The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1909-05-14
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preparing TO Adjourn Next
Week Wednesday. Z
both HOUSES WORKING HARD

ttAA 'aseo@Vv-Hairoao commission In
vested With Power to Fix Rates
~ which Electric Companies Shall
charge--Home Rule and Primary
Bill Up This Week.
Lansing, Mich, May 1.-THE end Of
Inc present session of the legislature
appears to be in sight. Unless all
signs rail in dry weather, business. so
taT as law making is concerned. will
cease one week from tomorrow-May
aS-at nigh noon. Two weeks will
De then allowed the presiding officers
ana clerks in which to complete the
records, have the attest bills passed
engrossed for presentation to the gov
erhor and wind up the business. actual
hnai adjournment being reached June
q. everything is now working to this
end since the senate last week passed
resolution embodying the above
yates, and there is no probability that
any change will be made in the pro-
gram. 1t is three sessions a day now,
with the house working on Saturdays,
and the members hope that the decks
VIII be cleared of everything worth
while by the time the curtain is rung
down.
AS a result of the investigation of
the school text boo question by spe-
c1al committees appointed early in
Inc session, the senate has passed Sen
ator Atkins bill which creates COM
mission to pass upon the legibility of
all books submitted by publishers for
use in the schools of the state The
measure also fixes maximum price
that may be charged for books of vari-
Gus classes. This bill won over one
introduced by Senator Tuttle provid-
Ing that publishers be required to
make affidavit that the prices charged
In Michigan was as low as that
charged elsewhere for similar books.
Ming Liability Bill Passed.
Following the lead of some other
states, Michigan mas materially
changed its law regarding contributory
Negligence on the part of employees of
railroad companies, both houses hav-
Ing agreed to the Ming liability bill,
which leaves the question of negh-
Bence and the degree of negligence to
The jury. In effect the bill places more
Of burden upon employers and less
upon employees IN case of suits for
damages for injuries received during
employment.
Instead of reappealing the law which
requires the justices of the supreme
court to reside in Lansing the senate
has passed a bill requiring five of the
eight judges to be in Lansing at all
times, except during summer vaca-
lions. 1t is doubtful if the bill passes
the house, there being considerable
opposition to it among the representa-
lives.
BY way of carrying into effect one of
The provisions of the new constitution
both houses have passed bill author
zing the proper state authorities to
\ borrow, when necessary, not to ex-
4seed $250,000 to meet any deficit in the
general fund of the state. The con-
stitution of 1850 limited the amount
that could be borrowed to $4,000,
but the members of the last consti-
tutional convention evidently conclud-
ed that the growth of the state during
the more than half century that had
elapsed since that constitution was
adopted warranted them in increasing
The sum to the figures first named.
The house has killed Senator New
IONS bill providing for the appoint
nent in each county Of jury commits
,ion OF three members, and the Verdier
bill providing for a state system OF
ivil service.
Luxuries Won't Come So Easy.
Under the terms of a bill passed by
both houses the superintendent and
managers OF state institutions will find
h more difficult than heretofore to pur-
chase Injuries, etc, for their tables.
rhe bill, as amended at the suggestion
,f Senator Fowle, makes 1t necessary
for these officials to procure the con-
tent of the boards of control of their
respective institutions before making
purchases of this class. The delicacies
md Iuxuries included in the prescribed
list are wines and liquors, pop, ginger
ale. cigars, tobacco and cigarettes,
chewing gum, confectionery, cut flow
ers chicken known as broilers, chop
suey. pigeons, squad and all fresh
fruits out of season. The bill was
further changed from the form in
which II came from the house by pro-
viding that all vouchers shall bear the
initials of at least one member of the
board of control, instead OF the full
signature OF each member. 1t was
deemed that the latter requirement
nut an unnecessary burden upon the
hoard members, all of whom serve the
state without pay.
The most substantial result Of the
agitation which early in the session
resulted in the appointment of the
Two houses OF special committees to
Investigate the water power situation
throughout the state Is the passage by
Moth houses OF bill giving the state
railroad commission supervision Of
,lectric power companies and author
NV TO fix the rates which such com
paries may charge for power. The
commission may exact annual reports