Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1921-04-14

troduced by Senator Brewer to have
the auditor general, state treasurer
and secretary OF state paid $4,000
year extra compensation for their ser
vices on the state administrative
board. Their salaries now are $4,000.
Auditor General Fuller has stated that
he does not believe such extra pay
ment would be legal unless voted by
the people and that he would not ac-
cept Ii from the legislature.
The house has reconsidered the vote
by which it failed to pass the bill in
creasing mothers pensions and tabled
the measure for future reference.
To Discuss Utilities Question.
With Legislative lines tightening in
anticipation of the rush that will pre-
cere the closing days of the session
few weeks hence, the fate OF the mum
erous public utilities bills before both
houses is beginning to attract much
attention. This week there will be
held a big public hearing on all these
measures and Immediately afterwards
will come the tug-of-war which will
settle the utilities legislation OF the
present session.
Held in committee since the session
was young are two bills, one in the
senate and one in the house, which
would strengthen the power of the
state public utilities commission TO
considerable degree. The senate bill
was introduced by Senator Don Os
born, of Kalamazoo, and the house bill
by Rep. Rafoe, of Alpena. Both bills
have drawn the fire of the League OF
Michigan municipalities and the effect
was observable when the Osborn bill
was reported out finally to the senate.
Amendments made to ii aim to safe
guard all franchise agreements still
in existence between municipalities
and utilities corporations; to have
local representation for the state utili-
ties commission where that is deemed
necessary; to place bus lines under
the control Of the state commission;
and TO exclude Highland Park from
the jurisdiction Of the commission.
The city of Detroit already was ex-
empted. The prospects are that the
big battle will come over the Osborn
bill and that the house will mark time
until the senate disposes of it. If the
senate adopts the Osborn bill the
house may consider it in connection
with the Dafoe bill.
Change In judicial Circuits.
The house killed the bill to increase
bill to place Tuscola county with
Lapeer in one judicial circuit and
leave Huron and Sanilac TO form an
other. The senate also adopted the
resolution calling on
Congress to speed up the lakes-to-
ocean waterway project as a means OF
the congested transportation
situation in the central western states
The house has approved the plan to
make a rate OF interest of five and one
half per cent on good roads bonds in
stead OF five per cent, in order to
make the bonds more attractive to
investors. The bill providing for this
also permits the issuance of maxi
mum OF ten millions OF dollars worth
of road bonds annually and places the
financing in the hands of the state
board.
The Byrum bill to prohibit local
agents and dealers from receiving
on road material which
does not pass through their hands was
killed by the house in the belief that
the state would save nothing and the
agents lose.
The senate has passed the Wood
bill to restore party enrollments and
the Smith joint resolution to submit
an amendment allowing cities TO ac-
quire for park purposes by condemna-
ton an excess amount OF land. The
first conferences of the session be-
tween the two houses were over
minor measures, one raising fees paid
by notaries in applying for commits.
sions and the other a fish bill.
Would Change Representation.
Much interest attaches to a joint
resolution introduced by Rep. Liddy,
of Detroit, proposing to amend the
state constitution so as to remove the
clause requiring that county retain
a member OF the state house of re-
If 1t has a moiety of the
required population under the last
census. This would allot house mem
berships on a straight population
basis and Wayne county would secure
30 to 80 members under the apportion-
ment in the next legislature, while
several counties throughout the state
would lose memberships. Wayne now
has fourteen house seats, having
failed to gain any in 1913 when the
last apportionment was knocked out
In the supreme court because 1t sought
to take seats In the house away from
counties which had a moiety of the
required population.
Senator Phillips has introduced a
bill to replace the present board OF
pardons with a commissioner of par.
dons who would be paid salary of
$4,000 year. Rep. Stevenson has