The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1905-03-17
WHIPPING POST
FOR MICHIGAN 2.
Bill introduced by Represen-
tative Ming Nearly
Passes.
1T LACKED ONLY FIVE VOTES
Measure Has Been Extensively
Discussed in the Lower
House.
Senator Seeiy Completes and Intro.
duces His Bill for the Taxation
of Sleeping Cars-Legis-
latiye Notes.

lansing Mich, March 14.-It is TO
ten to one shot that the legislators
of Michigan will not conclude that this
state needs whipping post and shall
have it. During the past week this
subject has been extensively discussed
in the lower house Of the legislature,
and While at the outset it was the gen
eral opinion that the bill stood no show
of passing. it came within five votes
of receiving the fifty-one necessary to
insure its passage. Nothing daunted
by this defeat, Representative Ming,
the introducer Of the bill, changed his
vote to no, In order to be in a posi-
ton to move reconsideration. This
bill is now on the table, and Repre-
sentative Ming is hopeful that he will
be able to muster the five votes needed
to put the measure through the house.
If successful i'm this undertaking, he
will have the bill taken up and passed.
No bill has caused more discussion this
winter than this whipping post prop
Osition. 1t is purposed, of course, TO
give only wife beaters q taste of the
lash. The father of the bill has
served several years as sheriff of his
county. He says that his experience
warrants him in advocating the pas
sage of this bill as the only effectual
means Of putting a stop to wife beat
ing in this state.
To Tax Sleeping Cars.
Senator Seely has completed and in
troduced his bill for the taxation of
sleeping cars. Heretofore all measures
having this object in view have pro-
vided for a specific tax on earnings,
but the results have been far from sat
isfactory, the effect being the practical
escape of the companies from taxation
The Seely bill provides for an ad
valorem tax at the same rate that is
paid by other railroad property In
Michigan. This is the average rate of
taxation for the state as determined by
the state tax commission. 1t is
figured that total of siXty-siX sleep
ing cars are operated in Michigan. and
on the valuation of these cars, the new
bill would yield the state an annual
revenue of approximately $11 600.
1t is not impossible that Michigan
may follow in the footsteps of Indiana
and enact an anti-cigarette law, the
house committee on state affairs hav-
ing favorably reported Representative
Ming's bill prohibiting the manufacture
or sale of these health destroyers in
this state. Two years ago a similar
bill passed the house, but went against
the rocks in the senate.
Changed Their Positions.
The legislative committees of the
various agricultural and farmers or
CARNATIONS Of the state. including the
grange and farmers clubs, were here
here again this week and took action
regarding pending legislation. They
changed their position regarding de-
sired primary legislation n trfe by
faVoring the elimination of the office
of United States senator from the
Stone primary bill now before the
house, but insisting that direct nomin-
atoms apply to all other offices from
governor down. The joint committees
also went on record as favOring the
several appropriations for the agricul-
tural college, to which reference is
made in detail further on in this COM
munication, and as emphaticaly OPP
posing the creation of more state
boards and commissions to examine
and licens@ members of various trades
and occupations. There are bills pend
ing which provide for the examination
md licensing Of electricians, surveyors,
decorators, butchers, engineers, ETC..
and the grangers think that enough
has already been done in this direc-
ton.
Primary Election Bills.
Senators Brown and Glasgow, who
have for several weeks been at work
preparing separate primary election
bills, have about completed their la
bors and within the next week or two
1t is expected that definite action will
be taken on this subject which, under
all the circumstances, is the most i'm
portant one before the legislature. Now
that these two bills have been pre-
pared, ii is that they will be considered
in conjunction with Senator Birds
bill on the same subject. and an adj
ministratlon measure evolved from the
trio.
1t is possible that the recent serious
hair cutting episode, with its accom-
panying stabbing ARRAY. at the Mlchi-
gan university will lead to the enact
ment Of a lazy which will be effective
in the line OF doing away with these
truly side-spntting performances. And,
by the way, Representative Ming, who
is engineering the whipping post and
anti-cigarette bills, is responsible for
this most commendable measure also.
This bill, which has been favorably re-
ported by the house committee on state
affairs, seeks to do away with hazing.
1t provides fine of from $40 to 500
Tor ordinary hair cutting and similar