroit all
propositions for new franchises, or ex-
tensions of old ones. in Detroit streets,
alleys and public places, shall be sub
mitted to the people.
After many weeks of talk the bill
appropriating S2J0,000 for a soldiers
monument on the capitol grounds at
Lansing was put through the senate
Tuesday. but there was considerable
opposition.
The fire warden bill came up in the
house Tuesday afternoon and was
agreed 10. 1t allows the land commits
sioner to appoint a chief warden at
$500 year and all supervisors. may
ors of cities and presidents OF villages
are made deputies at 50 day.
Ex-senator Earle's good roads bill
has been reported out by the house
ways and means committee. 1t origin
ally provided for yearly appropria-
ton of $4,000 for the good roads COM
mission. but this was reduced to 3d.
600 a year.
The appropriation for a Michigan
exhibit at the st. Lf-lis fair which the
senate passed at S125.OOO, was cut by
the house to $4,000, which may result
in compromise of 100000 or perhaps
$4,000.
The house adjourned to Monday
night after being in session only an
hour Friday morning and passed "A
few senate focal bills. AS usual there
was no quorum OF the senate.
AS Friday was Gov. Bliss 66th
birthday, the house. on motion OF Rep.
Galbraith. adopted congratulatory
resolutions. which will be engrossed