The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1909-02-26

resentative Ormsbee of Oakland, a
prohibition county by the way, which
provides that any city or municipality
of a county MAY vote to permit saloons
to be conducted within their limits
even though the county as whole
may have voted to adopt prohibition.
On the other hand Representative
Stewart has introduced an Anti-Saloon
league measure which seeks to per-
NIT any township in a wet" county
to vote itself dry" the question to
be submitted on petition of one-third
of the citizens Of the township and to
be re-submitted every two years If the
electors so desire. 1t is expressly pro-
vided in this bill that the county local
option law is to remain operative, SO
that no township in a county which
has already adopted prohibition can
go back to it's cups, as it were. The
battle royal between the opposing
forces on this great question is not
likely to be much longer delayed.
Farmers Club Active.
The legislative farmers club is more
active this year than for several ses-
siOns. The members Of this organiZa-
lion are scanning all measures care
fully and propose to make their intlu-
ence- felt.
One of the bills which the farmers
propose to change from the form in
which it passed the senate is that
which fixes the salary Of the superin-
tendent of public instruction and Gre
ates the Office Of superintendent OF
rural schools. 1t Is understood that
the farmer legislators will stand firmly
against higher salary than $4,000 for
the superintendent and against the
creation of the new Office proposed.
Now that the house has appointed q
special committee to cooperate with
like special senate committee in in
vestigating the school text book ques-
ton, it is expected that the investi-
cation will go rapidly forward. The
committees have already gathered suf-
ficient data to show that Michigan peo-
pie are paying much more for identi-
cally the same books than they can be
purchased for in Indiana and other
states. Remedial legislation will be
enacted
Waterways Committee.
The special waterways investigat-
ing committee has reported progress
to the house, Chairman Curtiss stating
that good work is being done and the
matter proceeded with as expeditions
ly as possible. He expressed the opin-
ion that the committee would be ready
TO make final report in about six
weeks, at which time it hopes to be
fortified with the opinion of the attor-
ney general as to the legality of the
remedial legislation to be proposed.
There is some agitation in favor OF
abolishing the separate boards of trus-
tees of the several prisons OF the state
and placing all of these institutions
under the management of single
board composed Of three members.
Those who favor such a change argue
that it would result In greater econ
omy and a general improvement in
conditions. The old effort to induce
the legislature to do away with con-
tract labor in the prisons has been
revived. A departure in the way OF
handling prisoners in county jails will
be made if bill introduced by Rep
resentative Sanders of Ingham and
passed by the house last week is sim
ilarly favored by the senate. This bill
provides that these jail prisoners be
employed at repairing and building
roads in the respective counties.
Would Regulate Telephone Rates.
The telephone companies are con-
siderably agitated these days. A dele
cation representing the independent
telephone companies recently. appeared
in opposition to the bill placing these
companies on an lad valorem basis for
taxation purposes, and later in vppo-
sition to the Baker bill which makes
telephone companies common carriers
and compels them to interchange mes
sages. The former bill is certain to
become law, the state having adopt
ed the ad valorem system for taxing
practically all other property. To add
to the troubles of the telephone men.
Representative Haviland has intro
duced bill which fixes the rates OF
toll the companies may charge. A rate
of 10 cents for the first ten miles and
one quarter of 1 per cent per mile for
all additional distances is provided.
The bill furthermore seeks to prevent
the increasing of telephone rentals
beyond the rates fixed in existing con-
tracts.
Civil Service For institutions.
Senator Mapes of Grand Rapids has
introduced a bill providing for sys-
tenn of civil service in state institu-
tons and permitting counties and cities
to adopt the provisions of the bill by
referendum. 1t is proposed to have
a civil service commission of three
members, each of whom shall receive
an annual salary of $4,000.
bills have been introduced in both
branches of the legislature requiring
the steam and electric railway com
panies and other common carriers to
secure the consent of the railroad
commission before they can legally