The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1909-05-07

II
duce ! bill to provide for the appoint
ment OF a commission to investigate
| the entire question and report to the
next legislature.
AntlcIgarette Bill Passed
The senate has passed socalled
anti-cigarette bill. It Is not such a
| full-fedged measure as has been en-
acted in some states, inasmuch as 1t
does not absolutely prohibit the man.
ufacture and sale OF the coffin nails. 1t
simply prohibits the manufacture Of
cigarettes which contain any ingredi-
ent except pure tobacco. and prohibits
the sale of these articles to or their
use by persons under twentyone years
of age The bill embodies a penalty
for q minor who uses cigarettes.
There was strong opposition to this
feature on the part Of several senator's,
but they could not overcome the ma
jority, who believed that while some
what harsh it would serve as deter
rent.
1t will be recalled that the last legis-
lature appropriated SOS, 900 for an
equestrian statue Of General George
A. Custer to be erected at Monroe.
Sculptor Potter has about completed
the work, and the commission in
charge of the matter is arranging to
unveil the monument in October
There has been a feeling on the part
of some that the monument should be
located either in Lansing or Detroit,
where, as these people claim, it will
be seen by a greater number of people
than will see it at Monroe, which, by
the way, was the home of General
Custer and also of his wife.
Representative Gray Of Lansing has
introduced a bill to change the loca-
ton of the state house grounds in this
city. 1t is not probable, however, that
the change will be made.
University Appropriation.
Senator Kline would have the legis-
lature reduce the continuing appro-
priation for the support of the Michi-
gan university from three-eights to
one-quarter of a mill annually on the
equalized valuation of the taxable
property of the state, and has intro
duced bill embedding that provision.
Anotherconference committee, which
1t is generally believed will experience
very little difficulty in reaching an
agreement, Is that which will consider
the differences between the two
houses on bills amending the primary
election law. The house passed its
bill late in the week. 1t is substan-
TALLY the same in it's provisions as
the one passed by the senate, the diff
ference lying principally in the provi.
sions of the house bill relative to the
expenditures of candidates. Represen.
tative Colby Of Wayne having succeed
ed in amending the bill restricting and
defining such expenditures. When the
bill was up for final passage in the
house last attempt was made to
amend 1t so as to make it statewide
in its application. The necessary two
thirds vote could not be mustered,
however so only governor and lieuten.
ant governor on the state ticket will
be nominated by the people direct. An
early agreepent on a mutually salts
factory bill Is confidently anticipated
For many years 1t has been the prac-
tice Of the state not to make special
appropriations every two years for the
general expenses Of the penal institu-
tions and asylums for the insane, but
rather to include in the budget for the
general expenses of the state govern
ment sufficient estimate to cover
possible expenditures on this account.
This does not limit the management
of these institutions to any aggregate
sum to be expended for general main
tenance, but in effect gives them a
practically unlimited fund to draw
upon.
In case of new buildings, equipment
and other permanent betterments spe-
cific appropriations are always made
This situation was discussed to some
extent in the senate when that body
took up for consideration house bill
extending the above practice as to gen.
eral expenses to the home for the
feeble minded and epileptic at Lapeer
Senator Tuttle strenuously objected
to the innovation, arguing that the
practice referred to is bad one which
costs the state many thousands Of dol
lars annually.
Would Make Them More Careful.
He submitted that if the manage
ment of these institutions were re-
quired to keep their expenditures for
maintenance within a specified sum
they would be far more careful and
judicious in making their purchases
than they are at present. The senator
estimated at $3.50, 900 annually the saw
ing that would ensue if specific appro-
priations were to be made in all cases.
He vigorously opposed placing any
more institutions in the general or I'M
limited appropriation class, and pre-
dicted that if the Lapeer institution is
so included by this legislature. two
years from now all other state institu-
tons will be clamoring for the same
favor. The bill in question was not
disposed OF last week, but will be fur
Their considered tomorrow.
Several propositions having for their
object the gathering of information for