The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1911-04-14

supreme court are subject to the pro
visions of the recall. The recall also
operates In cities upon city officials.
Passes Uniform Accounting Bill.
The house passed the Lord bill, pro-
yicing for a uniform system OF ac'
mir 81 n the books of township,
o'Nt- AID state officers. The bill pro-
6 for a chief accountant at sal
% So 500, ten assistants at $4,000
snBur and such 9th help as may
necessary TO perm the duties OF
is Office. The bill was bitterly op.
PISSED by a number Of members, and
only with the hardest kind of fight
votes which were cast in favor of the
bill.
The bill provides for central boari
of control. After being bufreted from
one committee to another. it was again
reported out by the committee on
state affairs, and passed the house
ON third reading. The bill as amend.
ed provides that the state prison Mt
Jackson, the Ionia reformatory, the
upper peninsula prison, the asylum for
the criminal insane at Ionia, the giils
school at Coldwater and the industrial
school for boys at Lansing shall be
placed under the control of this boarl.
and all the boards now in charge OF
these institutions will go out of eX.
istence January 1; 1912, and their pow
ers and duties will be transferred to
this new board of control. The admin.
istration friends claim that there is
considerable sentiment in the senate
in favor of the bill in this amended
form.
Railroads Contest Two Cent Fare.
Representatives of the various rail-
road companies affected by the sly.
monds two-cent fare bill are straining
every nerve to either defeat or amend
the bill in the senate. Senator Fowle,
the administration leader in the sen.
ate, differs with Governor Osborn on
this question. The governor in his
message advocated fare of two and
ore-half cents. Senator Fowle believes
that the railroads can carry passen.
gers for two cents in Inc upper PENN.
sula as well as they can in Minnesota
and northern Wisconsin, whose eli,
matte conditions are similar to that
of northern Michigan.
Will Select Shumway's Successor.
Governor Osborn has told the state
board of health to select a secretary
to succeed DR.. Shumwav the present
incumbent. Under the law the sscre-
tary is appointed by the governor. The
governor, however, believes that poll.
tics should not cut any figure in the
selection of man who looks after
the public health. He is opposed 20
the reappointment of DR.. Shumway.
but will appoint any qualified man
recommended to him by the membe.s
of the board
Aids Dependents of Prisoners.
Representative Je:omes bill proyid-
ing for the appropriation of $4,000
for the support of dependents OF con.
victs was taken from the table and
passed the house in spite of the spir
tied attack made against the bill by
Representative Warner. The on.
ponents of the bill claim that the stare
ought to erdeavcr to put the prisons
on a paying basis so that the convicts
may be able to support their families
while serving out their sentences in
the penal institutions Of the state.
Prison Report Out.
The special committee appointed by
Speaker Baker to investigate certain
conditions in the Marqr cite prison sub
mitted a majority and a minority re-
port to the legislature this week. The
majority report, signed by Represent.
atives Perry, Warner and Henry
states that the corporal punishment as
practiced In the Marquette institution
Is justifiable. The report further
states that something ought to be
done to abolish the contract system.
which Is held responsible for most
cases OF corporal punishment: the
prisoners, being unable to accomplish
their task, the complaints IF the fore
man or superintendent Of the shop re-
suits in many injustices to prisoners.
The committee recommended the res
ignation of William Russell, brother
of Warden Russell, who has had
charge of the overall factory. William
Russell, however. had rendered his
resignation to his broti.er before the
report was made public. The minority
report, signed by Representatives
Kalmbach and Straight, condemns ccr-
poral punishment in the stronges.
terms.
House Agrees to Salary.
After wrangling with the senate
committee for the past five weeks,
the house finally agreed to accept the
senate bill making the salary of the
insurance commissioner $4,000 per
year. The bill was given immediate
effect.
Senate Passes Fowle Bill.
The senate passed the Fowle mort
gage tax repeal bill. In order to facil-
itate the passage Of the bill in the
house, Representative Lord moved
that the bill should be placed at the
head of the general order. This was
done by an affirmative vote of CT,
which is 16 more than needed, and
which augurs well for the passage vi
the measure.