The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1909-03-26


when travelling on the business of the
commission.
The companies were willing to fur
nish free transportation for these per-
sons, but the legislators thought such
a plan would be bad precedent to es.
tablish, feeling that 1T might lead to
abuses. furthermore, they argued that
the companies paid the state all taxes
demanded and the state should be
willing to pay the fare Of its repre-
sentatives.
object to Increased Salaries.
Members of the committee and other
legislators also objected to the propo-
sition to increase the salaries of the
members of the commission from 49,
900 to $1,000, the limit favored being
$500. There Is a demand on the part
of the legislators that companies be
required to publish time tables in daily
and weekly newspapers. The COM
panies do not object to this, but the
newspapers have manifested opposi-
ton to legislative action fixing the
compensation they shall receive for
their space.
Companies concerned in that pro-
vision of the bill when gives the COM
mission supervision over telegraph and
telephone companies and empowers
them to fix rates 10 be charged by
such companies have asked for hear
ing on this subject. Speaking of rates
reminds me that Attorney General
Bird has advised Chairman Cramton
OF the committee that where a rate
is fixed by statute the railroad COM
mission has no jurisdiction over the
matter in the absence Of discrimina-
ton between shippers.
Van RaaIte Bill Killed.
Notwithstanding the fact that the
proprietors of the larger private banks
in the state were in favor of is pass
age, the smaller operators IN this line
succeeded in inducing the house in
committee of the whole to kill the Van
Raalte bill prohibiting the use of a
corporate or artificial name by this
class of institution. 1t is possible, but
hardly probable, that the bill may be
revived and another attempt made to
pass it. The bill generally revising
the banking law along lines suggested
by the State Bankers association will
be considered this week.
The Stevenson bill for the suppress
sion of clairvoyants, ETC., which ex-
perienced such smooth sailing in the
house. went on the senate rocks with
a rush, and its seams were opened so
wide that there is no hope of patching
them up. The Michigan State Spirit
ualistis' association took the lead in
opposing the measure, and majority
OF the senate were Of the opinion that
the bill trenched too closely upon
some religious beliefs to become a
law. The senators had considerable
sport with the bill and then killed it
by a decisive vote.
Dickinson Primary Bill.
Just what will be the fate of the
Dickinson primary election bill in the
house is problem. AS passed by the
senate the bill provided that, so far
as the state ticket is concerned, only
candidates for governor and lieutenant
governor snail be nominated by pri-
mary vote, leaving the balance OF the
state ticket to be nominated in con-
vcntion
The members OF the house elections
committee. which now has the bill in
charge. do not favor this proposition
and have decided to amend the bill
SC as 10 provide for a state wide pri-
mary to include all nominations from
governor to coroner They argue that
if it is a good thing to nominate candi.
dates for governor and lieutenant gov
ernor by primary vote, it is equally
as beneficial to have all candidates so
nominated.
The house committee endorses the
United States senator provision of the
bill as ii came from the senate. This
requires the secretary of state to Ger
tify to the legislature the primary can
didate of each party who receives the
highest number of votes as the party
candidate. 1t is understood that the
house committee will also change the
rhraseology of the bill in some partic-
Clars and rearrange the sections so as
to make them more orderly. In this
task they will solicit the aid Of Sena-
tor Dickinson. It will doubtless be
some days before the bill is reported
out.
Indicates Economy.
The Smell bill designed to insure the
sale of purer ice cream than the citi.
gems of Michigan have been wont to
get outside OF in the past has passed
the senate. The bill prohibits the sale
OF ice cream containing less than 70
per cent butter fat and also lnat each
package containing ice cream must
show the amount of gelatine or veg
otable gums used for coloring, and
this coloring matter must not exceed
one-half Of per cent. All manufac-
tLrers of ice cream in cities having
a population in excess Of 5000 must
take out an annual license, the fee for
such license to be S.. The bill was
introduced at the instance of the Mich
igan Dairymen's association.
The action of the house railroad
committee in taking a stand against a
larger salary than $500 for members
o. the railway commission is in line