Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1905-05-04
THE LEGISLATURE.

One effect of the revelations in the
Equitable matter may be the raising
OF taxes on life insurance companies
in Michigan. a bill for that purpose
was introduced by Senator Doherty
and had been reported out. when a
lobby of insurance men appeared and
asked for Il hearing. Half dozen
agents, representing different compa-
mics, have been at the capitol during
the past week, and an attorney has
been retained 10 stay right on the
ground and watch things. The argu-
ment advanced by some of these insur
ance men is that life insurance compa-
MES are not run for profit, and that
all the money made is used for the
benefit of policy holders, but the de-
velopmcnts in the Equitable case are
making some of the senators figure
that il might be well to get more in
taxes. even IL salaries of insurance
men have to come down.
Senator Baird and his co-legislators
are mighty glad that the judicial re-
count has afforded them an oppor-
tunity of looking into Wayne countye
election methods. They are having
trying TO look solemn when question
ing some inspector, they poke each
other in the ribs and laugh over the
conditions Of affairs that has been
brought to light He says regarding
the passage of a direct voting bill:
THE first thing. believe. ought to be
10 get an opinion from the attorney
general as TO the constitutionality OF
the plan of submitting the direct vot-
ing question to the voters of the vari-
Gus parties, and ! shall offer resolu-
ton i'm the senate Monday night call
ing up the states legal department for
a written opinion on this point. The
legislature ought certainly not TO GO
on and pass a bill with a provision
about whose legality there is so much
doubt. without getting the best pos
sible opinion on il.
Representative ManZelmann, who is
a member of the house committee on
/ the state prison at Jackson, says: Il
! have determined 10 offer a resolution
in the house calling for an investiga-
ton Of the manner in which the an
nual contracts were awarded by the
Jackson prison board of control Rep
resentative Stockdale, of Allegan
chairman Of the house committee,
feels Just as | do about the matter
that il would not do for the legislature
10 allow such a serious charge TO go
without an attempt TO obtain the facts
for the public.
Senator Martindale succeeded in
passing the bill 10 allow the laying OF
Detroit water pipe lines 10 the state
fair grounds. and it was given immedi-
ate effect Rep. Smell pushed the bill
through the house in the same man
nor.
Rep. Smell introduced a bill for the
transportation of the Michigan build
ing of the ST. Louis fair TO the state
fair grounds. Rep. Watt introduced a
bill calling for $4,000 for 1905 and So
600 for 1906 for state fair premiums.
With a list of sc bills on the general
order, the house passed on third read
ing bill of Rep. Cantield's requir-
ing the filing of chattel mortgages.
Failure 10 file, under this bill, would
mean a forfeit OF the mortgage TO the
mort gagor.
On general order. the Ladner bill, TO
prohibit hunting on Sunday in Kent
county was passed. after Rep. Fisk
made a fight 10 make the bill state
wide.
The Lowell bill. forbidding saloons
within 100 rods of a state educational
institution, was passed.
In a letter from Pennington to Pri'
waite Secretary Arthur p. Loomis, Gov
Warner made formal announcement
of his wish 10 see the Double-lvory
Dickinson bill passed. His letter says:
Thinking you may receive inquiries
today, You may say that believe that
the house acted wisely in getting to
gether on measure so nearly satisfac
tory TO all parties. and ! trust the sen
ate will see the wisdom of agreeing "a
the bill with equal unanimity.
There are perhaps some minor
changes which could be made to
simplify the proposed primary sys
TEN. but these should not require ex
tended discussion or delay.
81 hope that by the end Of the weel
the perfected bill may have beer
agreed 10 Ivy both houses and without
any friction You may assure my
friends that will take pleasure il
signing the bill al the earliest momen
practicable, Yours truly,
. FRED NJ. WARNER.
II shall vote for the Double-Ivory
Dickinson bill, but would advise a few
amendments. said Senator Doherty
Il would add Mr.. Baird's plan of rep
resentation of counties in convention
proportional to the party vote for gov
ernor would close all saloons OF
primary day. and, above all, woul,
abolish the Wayne and other loca
) bills
4 fight will be made on the provs
ion to prohibit advertising by candi
: dates in newspapers. but the bill ma,
) not be reported this week
Joseph jefferson Dead.
Joseph Jefferson. the eminent actor