The diamond drill., 1921-03-26

always were marked by warm battles
between the railroads and the train
mems organizations. The senate
passed the bill this time by vote or
is to l2 and It now goes TO the house.
where another battle over II ID pre-
dicted by both sides.
DEBATE ON FiREARM BILL.
The second special bill In the sem
ato was the eugenics bill put in by
Senator Davis, which would require
physicians certificate OF health for all
parties seeking marriage licenses. The
roll call that finally ended this battle
showed 10 senators against II out OF
the 32 members and the bin thus went
down TO defeat
Enough argument for half dozen
ordinary bills was occasioned In both
houses by the Lennon bill to prohibit
unnaturalized aliens from hunting
wild game. The real intent OF the bill
is to keep them from having firearms
in their possession. Much crime IL
attributed TO aliens and Rep. Lennon
took occasion In the debate on the
Hart capital punishment bill TO de-
clare that the murder rate In Michi-
gan would be lessened more by his
bill against the possession OF guns by
foreigners than Il would be by the In
fiiction OF the death penalty. The Len
non bill got by both houses in spite
of the long arguments over II and
now is in the hands OF the governor.
The senate killed Senator Hayes
bill TO make Good Friday legal holi-
day. the opposition prevailing against
II on the ground that other holidays
are used more for sports than any
thing else and that such use OF Good
Friday would be repugnant to all who
wished TO observe the day as church
day
Important bills that have emerged
from committee and will now take up
the attention OF the Legislators are the
moving picture censorship bill and
the Joint resolution 10 amend the con-
stitution so as TO obtain state In
come tax. In connection with the
latter proposal there already is warm
advance argument over the respective
merits OF an income tax as against
a proposed corporation tax. Some
favor both.
TAX ON CORPORATIONS.
The corporation tax bill, with the
backing OF Gov. Groesbeck. was intro
duced in the senate by Senator Van
denboom. II would require reports by
August / OF each year from all cor
porations doing business in the state,
with fees OF from So TO $40 on reports.
interpretations. amendments OF incor-
porations. appeals, etc. A tax OF three
and half mills would be levied on
profitmaking corporations. Non.profit
corporations would pay $40 fee with
each annual report. The only cor
porations exempt from the law would
be railroads. interurbans. telephone
and telegraph companies. II Is esti-
mated that this corporation tax would
bring the state from six to twelve mil
lion dollars annually.
question OF Governor Groesbeck and
has passed along TO the senate the
bill TO create state department or
conservation. The proposed new
department would include the pres
ent public domain commission. the
present fish commission. the present
state park commission. the present
state game. fish and fire warden de-
partments and other allied state bu.
reaus. A board OF seven members Is
provided by the bill, the chief direc-
tor to receive salary OF $4,000 a
year. An effort 10 reduce this salary
to $S,500 was defeated
The bill TO create a department OF
labor and industry also has been re-
turned In the house favorably. IL
would combine the present state labor
department and certain features OF
the state accident commission. which
operates under the workmen's COM
pensation act.
MORE DISTRICTS FOR STATE.
Perhaps no greater interest could
be aroused In Michigan than was cre-
ated by the news that the state might
gain five congressman In the house
in Washington. An entire redistribu-
ton OF the state would be needed
even II there were only two new con-
gressmen to be elected from Michi-
gan. The legislature is keenly awake
TO It's chances in this regard. there
being always the chance that new dis
trict boundaries may prevail after the i
finish their task OF re-as-
signing the geographical boundaries
Of the states districts. Under ordi-
nary circumstances II would be antic-
ipated that Wayne county would de-
mand that two OF the new congress,
men be from It's confines. but II the
usual multiplicity Of candidates should
prevail. as most Wayne observers are
then the legislative OBJ
servers are correct IN their deduc
lions that q would be possible f0t