The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1905-06-02
Declared Unconstitutional

ton. no further legislative action was
taken i'm connection with the matter,
and until last week the policy COM
mission act. although universally con-
ceded TO be unconstitutional. has re-
NAMED on the statute books and the
standard policy drafted by the com
mission has been the only fire policy
issued in Michigan. Last week, how
ever, the supreme court found II nee
essary to the determination OF case
before it, TO declare the legislation un-
constitutional. This situation leaves
the companies ard each individual in
surer to agree upon any form Of policy
contract they desire. In view OF the
fact that the standard policy was
drafted by representatives OF the state
I'm the interests Of the assured and
that. during the many years 1t has
been used in Michigan. the supreme
court has passed upon numerous cases
growing out Of such use and has thus
settled the law under II, the commits
sioner Of insurance enlisted the serv-
ices Of the attorney general in the
prepare ton Of bill embodying the
precise form Of policy contract so long
recognized in this state This policy Is
now before the legislature. the COM
missioner having addressed COM
municatiOn to each house requesting
its passage In order that existing con-
ditions may remain unchanged
First Governor OF Michigan.
After next week the remains of Stew
ems Il. Mason. the first governor OF
Michigan under the constitution or
1885, will rest in Michigan soil. Agi-
tation favoring the removal of the re-
mains to Michigan was started several
weeks ago. the result being that the
legislature acted on the suggestion of
Governor Warner and provided for the
expense attendant upon the transfer
Of the remains to Detroit and their in
terment In Capitol Square in that city.
The members Of the commission APP
pointed by the governor are Former
State Treasurer Daniel Mccoy Of
Grand Rapids. ex-senator Arthur l..
Holmes Of Detroit and ex-Representa-
tive Lawton r. Hemans of Mason.
These gentlemen will 60 to Detroit
this week to escort the casket and sur
viving relatives of Governor Mason to
Detroit where the ceremonies will take
place on Monday, June D. Former
United States Senator Thomas w. Pal
mer has been invited to make the prin-
cipal address and an historical address
will be made by Commissioner He
mans. Following the ceremonies In
Mason 81
of the former governor. and other rela-
tives. will cone to Lansing to partici-
pate in the Mason day exercises in con-
ncction with the annual meeting Of the
Michigan Pioneer and Historical So
ciety. Miss Mason. who is past 90
years OF age is still very active. Dur
ing her stay in Lansing Miss Mason
will be the guest of Mrs Claudius Il.
Grant. whose father. Former Governor
Alpheus Felch. was one of Governor
Mason's close friends. .
Appropriation Bills.
The present week will witness a
rushing through Of appropriation bills.
Not great deal has been done in this
connection thus far, and the great bulk
Of appropriation measures have yet to
be enacted. This will not consume a
great deal of time however. as prac-
tically all the details of the appro-
priations are fought out before the
financial committees Of the two houses.
One Of the more important bills that
is still in the air is that which seeks
to provide for a new state tax COM
mission with fewer members and less
power and Il smaller force Of clerks.
AS passed by the house some days ago
the bill continues the members Of the
present commissioners in Office until
September. 1906. and provides that
they shall then be succeeded by tire.
commissioners to be appointed by the
governor 1t was supposed that the
senate would unquestionably pass the
bill in this shape, and it may do so,
although there appears to be formid-
able movement on foot to induce that
body TO make an amendment to the
bill which will retire the present com
missOners thirty days after the bill
becomes a law In fact. one Of the
senatorial advocates of this amend
ment has stated that he has the
pledges Of twenty-one senators that
they will vote for the proposed change.
This week will tell the tale. and viii
also doubtless determine the fate Of
the bill passed by the house which
provides for the exemption Of real
estate mortgages from taxation. Much
interest is being manifested in the lat
ter measure the subject being one that
has received much attention in this
state during the past few years. Opin-
ion as to the merits Of the repeal bill
appears to be sadly divided
New Apportionment.
The constitution provides that fol
lowing the taking of each decennia
state census the legislature shall new
ly apportion the senatorial and repre-
sentative districts among the counties
of the state The state census having
been taken last year the present leeis-
lature will have TO make new appor-
tionnnnut of those dist,.iots Stro,.,o