The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1917-02-10
LETTER FROM
STATE CAPITOL
PROHIBITION BILLS PROMISE
SOME LIVELY DEBATES IN
BOTH HOUSES.
ARID" AND DAMP MEASURE
Government Asked to Aid in Getting
coal-other important Bills and
Railroad Legislation.
(By w. L. CALNON.)


of drafting the laws TO provide the
machinery to carry out the popular
vote OF last November for statewide
rohibition-Hnally is under way.
At the outset OF their work on pro-
hibition laws the state lawmakers
have been faced with the problem
which has been under discussion about
tho state since the prohibition major.
| ity was counted. That is whether the
state should be bone dry or retain
a degree OF "moistness." When one
prohibition bill was introduced in the
house, another followed right on Its
heels. The two represent the diver
gent lines OF thought in regard to pro-
hibitory laws.
The first bill introduced was that
prepared by attorneys for the Anti
Saloon league. The league has taken
a position against bone dry" legis-
lation, holding that "wets" are more
eager for bone dryness than anyone
else. on the theory that 1t will cause
q reaction In public sentiment and re-
suit In the state reversing its decision
for prohibition.
To the average man who drinks, the
Anti-Saloon league bill must appear
real dry, but II is not quite as dry at
that, as was the one which followed
1t into the legislative bill files. The
leagues bill would allow an individual
to get pint OF whiskey or other
spirituous liquor in a month. Or he
could get a gallon OF wine or three
gallons OF beer in a month.
The league bill also provides for the
creation OF a state department OF pro-
hibition, with a commissioner. deputy
commissioner and inspectors to see
that the laws are enforced. Doctors
are limited to prescriptions OF six
ounces whiskey and druggists cannot
refill prescriptions. Stringent penal
ties are provided for doctors and drug
gists who break the law
The Anti-Saloon league bill was in
troduced by Rep. Merlin Wiley. Of the
Soo who was one of the attorneys
who helped draft 1t. The bone dry"
bill that followed II was introduced
by Rep George z. Macarthur. of Eaton
Rapids. This bill is much the same
az the league bill In It's provisions as
to doctors. druggists, etc, and In its
penalties. but 1t differs radically In
two chief ways.
First, 1t would allow no imports OF
liquors whatever for beverage. pur-
poses, thus cutting of the pint of
booze" or gallon OF wine or case of
beer per month. Secondly, 1t puts the
enforcement of the law up to a state
marshal instead of to department
Of prohibition. The bill provides that
the state game warden's department
be transferred from the public domain
commission TO q state marshal, who
shall also have charge OF the enforce
ment Of the liquor laws. It provides
that the governor shall name the mar
shall, just as he used to name the
game warden until two years ago,
when the game department was put
In with the public domain commits
sion.
The bills now are before the house
liquor committee. The senate liquor
committee is meeting with the house
during its consideration, so
as to be able to expedite work on the
bill when il reaches the senate. The
are holding meetings three
days a week and expect that a few
weeks time will be need before they
can report out bill.
Next In interest to the prohibition
bills during the past week among the
lawmakers was the acute situation in
regard to coal. From every part OF
the state came demands, requests or
pleas for coal and for some action to-
wards getting an adequate supply. As
D result the state railroad commission |
made direct plea to the Interstate
Commerce Commission In Washington |
10 lift the burden and to aid In get
ling coal through the Toledo and other
yards so that II can get into Michi-
gan. The interstate body was assured
by the state commission that the coal
cars would be handled with rapidity
by the Michigan roads and the empty
cars hurried back to the roads that
own them.
In the senate a resolution vas pass
ID that requested the attorney gen.
sral to make an inquiry as to the
,auses OF the coal famine in Michl-
ran. The senators are DESTROYS OF
hiding a way, II possible, in which to
Exert the influence OF the legislature
against any possible recurrence of the
,oal situation of this winter.
Appropriation bills included the fol.
owing:
Pontiac state hospital: $4,000 for
,aving assessment.
Northern state normal school, Mar.
Iuette: ss.032 a year maintenance,
md s153, ss3.s4 for new site and build
ng.
Tuberculosis survey: 100000.
Governors residence in Lansing:
10000.
Industrial school for boys: $4,000
or 1918 and s142.7s1 for 1919. II
Farm Colony for Epileptics: $685..
IS Sos establishment. /,