Letter From The State Capital

Lansing, Jan. 25, 1879. Probably the people are moro deeply ' interested in the matter of TAXATION ;han irf any other measure that will come before the Legislatura this session. The long-contimied financial pressure has made the people feel distrustful and sad, and they are looking to this Legislatnre to lighten their burdens as muoh as possible. It has long been feit in Michigan that 10 per cent. interest was too high to admit of any man's doing business on borrowed capital. A strong pressure is being brought to bear npon this Legislature to have the legal rato reduced to 7 per cent., as is the case iu some other States. Mr. Thorpe, of Brancli eounty, even proposed to reduce the rate to 5 per cent., but sucli a sweeping reduetion conld not be made to work. But the people havo rights which the law-making power of the State is bound to respect. That the legal rate of interest in Michigan will bo reduced from 10 to 7 per cent. there is good reasou to believe. "CUTTING" raTES FOR LEGAL PRINTING. Senate bill No. 8, entitled "A bill to amend compiler's section No. 7,454 of the compiled laws of 1871, in regard to publinhing legal notices," called out a sharp discussion in that body last Tucsday. The bilí iu question proposes to reduce the price of legal printing from 70 to 50 cents per folio, with half-rates for each insertion after the flrst. There being some putlishers among the Senators, the bill brought theni to their feet at once. Mr. Huston was in favor of the reduetion proposed. He argued that since the pricea oí almost everything have greatly declined since the war, the pricefor legal printing ought also to be correspondingly reduced. Salaries and the wages of laboring men have been greatly reduced since the war. He contended that the publishers in his part of the State are making money these hard times. Mr. Hodge, after forty years' experience in the publishing business, thought he kncw soniething in relation to the matter. He said that, in war times, when prices for everything were enormously liigh, in response to a popular demand on the part of the publishers of the State, the price of legal printing in tliis State was increased from 50 to 70 cents per folio. He claimed that printers before the war gladly took legal printing at 50 cents per folio, and, in his ' judgment, they would now gladly do the same thing. He contended that the high rates now in vogue fall with ! ing weight upon the poorer classes, who are least able to bear the burden. Mr. Shepard strennously opposed tlie proposed reduction in legal rates, earnestly contending that printers as a class are poor men, striving hard to " make both ends meet." Ho claimed that all pul lishers do mueh gratuit ons advertising for the public ; that about all the cash country editors receive comes from their legal printing; that the prices for printing materials have not materially decreased since the war, etc. After discussing the matter at some length, on motion of Mr. Shepard, the bill wa.s re referred to the Committee on Judiciary. CAPITAL PUNISHMENT. Hon. Levi Bishop, of Detroit, has presented a petition to the Senate, asking for the restoration of capital punishment for murdcr. The potitioner, Mr. Bishop, is one of the best-known and most able lawyers in the State, and it is fair to infer that he has given the muiter much thought and not a little investigation. He contends earnestly that, since the death penalty was abolished in this State, the crime of murder has fearfully increased. He says there were fifty murders in Michigan last year. He holds that the "greatest good to the greatest number " dcmands the restoration of the death penalty in this State. The matter will most likely come before the present Legislature for somr action thereon. WOMAN SUFFRAGE. In conjmittee of the whole in the House, the other day, Mr. G. H. Hopkins' bill, providing for the organization of Protestant Episcopal churches, on a motion to strike out the word "male," called out a sharp and exciting debate. Mr. Kalm, of Detroit, led off in the debate, asserting that the Bible expressly excludes wonnen from church government. "To women," he said, "were not given the keys of the church.' Messrs. Thompson, Parsons and Mc Nabb all spoke eloquently in favor of the amendment to strike out the word' "male." Mr. Hall tbought the question of female sufí'rage ouglit iiot to be dragged into the affairs of a church. Mr. Gould said that women are, as a class, the best and most refined of the sexes. Tlie question, he said, was one of right, and not one of polity. It will not do to say to the women in our churches : " Yon have 110 right s which males are bound to respect." Mr. Thorpe said he was a believer in the advancement of gre.it ideas like woman suffrage. He thovight the matter one of great importance. Mr. Donnelly said that the church should be allowed to govern itself without any outside interference. Mr. Allen thought the members were making a big ado out of nothing. Si. Paul said : "Let women keep silence in the churches." They exert a powerful influence for good, but many of thein do not wisli for the ballot. They wouldn't thank any one ior the privilege. A standing vote was then taken, resulting in a vote oí' 44 to 37 in favor of striking out the obnoxious word " male." (.'IIARÖES AOAINST THE ]NKAXE A8TLUM. Last Wednesday, ia the Senate, Mr. Hodge, of Jackson county, offered the following preamble and resolution : ïïhemas, TheAsylum for the Iiwane, at Kalamazoo is an institution, built lip, fostered and supportcd by the people of tlie State f' r a good and benoficent object - the care of a ciase of unfortunatos M'ho in do other way could well be pro vidod for ; And wïiereas, Grave reporto are in circulatiqn, and serious charges made, that patients in aid institution are ofttimo treated in a harxli, oruel and harbaroua marnier by tliose having tho charge and care of the unfortunate 'nniates thorein, endangering life and health, which, if true, ifiaproperHulijC'-tfor Legislativo action and correction, demanded alikc by comion Immanity and the oulightened spirit of the age; theroforo. Resolved, That the Senato Committee on tho A&ylum tor the Insane be instmeted to make a thorongh examination into the trath or falsity of said reports and charges, and report the ficta to this honorable body for action. A', solved, That all persons, rosidontn of this State, who know of any acta or cirenmstances coming within the intent of töie foregoing fesolution, be anti are hereby requeeted to present the same, duly attested, to the Commictee of the Senate on iho Asylums for the Insaue. Which was adopted. I'rom the fact that the Detroit Evening NewH has roeeiitly revived some old charges and added some new ones, this matter is causing quite an excitement among members of the. Legislature. ADJOI'RNMEST. Both houses will adjourn from Jan. 31st to Feb. lOtli, in order to givo the committee time to visit the various State institutions. A good deal of hard work has been done the past week. The committees are hard at work upon various bilis. (i. W. H. The highest salary ever in Boston was that of J. Wiley Edmonds, who, at tho time of his death, was receiving $50,000 per annnm as Treasurer of the Pacific milis. The highest salary paid to a bank President in Boston at present is $10,000, the highest to a cashier is $3,500. The range of salaries of drygoods salesmen is from $5,000 to $500 a yvnr. In the wholesale boot and shoe trade, the highest salary is not over $4,000.