The diamond drill., 1921-04-16

LETTER
HOUSE SPEEDS UP, VOTES
TO ADJOURN APRIL 29
Death Penalty Bill Again Defeated;
Superintendent Of Schools TO
Receive $1,000 In 1923.
lFrom stan correspondsnt.l


The heavy grind OF the Michigan
legislative session now has begun and
the house OF representatives daily
calendar has grown to huge proper.
tions. The amount of work thus
placed I'm 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 I'm 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 I'm the fate of the
capital punishment bill. which was
revived by It's author. Rep. Hart. after
apparently having been disposed Of
for the session. The bill again re-
ceived a majority of the votes cast.
the ballot standing 40 TO as. but IL
etill lacked two votes OF the necessary
81 TO adopt IL. Two votes had been
gained for the bill since It 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 H. 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 1t up once
more, but It 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 SO 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-
ciprocal 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 bill TO increase the salary OF Su-
perintendent OF Public Instruction
Johnson from $4,000 10 $1,000 a year.
was adopted blythe house after a hot
fight, but two attempts 20 give IL i'm
mediate effect failed. the second one
losing by single vote. A third ef-
fort 10 bring the matter up again was
ruled out of order. Immediate effect
was necessary x Supt. Johnson is to
yet the salary increase during the
next two years. II the senate concurs
in 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 /. The in
crease will therefore not be paid un-
I'll after July 1. 1928.
Another important bill which ap.
pears now TO be lost is the income
tax measure, which was tabled after
falling TO receive 81 votes. House
gossip has Il that six members who
voted for Il have changed their minds
and will vote against II now II II is
taken from the table. The bills spon-
sors are marking time while trying TO
line up 81 votes.
APPROPRIATIONS REDUCED.
To speed up the work OF the ses-
sion in the house. members finally
have begun TO allow the attaching OF
roll calls to bills on which there is no
disagreement. About ten minutes is
saved each time and long grist OF
bills on third reading is more readily
handled by attaching the names OF
members present as voting favorably
ON the bills which no one opposes
Speed Is a prime requisite II the leg
isIature is 20 get through it's business
by April 20. the adjournment date
adopted by tho house as an amend
ment TO a resolution 10 adjourn April
4 14 The senate Is holding up the ad-
journment resolution TO see II II 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
tee has reported out nearly all the big
appropriation bills and they will be
considered together at an early ses
sion. and sent 10 the senate after
adoption. A slash in the budget. re-
quests that totalled s5.750,00O was
made by the ways and means commit
tee on seven state Institutions. the
four normal colleges and three state
hospitals. other severe reductions
are 10 come in the committee on add.
tional appropriation bills and II Is
expected that still more reductions
will be attempted on the foor OF Tho
: house and senate.
TAX LOAN ASSOCIATIONS.
In addition TO making these cuts the
legislature plans to increase state re-
a.. N.~.r~.flr..