The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1905-05-26

into any other private business. n,
action hasyet been taken on the meas
ure.
Anti Cigarette Bill Shelvetl.
The anti-cigarette legislation is oil
the shelf for the present session. Sine,
the bill prohibiting the manufactur
and sale Of cigarettes passed the hous,
several weeks ago it has been tn,
cause Of great deal Of diplomat,
sparring in the senate. Finally thu
friends of the measure succeeded II
getting it before that body, where II
was slaughtered after considerable
discussion, in which the principal LOBBY
list for the bill was accused Of being
paid for his services by inter
ested parties, thus DOMINIC the
livery of heaven to serve the devil in
When the final vote on the passage
of the bill was taken fourteen sena
tors lined up in favor of the measure
while sixteen voted against it. A mo
ton to reconsider the vote was ther
laid on the table, thus disposing of the
bill definitely. The subject matter
having been finally acted upon, the
chair will rule that it cannot again be
brought up in the shape Of another
bill.
The fruit growers of western Mich
igan, who have had a serious griev.
ance against the steam roads in con
nection with alleged eXorbitant icing
charges, have secured favorable re-
port on bill authorizing electric lines
to consolidate with steamboat lines
their object being to have the electric
lines carry, their product to the boats
which will carry them to Chicago. The
fruit growers charge that the arbitrary
ter Of icing charges put them effectu.
ally out Of business, as they could not
possibly meet the prices fixed by grow.
ers OF other states whom the railroads
favored.
Autoists Must Watch Out.
Although the Holmes automobile
bill, regulating the speed of automo.
biles, providing for the licensing of
machines, drivers, etc, still slumbers
in the senate, that body has passed a
rather extreme measure, which was
introduced a few days ago by Sena-
tor Moriarity. This bill makes the
killing of person hit by an automo-
bile through careless driving man
slaughter, while serious injury consti-
tutes assault with intent to do great
wise ones predict that the measure
will experience rather rough shedding
in the house. Notwithstanding the ac-
ton of that body on the Holmes bill.
Both houses have now passed the
Brown bill, which seeks to prohibit
sons of unsound minds or diseased
bodies by requiring all persons who
have ever been afflicted with epilepsy,
feeble mindedness, imbecility, insan-
ity or any of certain specified diseases
to produce the certificate of two re-
putable physicians that they have
fully recovered therefrom before they
can procure license to marry. Vio-
lation of this requirement is made a
felony, and the penalty provided is
a maximum fine of $1,000 or impris-
onment for term not to exceed five
years, or both.
State Tax Commissioners.
Proposed legislation affecting the
present state tax commissioners, which
has taken on various forms and has
been extensively discussed during the
past few months, has been agreed to
by the house after an afternoon Of
heated argument. A minority Of the
were eager to cut the
official heads of the commissioners off
very close to their ears, and that, too,
almost instanter. Representatives Of
the minority made very earnest at
tacks on the commission and made
rather spirited statements regarding
a couple of the commissioners. The
legislation, as agreed to, however,
leaves the commission as at present
until Sept. 1, 1906, when
the existing commission of five MEM
bers will be succeeded by three COM
to be appointed by the gov
ernor for terms Of two, four and six
years. The commissioners are to re-
ceive an annual salary Of $1,000, Sec
rotary $1,000, and chief clerk $1,000.
Makes Material Saving.
The bill limits the number Of clerks
to ten, thus effecting material saving
over the present law, which places no
limit on the number that may be en-
ployed. The new measure requires the
to hold their regular ses-
sions, which are now held in Detroit,
at the seat Of government; the COM
is given authority to inspect
and correct local assessments, but only
when written complaint Is made by
q resident taxpayer; each county in the
state Is to be visited by some member
Of the commission at least once a
year; the commissioners are to deter
mine the actual cash value Of prop
erty in each county and report such
value to the state board Of equaliza-
lion. During the discussion Of the
bill by the house In committee of the
whole an unsuccessful attempt was
made to have 1t so amended as to pro-
vide that the members Of the COM
mission shall be elected by the people
Instead of appointed by the governor.
Inspection OF Railway Books.
Attorney General Bird will doubt
less succeed I'm having passed his bill