The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-02-23
HOUSE HAS 34l
BILLS BEFORE It
Legislature Is Behind in Work, Visits
To State Institutions Not Yet
Having Been Made.
tFrom n stan Correspoadent).

~
LANSING, Mich, Feb. 23.-For all
its haggling and squabbling, the house
OF representatives Is we'll along with
| the consideration OF the bills and res
olutions which have been presented,
and at adjournment yesterday after
noon, after a forenoon and afternoon
session, there were only four or FIVE
measures which had gotten through
the committees and were awaiting ac-
tion. These were put over to accom-
modate parties who wished to be
heard.
In some ways the house is up with
its record of 1909. There have been
34l bills introduced as against $50
last year, and though most OF the bills
are Of minor importance, on the other
hand many important measures have
been put in, as for instance, Rep.
Lords bill, which passed the commit
tee OF the whole yesterday morning,
giving powers to the state tax COM
mission which will enable them to
make permanent figures on local as
sessments, instead OF having the re-
suit of their work turned over as soon
as completed, and will give the COM
mission facilities for getting mining
valuations. Some so or 60 bills have
passed the house, and about as many
have passed the senate, but only two
have passed houses and been enrolled
for the governors signature.
When the house Is weak in a way,
is that at this time last session the
visits to institutions were out Of the
way and the committee had their data
for work on the budgets. On the
other hand, Speaker Baker claims
that the information gained on the
junkets has been in the main worth
less, and that the house is as we'll on
without It,
Although yesterday was a holiday,
the house got down to business. Elev-
en- bills were passed at the afternoon
session, the members deciding that
the action could be legalized.
One which aroused discussion was
introduced by Rep. Charles w. Austii
of Detroit, providing for the use OFT
convict labor on county highway
work, In the discretion Of the wardens.
The bill was finally passed, with
slight amendments in form.
Rep. Oppenborn's bill penalizing
fraudulent advertising, was carried
over to today.
A bill introduced by Rep. Martz, OF
Detroit, increasing the fees to be paid
attorneys on assigned criminal cases
was passed without delay.
Besides the Lord bill increasing the
usefulness OF the state tax commits
sion, another bill by him was put
through. II requires mining and
smelling companies to make state
ments of such a nature as to make II
possible to tax them adequately on
an ad valorem basis.
The committee substitute for two
bills introduced by Reps. Lucas and
Holland, for the taxation of mining
reserves, were laid over and made
special order for March s, when there
will also be a hearing on a taxation
bill by Rep. Holcomb.
Three senate bills were in the
grist which passed the house-Senate
James, abolishing the commissioner OF
mineral statistics; Senator Kline's, al
lowing schools to hold sessions on
minor holiday, and Senator Newton's
tax bill. |
Rep. William II. Martz was granted
leave of absence Friday. A resolution
introduced by Rep. Stevenson, who
stated that Martz was to deliver an
address on the liquor question In De-
troit. The joke resolution was taken
seriously and adopted.
Senator Collins introduced bill In
the senate asking for an appropria-
tion of $4,000 to be placed in the hands
of the fish commission for the bulld-
ing of a fish hatchery on the shores OF !
Saginaw Bay. Bay City citizens will
donate the site. Senator Collins In
troduced two bills, one to make the
election of United States senators d.
rectly by the people, and the other,
placing legislatures under obligation
to vate as the majority Of the people
did, regardless OF party ffiliation.
Senator White introduced alb i'll to
correct short-measure abusesin the
sale of fruit. II requires standard
sized baskets.
House and senate will adjourn today
until Monday.
Patriotic exercises were held in the
house last night. SANFORD.
Lord Chesterfield couldn't stand a
cut.up. Says he is his letters: Horse
play, romping. frequent and loud fits
of laughter, jokes, waggery and in
discriminate familiarity will sink both
merit and knowledge into a degree Of
contempt"