Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1921-02-24


year on highway construction, the
house committee on roads and bridges
has taken action TO systematic the
states highway construction methods.
The first step in this direction is in
the form OF an amendment TO the
state highway act which depriyes
counties of the right to dissolve them
selves into township units for the pur-
pose of road building. The amend
ment has been reported out OF the
committee with the recommendation
that it be passed.
County Unit More Efficient
when the state and federal gov
ernments are spending vast sums for
highway construction, the county is
the smallest unit in the state which
can function efficiently for road build
ing purposes" said Rep. Charles
Evans. chairman CT the committee on
roads and bridges.
1T is manifestly unfair TO permit
one small township to block the work
of road across a county by refusing
to cooperate with its neighbors. That
has been the experience, however,
when townships built their own roads.
The system has never been success
full and after one or two years try ont
the counties which went to the town
ship system have returned TO the
larger unit
Michigan is now entitled TO $4,000.
600 in federal aid COR highway con
struction and If a bin now before con
gress goes through win receive an
additional 100000, all OF which
would be available for road work for
the year beginning July 1, 1921
The first bill passed by the 1921
Legislature was sent to the Governor
by the senate lat week before aG
journment of both houses to allow
the Legislators to attend the Rcpub
lican state convention at Detroit II
authorizes the calling OF spring
primary in Ingham county TO nomin-
ate a circuit Judge.
The bill providing for state adj
ministratiye board recently passed
by the senate, passed the house by
unanimous vote IL carried, however
two minor amendments and must be
returned to the senate cor its APP
proval. The bill for centralizins all
state auditing in the auditor general
department, previously passed by the
senate, was also passed By the house
Censorship Of Movies Asked.
In the senate a bill proposing state
censorship of motion pictuS films and
advertising by state board at Lans
ing. was introduced by Senator John
w. Smith. Port Huron. The board
would be headed by the superintend-
ent of public instruction who would
be authorized to employ one inspector
at $500 a year, and one stenoggapher.
The board would nc approve alms
which, in its opinion. We're sacrileg-
ious. obscene, indecent. immoral, or
tending to suggest false ideals or in
cite crime. All advertising matter for
films would also have to be submitted
to the board for approved.
A fee of 81 for each 1000 feet OF
film would be collected by the board.
except in the case of educational
films for schools or churches. when
the fee would be reduced to % cents
A fine of $25 to 500, or 80 days in
Jail, is provided for yiolators
Establishment of one library
each township or city is proposed in
l,.r
ator H. A. Penny, Saginaw, which
asks for a constitutional amendment
TO be voted on at the April election.
The amendment would also abolish
the practice OF divcrting money re-
ceived as fines in penal cases to
library uses.
Senator Bolts concurrent resolution
calling upon congress to hasten pas
sage OF soldiers bonus measure waI
adopted by the house under a suspen-
sion of the rules.
Repeal Of Tax Exemption
Repeal of the tax exemption on for
eign securities held in Michigan and
the imposition OF an ad yalorem tax
on tnlS CLASS VI piDHtlAN VIII VI lli5
the state revenue in excess of $4,000.
600 annually, Rep. George Lord chair
man of the general taxation commit
tee. told the house members. speaking
for his bill to repeal the exemption.
NRep. Lord declared that the present
registration fee of one half of one per
cent gives the state only $4,000 a
year and that the tax is collected but
once during the life OF such securities
which average Is years.
Increase in the percentage OF its
assessed valuation which a city may
spend for the purchase. improvement
and extension of public utilities is pro
vided in a bill introduced by Rep
Edward s. Ramsey. Lansing His
amendment to the present law will
increase the limit from s to 10 per
cent OF assessed valuation.
Declaring that duty on Canadian
lumber will work an untold hardship
on home owners and tend to provoke
retaliatory measures by our northern
neighbor, Rep Arlie Hopkins. hal in.
trOducod n raao1utf- m oa1ffng on Cou