The L'Anse sentinel., 1921-04-08
|
| LETTER.
HOUSE SPEEDS UP. VOTES
TO ADJOURN APRIL 29
Death Penalty Bill Again Defeated;
Superintendent Of Schools to
Receive 5000 In 1928.
(From STAN correspondent)

(From Staff Correspondent)
The heavy grind OF the Michigan
legislative scssion nov has begun and
the house OF representatives daily
calendar has grown to huge proper
lions. The amount OF work thus
placed in front OF them does not
cause the members to hesitate over
taking time for verbal battles over
many OF the measure that come up,
however, and nearly every day has its
special attraction in the way OF a
fight over some bill.
> TWO VOTES LACKING.
Several big measures fell by the
wayside as the result of these fights,
chief interest being in the fate OF the
capital punishment bill. which was
revived by its author, Rep. Hart. after
apparently having been disposed OF
Tor the session. The bill again re-
ceived a, majority OF the votes cast,
the ballot standing 40 to 4S, but II
still lacked two votes of the necessary
81 to adopt 1t. Two votes had been
gained for the bill since 1t was up be-
fore. those OF two members who had
been absent at the Marquette prison
inquiry when the bill previously failed
with only 40 votes in favor OF 1t. But
Rep. Dean, who stood for the bill, was
absent on leave and Rep. Jewell, Of
Houghton, switched over to the oppo-
sition as the result Of an appeal by
mail from his wife to vote against the
death penalty. Rep. Hart again had
the bill tabled and may call it up once
more, but 1t is hardly. likely that he
can gain the vote needed to replace
that of Jewell.
The house killed the Holland S-hour
day bill by an adverse vote OF 85 to
s. members declaring in the course OF
the debate that the present condition
Of business in the state and nation
was such that an S-hour law was about
the last thing wanted. The house also
Killed the O'Brien bill to bring re-
cfprocal insurance companies under
the control of the state insurance de-
partment, only eight votes favoring
the measure. Most members believed
that mutual companies would suffer II
this bill became law.
SALARY INCREASE VOTED.
A btl to increase the salary OF Su.
perinteudent OF Public Instruction
Johnson from $4,000 to $1,000 year.
was adopted by the house after a hot
fight, but two attempts to give II Inn.
mediate effect failed. the second one
losing by q single vote. A third ef.
fort to bring the matter up again was
ruled ont of order. Immediate effect
was necessary Supt. Johnson is to
get the salary increase during the
next two years. II the senate concurs
tn the house amendment which re-
duced the salary from the $4,000 mark |
allowed by the senate the bill will
take effect next summer, but without
applying to the term Of Office which |
Johnson will begin on July 1. The In
crease will therefore not be paid un.
I'll after July 1, 1923.
Another important bill which APP
D6dT6 -HOW " DC lObt 10 thC intOho l
tax measure, which was tabled after
failing to receive 81 votes. House
gossip has It that six members who
Voted for 1t have changed their minds
and will vote against 1T now IL 1t Is
taken from the table. The bills spon.
sors are marking time while trying to
tine up 81 votes.
REDUCED
To speed up the work OF the SEES
sion in the house, members finally
have begun to allow the attaching of
roll calls to bills on which there is no
About ten minutes is
saved each time and long grist Of
bills on third reading is more readily
handled ty attaching the names OF
members present as voting favorably
On the bills which no one opposes.
Speed Is prime requisite II the leg
stature is to get through it's business {
by April 20, the adjournment date
adopted by the house as an amend
ment to resolution to adjourn April ,
IA. The senate is holding up the ad. ,
Iournment resolution to see IL Il is
possible to have all the appropriation
bills on the ways so that the date may
remain unchanged after once being
set.
The house ways and means, commit I
lee has reported out nearly all the big
appropriation bills and they will be
considered together at an early ses- ,
sion, and sent to the senate after
adoption. A slash in the budget re-
quests that totalled $5.750,0o0 was
made by the ways and means commit
lee on seven state institutions, the
tour normal colleges and three state
Other severe reductions
are to come in the committee on addi- I
Iiofsai appropriation bills and It is
.xvected that still more reductions
will be attempted on the floor OF the
house and senate. I,
TAX LOAN ASSOCIATIONS.
In addition to making these cuts the
legislature plans to increase state re-