Charlevoix county herald., 1907-06-29

providing for a plebiscite on direct
nominations; tax private or partner
ship utilities same as corporation
owned; limit pawnbrokers' and money
lenders interest to two per cent. per
month; prohibiting bucket shops;
regulating foreign corporations; extra
ten cents when fare is paid on train;
Custer monument, cost $4,000, in
Monroe; $4,000 for good roads; $780,
900 appropriation for tuberculosis hos
/, pital; providing for the establishment
Of a binder Irvine plant in Jackson
prison; repeating limited liability and
change revenue laws.
The gavels in both houses OF the
Michigan legislature fell about one
D. m June 10, the clock in the senate
having been turned back while the
house clock was stopped. At noon
both houses passed up all business
but receiving messages from the other
house. The 100000 additional appro-
priation for the tuberculosis sanitori-
um was the final act of generosity by
the houses The last fight in the
house was over the Whitney bill CIV
ing back to the tax commission power
to intervene in local assessments at
the instance of any taxpayer. Repre-
sentative Dust moved to take the bill
from the table in the house, but this
motion was defeated by Representa-
tive Benton. The last business done
by the house was the passage of the
increase of salary for the state libra
rian The senate's last performance
was agreeing to report OF the confer
ence committee on the battleship
Michigan. The galleries and side
seats in both houses were filled and
when after the houses had inter
changed adjournment messages and
sent committees to the governor, the
clocks were turned back to IL o'clock,
and cheering at either end OF the cap
itol building announced the adjourn
ment of the Forty-fourth legislature.
By reducing the general purpose tax
to $1,100000, the budget appropriated
by the legislature was kept down to
$9,150,55512. The governor decided
on this move after consulting with the
auditor general and learning that
there is now nearly $2,000,000 in the
state treasury, which is ample to meet
any deficiency that may arise. At the
last moment the house agreed to an
appropriation of $4,000 for Custer
monument to be erected at Monroe
and the highway department appropri-
alton, which was raised to S25O,0OO,
was given immediate effect. In con-
nection with the appropriation Gov.
Warner took occasion to send a mes
sage to the legislature for the purpose
of explaining the various items. AT
the same time he made an extended
reference to the primary reform bill
for the purpose of reiterating his posi-
ton that the party should nominate
its candidate for governor by direct
vote and not prevent such a nomina'
ton by keeping the 40 per cent? pro-
vision in the law. He said in part:
81 desire to express my appreciation
of much of the work accom-
plished during the present legislative
session. While, as at all previous
sessions, some -commendable bills
have failed of passage, while others
less desirable have met with the
approval of majority of both
of the houses, there have been
enacted a number OF especially
worthy laws which call for more than
passing notice. Prominent among
these measures which will benefit the
people of the state at large is the So
called two-cent railroad fare bill. In
my Judgment no injustice has been
done to the railroads by the enact
ment of this law, while all the people
of the state will be materially bene-
flied thereby. In repeating the limited
liability and change of venue laws,
you have fulfilled promises made
| throughout the state during the last
campaign that met demand of your
constituents generally. In making pro-
vision for the establishment of
binder Irvine plant at the state prison
at Jackson you have, in my Judgment,
not only furnished proper employment
| foi a goodly number OF convicts, but
have provided them with labor which
will produce profit for the state in
addition to supplying many Michigan
| farmers with twine at reduced cost.
| It Is but fair to the legislature, and
to the people of the state, for me to
say at this time that it is my present
belief that a special session of the leg
| islature should be called for a date
yet to be determined upon, and that
at such special session shall recon-
mend the passage, not only of this
bill, but also of bill requiring that
all lobbyists be registered and regu-
lated, so that the people of the state
may know just who are opposing
measures drafted in their interests"