The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1911-01-27

remains to be seen whether or not the
clash at the beginning of the session
has left any smartihg scars.
Mine Inspectors Bill.
Senator James hill providing for
the election of a mine Inspector in
counties where copper mines are 10.
Gated was up for discussion In cor
mittee of the whole in the scrats last
week. Only few minor a1u,l c. IS
were made to the bill. which VII re-
ceive considerable attention WI en- II
comes to the house. Hcuse M MIXERS
declare that the bill ought to include
iron mines and argue that men en-
lployed in the iron mines have the
same right of protection as the
copper miner. Fearing the opposition
of Senator Moriarity, who usually
looks after the iron interests, Sen.
ator James omitted the iron mines
from the act. 1t is possible that the
bill will be amended and bring the
mines under the supervision of the
department of labor and make the in
spectors appointive by the labor COM
missioner, instead of elective by the
voters of the'county.
Townsend Elected Senator.
The election of Congressman Charles
Townsend as senator, in Joint session,
was quiet affair when compared with
the excitement and wire pulling of
former elections. In electing Mr..
Townsend to the upper house of con-
gress, the legislature only carried out
the wish of the electorate Of the state,
which was expressed at the September
primary. Townsend received all the
Republican votes of the members Of
the legislature, and one Democrat, Rep
resentative Taylor of Kent, also voted
for the Jackson man, in compliance
with some prediction promises. The
Democrats honored John II. Winship
of Saginaw with a complimentary vote
as their choice for United States sem
ator.
Full Train Crew Bill.
Representative Jensen of Delta will
Introduce bill known as the "full
train crew bill" The Association of
Michigan 'Trainmen held a meeting In
Detroit the past week and adopted res
olutiOns favoring such mea ure. urging
its passage for the benefit of it's mem
bers and the safety of the travelling
public.
The bill provides that all trains
shall have one engineer, one fireman.
one conductor one brakeman and one
fagman. About twenty states have
passed similar laws.
Representative Jensen viii, also in
troduce bill abolishing the state land
Office and transferring all records and
lands now in possession in that Office
to the auditor generals department.
Mapes After Palmer.
Peeved by c. A. Palmer's activity
against the confirmation Of the War.
ner recess appointees, Senator Mapes
will advocate a bill limiting the3lsal-
airy of the insurance commissioner to
$4,000 and which provides that all fees.
must be- paid into the state treasury.
Representative Lord. who cannot be
charged with extravaganza, believes
that the insurance commissioner ought
to he paid salary sufficient with the
great esponsibilities of that office and
in bill has fixed the salary at $4,000.
With worliingmen's insurance and EN-.
ployers' liability under supervision Of
the insurance commissioner, this de-
partment will become one OF the most
important in the state.
Lobbyists Appear on Scene.
The railroad interests, always on the
alert, scent danger during this session
of the legislature and have several ex-
perienced attorneys on the scene, ready
to prevent any unfavorable action, if
possible.
The mining interests are also
alarmed, and, while there is no danger
of the passage Of a tonnage tax bill,
the idea Of a corporation tax as adj
vocated by the governor does not ap-
peal favorably to them. The interests
will put up strenuous fight against
the two-cent fare bill for the upper
peninsula, the full train crew bill, the
bill providing for steel passenger
coaches and better cabooses for freight
trains. The mines will fight the mine