The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-02-21
HOUSE JOLTS
FRATERh|T|Es
Rankin Bill Passes, rs to IL, And
Fate of Greek Letter Societies
Is Up To Sss ate.
oFrom q star Corre.poadeao.


a few OF the members "ducking."
The venerable Rep. Rankin. who
has been superintendent OF schools in
various Michigan cities for nearly half
a century, made an eloquent defense
OF his bill. A big bunch OF frat mem
bers from the Lansing high school. oc-
cupied seats near him and made aud
ible remarks while he was talking.
Mr.. Rankin read letters from l.. Il
Wright, superintendent OF public N
struction, and from superintendent
OF schools in several cities. Rep. Yer
der spoke In opposition to the bill on
the ground that IL also lays school
te achers liable TO arrest and fine or
imprisonment II /they fail To try TO
suppress the fraternities. Rep. Yer
| der drew q narrowing picture OF the
teacher being dragged on to jail.
Petitions from citizens OF several
cities including Lansing. were pre-
scented opposing the bill, but they did
not affect the vote. Those who OPP
POSED the bill we're: Reps. Austin,
Rurnham, Cummins,. Farmer, Nc
Bride, McNitt, Martz. Murphy, Sam
uel Odell, Smith, Stewart and Verdier.
The house also passed the Waters
bill allowing school boards To receive
and use requests. IL was introduced
for the benefit Of the schools OF Sag
NAV, to which the late Arthur Hill
left large sum of money TO be used
tor Industrial education.
Among the most important OF the
bills introduced was one by Rep.
Noble Ashley of Detroit. called the
reciprocal demurrage bill II provides
that where a railroad company deliv-
ers a car of goods to shipping point
but neglects to place IL for unloading,
IL shall pay a demurrage OF 81 a day,
! the same as paid by consignees for
detention OF cars, for every day that
the consignee is delayed In getting at
the cargo. II is said that often cars
of coal are shipped TO points and De-
cause OF lack OF switch engines, OF
through negligence, are allowed 10
rest in some distant part OF a city or
yards, until the consignee Is oblige1
to buy coal from other parties. The
condition is one for which a remedy
has been asked.
Rep. James Haviland. OF Port HUI
ron, introduced a bill TO appropriate
$4,000 for the piling OF Belle river
where II makes horseshoe bend near
the Gratiot turnpike, an extension OF
Gratiot-ave., Detroit, In Columbia
township, st. Clair county. The river
| has eaten away the earth toward the
road, until at every high water, the
highway il flooded. Last Saturday,
| Hayiland said, the water stood foCr
| feet deep on the highway, and a farm.
CT named Marsh lost his hayrack ana
coat. Several years ago mother anu
SON named Harrington were drowned
there. The road IL the main autono-
bile highway between Detroit and Port
Huron. Rep. Haviland says that the
place has gotten In such bad condi
ton that the township cannot anorl
60 fix Il, but that II the state VIII
harness the river. the township wiz
tuild fine gravel road.
Rep. Fralick introduced bill To
amend the Inheritance tax law. so as
to make the cost Of collecting the taN
a charge upon the estate. Under tue
present law, the collection Is mace
charge upon the county, though the
fees 20 to the state. Rep. Fralick saws
that in his own county Of Manistee, ~
cost STAB to collect the inheritance
tax last year, but that none OF the
raoney went directly to the county.
Rep. Smith introduced bill conf
relling railways to install steel mali,
baggage and passenger coaches.
Rep. Leonard, OF Detroit. intro
duced a bill to allow insurance CON.
panies writing motor car policies, 20
insure the cars while In transit, anu
against loss by theft or by collision
or other accident. -
Rep. Woodwork has In his HANDS
o bill carrying out one OF the gov
ernor's reform measures, proVioins
for the encouragement OF forestry by
exempting wood-lots from taxation,
Senator Vaughan introduced nlii'
making II mandatory for the govern
or TO reside In Lansing during MS
term of office. This bill was prepared
and introduced at the request OF the
governor, who favored such meas
ure in his message.
Senator Fowle introduced bill. the
purpose of which Is to simplify the
termination EFF land contracts by re-
curing that a 30-day notice be served
on the person who Is in arrears; that
three months after the notice Is
served, the contract expires, IL the
payments are still in arrears. !.
Senator Guy Miller's bill, making
two amendments TO the grade separa-
ton laws was passed on third read
ing. The law, as amended, makes IL
possible for a property owner to sue
for damages, regardless OF the situa-
ton of the property. Under the pres
ent law, only the owners OF property
abutting on the street which Is sep
arated can begin suit. 7
Senator Weter's bill, increasing
bonding limit of school districts from
SIS 10 500 per capita, to enable the
citizens OF certain districts TO issue
bonds for enough money 10 build ade-
quate schools, was also passed on
third reading.
Gov. Osborn's measure calling for
committee TO investigate the taxa
tion problem and report to the legis-
lature. which was turned down by the
house committee on general taxation
| and precipitated row between Rep.
Lord and governor, found support
! from an unexpected source last night,
when II was presented In the senate
! by Senator Newton. Senator Newton
has been regarded as one OF the most
| pronounced Warner men I'm the sen.
ate, and led the fight against the gov
ernor's substitutes for the Warner
i racpea annnfntmanto TIL. - .kz..ta