The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1911-05-06
A REVIEW OF THE WORK DONE
RY THE LEGISLATURE IN A
SHORT SESSION.
TOBY cANDoR GIVES AT
GLANCE THE RESULTS.
There Was Large Grist Of Laws,
Some Good Ones Were Passed,
Others Were Killed and the
Governor VIII Do the Rest.


its sittings at the earliest date in the
history OF the state shows vastly
greater amount of good Legislation
enacted than anybody expected under
the circumstances existing through
out the session Some acts of such
statewide importance that one may
truly say no more important have
ever been enacted have passed both
houses and will become law when
the 90.day period after May has ex-
PRED
incidentally there we're introduced a
vastly greater number of bills than
ever before, even before the new
constitution made it impossible to
pass purely local acts. A summary
OF the bills introduced and passed be-
comes interesting. This is it:
Bills introduced in the House, G27.
Bills introduced in the Senate, 42S.
Total bills introduced, 1866.
House bills passed, 1913.
Senate bills passed. las.
Total bills passed, 343.
House resolutions passed, 12G.
Senate resolutions passed, 81.
1t will be seen from these figures
that less than one-third the vast
number of bills introduced became
laws. Some very important bills
failed to pass and some of small
amount did pass Yet on the whole
the work of the legislature, disor-
gained as 1t was, shows that in gen.
eral somebody had his eyes open and
saw to 1t that most Of the good re-
ceived attention and most of the bad
was consigned to the junk heap.
Following Is resume of the more
important legislation enacted:
Excluding from participation in the
primary school fund apportionment,
those school districts which have on
hand sufficient amount of this mon
ey to pay teachers salaries for two
years This was the joint resolution
introduced by Rep. McNaughton and
provided for a constitutional amend
ment which was placed before the
people at the April election and
adopted by heavy majority. II was
one of the most important measures
of the session and passed early in
the sittings.
Creating a new board OF equaliza-
ton. This was the Lord bill and
was made necessary by the fact that
the state constitution inadvertently
Knocked out the organization by mis-
judging dates.
Reorganizing and simplifying the
state military department, cutting off
the gold braid department and plac-
Ing the National Guard upon a regu-
lar army standard.
Reorganizing and simplifying the
naval department. placing 1t on
basis Independent Of but similar to
that of the military department.
Creating commission of experts
to examine into the state tax system
with view to harmonizing various
branches Of the system.
Requiring the D., G.. III. & M. rail.
road to pay taxes on its bonds and
Indebtedness, thus bringing 1t up to
the same basis Of taxation as other
railroads. Up to now, even since
1854, the road has escaped paying
much OF any taxes.
Making telephone companies com.
mon carriers and forcing them to
give interchange Of service.
Granting to the state tax commits
sion power to go into any county or
locality and raise the assessed valua-
ton OF property there. In this way
the valuations all over the state will
De raised and the average rate low
cred.
Regulating salary loan agents and
pawnbrokers, placing a limit upon
the interest they may charge and
placing them-under police superyis.
ion.
Guaranteeing officers of trusts i'm
munity from prosecution in case thew
give evidence tending to convict COM
Dinations In restraint of trade.
Repeating the mortgage tax law
and substituting therefor recording
Zee OF 90 cents upon each 500 OF val
uation.
EAehptinB veterans or the civil war
and their widows from taxation 10
the amount of $1,000 provided the
property is not valued in excess OF
$500. -
Establishing an uniform account.
Ing system In all departments of the
state and In counties under the d.
rection OF the auditor general.
Permitting saloons to remain open
on Washington's birthday, Lincoln
day and on special primary days and
giving to villages and township
boards in wet territory the right to
reject any and all liquor bonds thus
to all intents and purposes applying
the unit system principle In wet, but
not In dry territory.
Providing that the supervisors of
any county may demand OF the pris-
on authorities force of ccnvicts to
work upon the roads. They will be
distributed when there Is a heavy
demand In accordance with bids.
Prohibiting the employment OF any
but experienced engineers, conduct