The diamond drill., 1921-04-30

Friends OF the bill for a moving
picture censorship have begun to des
pair that it will ever get out OF the
senate state affairs committee. where
II has been held since II passed the
house. Another bill OF uncertain fate
in a senate committee is the Olmsted'
Watson bill TO permit state banks 10
engage in the trust business. Some
trust companies actively opposed this
bill at a hearing before the senate
committee. but others favored 1t.
Refeated once. the bill to permit the
state administrative board TO sell the
old state block in Lansing finally was
adopted by the house after being
taken from the table.
RESTRICT PAROLE POWER.
The house has passed the Glaspie
bill TO restrict the paroling of life
term prisoners. without waiting for
the report OF its committee inquiring
into paroles given in the past. The
committee has asked former Govern
ors Albert f. Sleeper and Woodbridge
N. Ferris to appear before It and tell
about paroling prisoners.
Gov. Groesbeck has sent 10 the SEN
ate for confirmation the appointment
of Nathan f. Simpson. OF Hartford,
former warden OF Jackson prison, as
a member of the state tax commission
70 succeed Orlando F. Barnes, OF Ros-
common.
The Byrum bill creating a state
welfare department has been pass
ed by the house and transmitted
to the senate. The bill abolishes the
state board OF corrections and chari-
ties and all boards OF control for stdte
institutions. The new department is
to be headed by director at salary
OF $4,000 year. with commissions ap-
pointed for each variety OF state In
stitutions coming within Il.
A hospital commission OF seven
members would look after the Pontiac,
Kalamazoo. Traverse City. Newberry
and Ionia hospitals, together with the
state home and training school and
the farm home for epileptics. A pris.
on commission OF five would look after
the state prisons; corrections com.
mission OF five would oversee the in.
dustrial and training schools: and an
other commission OF five would have
charge OF the schools for the blind
and the deaf.
GOVERNOR GETS TAX BILL.
BY vote OF SO to 12 the house
adopted the corporation tax bill,
which previously had passed the SEN
ate and sent the act to the governor
Nearly all Of the members who voted
against the bill made speeches explain.
ng their votes. They regarded the
bill as discriminatory In regard to the
small corporations. Supporters OF the
bill declared II to be a fee measure
instead OF tax bill and declared the
we're willing to come un-
Ter II as II stood, while they might
Knock II out In the courts II the fees
we're made so high as to appear like
additional taxation.
The legislators and state officials
estimate that the corporation bill will
)ring in enough funds this year to
AXE care of the existing deficit or
nearly six million dollars.
Coincident with the passage OF the
,ill they became generous towards the
University OF Michigan, which has
been appeaiing ever since the session
began for building fund OF $500 900
With which 10 provide modern build.
ngs. The senate finance committee
in favor of allowing the uni
lersity $5,300.000 during the next two
'ears, provided the state administra.
i've board finds that the corporation
AK is producing the estimated amount
II revenue.
The house ways and means com
nittee, at the same time, reported in
aVor OF allowing the university a mill
AK OF three-fifths OF a mill, instead OF
he present rate OF three-eighths OF a
Mill. II is figured that this tax will
rive the university revenue OF s3.-
100000 year. AT present II is get.
ing slightly less than t1.700,000 from
Is 1919 mill tax.
PASS PENSION ALLOWANCE.
Public utilities bills bid fair to keep
before the lawmakers until the last
lay OF the session. The Osborn bill.
n the senate. was revamped in an
,ffort TO make II agreeable 10 home
'ule advocates and at the same time
strengthen the state utilities commits.
ion, and a vote on II was delayed
While Il was being reprinted. The
Dafoe bill. in the house. was held In
committee because the Osborn bin
lad been given the right OF way.
The newest OF the pending utilities
bills is one that would empower the
state commission to order the connec.
ion OF two electric lines for through
service. the object being to allow In.
erurban cars in Detroit to 40 through
n the event that the city takes over
'ome OF the lines now held by the
comDany