Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1915-02-04
REP. FoRD's RESOLUTION KILLED
BY IT TO IS; VAN VORCE CASE
STILL UNSETTLED.
NEW RAILROAD BILL
Provides Rate Of Pr Cents For Roads
Earning over $4,000 Per Mile
Earning That Amount 3 Cents
Per Mile
sY DOUGLAS D. MARTIN.

70 in the Michigan House OF Repre-
sentatiyes, but it will be fun many
a moon before there will be resoiu-
ton which will create as much eN'
cited talk and ruffle the feelings of
as many statesmen as the Ford reso-
luton. to probe the doings of the par
don board.
Before this resolution was laid 10
rest, Rep. Ford had openly charged
Rep. Biggerstaff with either having
cold feet, or being bought on by
promise of political pap and had
created a scene on the floor OF the
house when both Rep. Biggersta1 and
Speaker Smith approached him and
asked him 10 either explain or apollo
gize.
The day following the verbal bat
tie the resolution was called up and
killed by an overwhelming vote oil
II 10 10. Several strong speeches
were made against the resolution by
influential members and these coupled
With the bad flavor which the unseen
" affair of the previous day had left,
accomplished the death of the attempt
to free Merle Van Vorce from Jack
son prison.
One of the surprises of the week,
and il was not an agreeable one TO the
no nv
the Pere Marquette that IL would WITH
draw its bill asking for a fiat increase
of one-half cent per mile in favor OF
a bill which will be backed by all rail
roads, asking for an increase of from
one-half 10 a full cent
The new measure has been introduc-
&c by Rep. John Stevenson, OF De
troit. Ii provides that all roads earn
ing $4,000 mile and more may charge
and one half cents per mile for
carrying passengers, and that roads
earning less than $4,000 mile may
charge three cents. 1t provides that
all branches must be figured in when
the earnings of the road are computed.
The bill practically means the es-
tabnsnment of straight three cent
fare in Michigan. the possible excep-
tons being the Grand Trunk and the
Michigan Central.
Legislators are afraid of the bill
and what the people will say about
1t. They point out the fact that the
measure would take Michigan back
beyond the Pingree days. Al that
time roads which earned $4,000 per
mile were. limited TO a charge OF two
cents per mile for passengers. Those
earning between $4,000 and $4,000
were allowed to charge two and one
hall cents and those earning below
s2.O00 a mile were allowed TO charge
three cents.
Lieut-Governor Opposed.
Lieut-Governor Dickinson has not
hesitated 10 condemn the proposed in
crease The railroads. declares the
Ieutenant-governor come before us
with a mass of data much of which
is of technical nature and exceeding
ly intricate. How can this legisla.
ture in the brief time allotted TO il,
be expected 10 go over this data and
pass INTELLECTUALLY on question
which involves an average increase
of thirty per cent in the passenger
rates of this state?
THE thing is too big TO be dispos-
ed OF in so short a time. Ii is an
issue of great importance and requires
time and study. ! am sure the Pere
Marquette needs the relief which il
asked, but | am not so certain that all
the other roads need the assistance
they seek"
New Market Measure.
Another measure which was intro
duced and which is certain TO at
tract much attention, not only in the
legislature, but throughout the state
was the bill which provides for ex
tending the dairy and food depart
ments power and for increasing the
salary OF the commissioner.
Under this measure, which was in
troduced by Rep. Wells the name OF
the dairy and food department would
be changed TO the Department OF
Foods and Markets" and would have
the power 10 investigate the quality
and cost of food. marketing. shipping
packing and transportation methods
as we'll as to assist consumers in the
formation of cooperative purchasing
leagues. The commissioner is also
directed TO assist and advise I'm the
work of locating and arranging pub
lie markets and TO cause the estab
lishment of auction markets All auc
1oneers shall be licensed and bonded
and must sell farm produce upon a
commission basis at n rate which will
be fixed by the department.
The bill also provides that the com