Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1903-01-09

Lansing. Jan. With the openin.
of HE session Of the legislature thi
city has again become Mecca O
politicians and oiiceholdcrs from al
parts of the state.
The great event of the opening is, OF
course, the republican caucus. al
which the majority of members will
decide for whom they will vote foi
Oniied States senator in place OF thu
late James Mcmillan. Gen. Alger wa,
appointed TO fill the vacancy by Gov
Bliss. but this appointment holds
good only until the legislature acts.
1t - a foregone conclusion that the
general will be unanimously chosen
To succeed himself
The actual election of the senator
Will not take place until the second
! tuesday after the session is opened,
as the time is prescribed by statute.
but the decision of the republican
/ caucus will be final, of course. and
the formal election by the legislature
Will attract little attention.
Great interest is being taken i'm the
I
l. VI. Miller has filled that position
for more than a decade. but last
spring he came out in a letter attack
ing Gov. Bliss and supporting j. ).
Stearns for governor. Miller's motive
was declared by the Bliss men to be
a desire for revenge, owing TO the
Tact that the governor had vetoed a
bill giving Miller a yearly salary. in
stead of the per diem of ten dollars
Tor the session. as has been the Gus
tom. The Bliss men determined To-
even up with Miller by ousting him
a clerk OF the house. They knew
that in order 10 accomplish this they
must have candidate who would be
nearly, if not quite. n capable "a
Miller, and Charles : Pierce. deputy
secretary of state. was selected. The
contest promises 10 be a spirited one.
with the chances in favor of Pierce.
So far as legislation j. concerned.
present indications are that the ses.
sion OF 1903 will start off very quiet
~ No important general measures
as TO taxation or railroad rates, such
as kept the legislatures of the last
six years in constant turmoil. are
as yet apparent.
Senator-elect Burns. Of Grand Rap
ids, is preparing a bill calling for a
constitutional amendment for the sep
aration of state and county taxes, ac-
cording to plan proposed by the at
torney general and Representative
Dingley during the last session Rep
resentative Dingley secured the pas
sage through the house of Joint reso-
luton amending the state constitu-
ton so as 10 accomplish this separa-
ton; but the resolution failed of pas
sageln the senate on the last day Of the
session.
thursday, January /, was inaugu-
ration day, and the ceremonies were
attended by a large audience of resi-
Tents of Lansing. Gathering i'm the
)arlorS of the executive Office AT tho
tate capitol at noon. Gov Bliss and
he state officers took the oath Of ,
'ilice 10 support the constitution of
he state and nation and to discharge
he duties of their respective offices
o the best of their ability. There
we're pre- emit beside, the state officers.
ust ces of the supreme court. mum.
er of appouti,e officers depart.
lent clerk. public men and citizens
+ Lansing. The oath WAS admins I
cred by Chief Justice Hooker of the
upreme court. TO the officers i'm the
rider i'm which their names appeared -
n the ballot. Gov Bills, was fol- |
WED 10y Lieut.. GOV. Maitland. Secre-
iry of State Warner. State Treasur-
r Mccoy. Auditor General Powers.
ttorney General Blair, Land Com
lissioner Wildey and State Superir-
'ndent Of Public instruction Fall. :
he members of the state board of 4
iucation were not present At the n
inclusion of the swearing-in cere-
ony, Gov. Bliss turned to his fellow
Ulcers and spoke briefly, asking for
leir loyal support. Then followed i
easant and informal reception. the
hcials and citizens present extend
z their congratulations To the gov
lor and his fellow officers.