The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1909-04-16

1OV piiio udVo D0ou introduced III the
two houses. while only aabout forty
have been finally acted uponsIA The
ways and means committee has re
ported out only ten of the fifty or more
| appropriation bills which must be dis
posed OF before final adjournment can
be taken. This committee Is proving
true to its assertion that only abse
lutety necessary expenditures will be
provided for this session. No new
buildings and no appropriations for
special purposes have been allowed
and no appropriations will be in.
creased beyond the figures of two
years ago, save only to take care OF
the increase in the number of inmates
of institutions during the past two
years. The members of the finance
committees OF the two houses have
had most strenuous experince dur
ing the past three months, but they
are certainly keeping appropriations
down to hardpan.
No Pensions For Firemen.
The firemen of the state will be dis.
appointed over the defeat by the house
of the bill which provided for the pay
ment of pensions to incapacitated fire.
men throughout the state. The bill
provided for direct tax of one-fiftieth
OF mill, but all after the enactment
clause OF the measure was stricken
out after considerable discussion
1t being impossible under the consti-
tuition to meet the expenses of main
taing a state fire marshal department
fiom the proceeds of a tax on the
premiums collected by fire insurance
companies in Michigan as advocated
by the State Association of Mutual In
surance Companies and also by the
State Association of Local Fire In.
surance Agents, the latter organiza-
ton has prepared and has introduced
a bill to provide the necessary rev.
enue by requiring every fire insurance
agent in the state to pay an annual
license or occupation fee. At intro
duced the bill provides for a fee of
800 for each agent in a town Of 100,.
900 or more inhabitants, SIS in towns
of from $4,000 to 100000 Or more in.
habitants, $50 in towns of $4,000 to
$4,000 inhabitants, $25 in towns Of
from 10000 to 10000 inhabitants, 81
in towns of from 1000 to 10000 In
habitants and S. in towns OF less than
1000 Inhabitants. The experience Of
states which maintain an effective fire
marshal's department appears to be
a decrease in the number of fires and
in fire waste and a reduction in pre-
MUM rates. The fire waste in this
country is appalling, being due to
carelessness, poor construction and
crime. The per capita waste in this
country is about ten times greater
than that Of continental Europe. Prac-
tically nothing Is done in this country
to improve conditions in this respect,
and it Is high time that the Important
subject is given intelligent considera-
ton and effective action is taken. A
question as to the constitutionality Of
the license fee proposed by the local
agents association has been raised Oh
the grounds of it's alleged lack of uni
sorn3tS fnaahuch as all agents in each
town ,Ep,llds be required to- pay the
same sfee while SOME transact many
times more business than others. The
house committee ON state affairs Is
considering the matter.
Liquor Legislation.
The fact that nineteen more Michi.
gan counties declared for local option
at last weeks election has brought the
matter of liquor legislation before the
two houses more prominently than
ever before Bills embodying some
drastic provisions not found in their
predecessors have been introduced,
and 1t is likely that this entire ques,
ton will have early and final consider
alton. 1t is probable that much more
stringent liquor laws than now exist
will be enacted. In the meantime the
local option forces in the state are
to carry the war into other
counties, and they are already boast
ing that they will add number OF
new counties to the local option list
at the next general election.
In the line of other bills previously
presented with a view to reducing the
cost of school text books In Michigan,
Senator Tuttle has introduced meas
ure which provides that all school
book publishers shall file list of their
books, together with the list price and
the lowest net wholesale price for
which they are sold anywhere in the
United States under like conditions
governing distribution, ETC., with the |
of public instruction. |
The publisher is also to file list Of /,
any reduction in prices whenever
made. The superintendent is required |
% file a list of these prices and alter |
atoms as made with the authorities |
IF every school district in the state. |
Designated merchants are to sell these |
books to pupils and parents at an adj
vance over the listed prices as filed of |
10 per cent and cost of transportation. |
rhe bill provides a severe penalty for |
.eachers who exert their influnce in |
behalf Of. other text books and also |
'or agents who seek to secure the
influence Of teachers by giving them
ash, present or rewards. It is believed i