The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1911-04-28

signature OF the governor, a bill intro
duced by Senator Collins to increase
salary OF the stenographer of the Ba,
county circuit The governor believes
these bills are of local character
End that, according to the new consd
rtcn the legislature has no right to
IS such bills without attaching ref.
.frdun to the act
Many Important Laws Enacted.
a reat number of measures favored
J the governor fell by the wayside,
'et 1t is only Just to say that the leg
islature passed number Of acts that
VIII PROVE OF great benefit to the state.
The Fowle bill repeating the mort
gage tax law and substituting a re IS
tration fee of SO cents for every 500
mentioned in the mortgage is of great
Importance. This fee is final and
takes place of all taxes against mort
cages. Persons who are familiar with
the operation of this act believe that
the yearly income or the state frc M
this source will come pretty close to
$500, 200.
The bill introduced by Representa-
tive Fred Woodwork of Huron CO, ATTY
Is another bit Of legislation which will
have far-reaching results. This act
repeats the special charter under
which the Detroit, Grand Haven and
Milwaukee railroad operates and
which enabled this railroad to escape
Its share of taxation, paying into the
state treasury the same amountNas the
road did fifty years ago. when first
constructed
The Lord bill providing for a COM
mission Of inquiry to investigate the
efficiency of the present system OF
taxation will be of great Importance
and enable the tax commission to Sc
cure better equalization and the plac-
ing Of more taxable property upon the
tax roll.
The Miller bill, guaranteeing officers
of trusts immunity for testimony Civ.
en- as state witnesses, will enable tn
attorney general to more successful
enforce the antitrust law.
The Symonds bill compelling upper
peninsula railroads to carry pass
gers at the same rate charged by the
railroads In the lower peninsula will
prove a great boon to the people in
the northern part of the state and aid
in the settlement of vast agricultural
lands in the upper peninsula.
The city home rule bill t.jtho izing
the use of the initiative, referendum
and recall and providing for the
amendment of city charters without
a complete revision is of great inter
est to the larger cities in the state.
Responsibility for killing a large
number of the measures suggested in
Governor Osborn's message res.s with
the senate. On the whole, the h1u sc
was more responsive and in clGsar
touch with the governor than were tire
senators.
Although there as no organization OF
the administration forces In either =
house or senate, number OF stro g
men developed during the course of
the session in both branches. TIL Sc
men, however, were not always on the
administration side.
Representative Lord OF Wayne will.
probably have the distinction of teing
the member who succeeded in passing
the largest number Of bills.
Booms Sprouted.
Friends of Gilbert A. Currie, second
termer from Midland, have Instituted
q boom for him as a candidate for
speaker of the next house Currie has
made good record and is in coed
position to land the plum, as Speaker
Baker has developed some aspir ton
towards becoming auditor general
Many booms for state ofices de-
yeiopsd during the last week Of the
session. .a
Speaker Baksr Dispisses Force.
Contrary to timehouored tradi Ion
Speaker Baker served formal notice OF
Dismissal to all employees Of the house,
thus cutting them OF the pay roll OF
the legislature Immediately after ad-
tournament. 1t has been the custom of
the Legislature for years past to pay
oil employees from the time OF tenn
porary adjournment to the time of
final adjournment.
Will Not Try Russell.
Since the senate refused to enter.
tain the Impeachment charges brought
by the house against Warden Russell
of Marquette prison, there will be
to detain the senate after May
2. Senators still hold the opinion that
Warden Russell is not a civil officer
under the meaning Of the constitution:
that he Is the chief guard or keeper of
the prison and ranks in the same cate
cory as other employees of the prison
under control and direction Of the
prison board. Failure of the house TO
include members Of the prison board
In the impeachment gave the senators
TO reject t e impeac hment
charges. The senate is Judge and jury
In such cases and the Russell affair
In all probability will end with this
action of the senate
May Not Call Extra Session.
Unless some unforeseen situation
arises, it is not probable that the leg
islature will be called in special ses-
sion. Should congress pass the re