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

Along this same line Is q bin In
PRODUCED by Senator Mckay, which
confers upon judges of courts of rec
ord authority to direct wardens of
penal institutions or superintendent Of
charitable institutions to send any
person convicted before such judges
of crime committed while under the
influence of liquor or drugs to an In
stitution for treatment at the expense
of the community from which the con-
vict halls, the expense in each case
being limited to $50.
Bills Affecting Railroads.
The house has passed the Simpson
bill making railroads common carriers
of live stock, but the fate of the meas
ure in the senate is uncertain. The
Introduction of the bill was due to
complaints of shippers who alleged
that the companies now accept live
stock for shipment only when it
pleases them to do So
Other shippers have been after the
railroads this week, Representatives Of
the Michigan Grain Dealers associa-
tion and the State Hay Dealers asso-
citation having appeared before the sem
ate railroad committee in support of
the Cook reciprocal demurrage bill.
The shippers complain that all the ad-
vantages are now with the companies,
which make demurrage charges at
their own sweet will, while the ship
pers may be delayed indefinitely by
the companies without having the
slightest redress. The shippers made
a strong showing. They cited proofs
Of the statement that when an outside
shipper desires to make a shipment
across the state cars are Immediately
furnished, but when q local shipper de-
sires to make a shipment he is obliged
to await the pleasure of the companies.
A former president of the Hay Deal
ers' association submitted proof of the
fact that although he ordered 400 cars
last November he failed to be supplied
with q single car that month, and re-
ceived only eleven in December. The
shippers ask that the companies be
penalized for failure to furnish cars
just as they penalize shippers for
failure to unload cars within a .speci-
fed time.
Drastic Antitrust Bill.
The Bland antitrust bill, which has
been passed by the house without a
dissenting vote, is extremely sweeping
and drastic in its provisions. It de-
clares to be against public policy and,
therefore, Illegal and void all agree
ments and contracts by which any per-
son, co-partnership or corporation
promises or agrees not to engage in
any vocation, employment, pursuit,
trade, profession or business whether
.,reasonable or unreasonable, partial or
general, Limited or unlimited. All coSl7
binations efYferels 4ntafor''th purpose
and with the intent Of establishing and
maintaining or of. attempting toldstnb-
lish maintaih a monopoly of any
trade or business is likewise DECLARED
void. Any foreign corporation or
ganized with any such, intent is pro
'hibted from transacting business in
Michigan, and any permission. hereto
fore granted to any such corporation
to operate in this state. is made void.
Ali contracts made in violation. of this
act are nulliied. The only exception
made is that the act shall not apply ito
contracts mentioned in this act or in
restraint of trade where the only OBJ
ject of the restraint imposed by the
contract is to protect the vendee or
transferee of trade, etc, or the good
will thereof. sold and transferred for
valuable. consideration in good faith
and without any intent to create, build
UP, establish or maintain a monopoly"
Amendment to Banking Laws.
AS the result of experience growing
out of bank failures in Michigan, Rep
resentative Lord has had passed by
the house an important amendment to
the banking laws with a view to pre-
venting the fraudulent manipulation of
the assets of state banks. The bill
provides that no depositor can be made
a preferred creditor by the pledging
Of assets of the bank as collateral no
certificates of deposit can be issued for
the purpose Of borrowing money; au-
thoriZes the banking commissioner to
restrain banks from habitually bor-
rowing money for the purpose of re-
loaning It; provides that no overdraft
Of more than ninety days standing
shall be allowed to be included In. the
assets of the bank.
Board to Examine Accountants.
Both houses have passed the Ashley
bill, which creates state board
whose duty it shall be to examine and
license accountants. The Jerome bill,
which sought to extend an existing
law so as to provide for the examina-
ton and licensing of all horseshOers
working in the state, has been defeated
in the house.
The house has fixed two special or
ders for this week: This afternoon is
set for the consideration of the Nc
Kay bill increasing from $500 to $1,000
the liquor license fee, and tomorrow
the bill exempting credits from taxation
will come up as n special order. The