State News Notes

Lansirm-, Mich., April 9.- The Edgar bilí providing that liquor tax money shall be paid into the treasury of the township or municipality in which the saloon is located instead of being diviied with the county as now, was killed in the house. This body, in committee of the whole, passed the bill proviidng for a tax of 5 per cent. on all inheritances or transfer made in contemplation of death, whether of real or personal property or -yhether made by residents or non-residents. Inheritanc-;s of $5,000 or less are exempted, as is property willed to a father, mother, husband, wife, child, brother, sister, wife or widow of a son, or husband of a daughter. Bills were passea pruviumg that in trials for bigamy the testimony of husband or wife raay be received without the consent of the other, and provlding that all fruit packages have conspicuously stamped on them the fraction of a bushei which they contain was agreed to. The senate passed a bilí permitting taking of minnows used for bait with nets in the Les Cheneaux channels. Lansing. Mich-, April 10.- The socalled Molster convict labor bilí was mercilessly slaughtered by the-lower house of the state legislature Thursday. All after the enacting clause has been stricken out. The friends of the bill could only muster twenty-nine votes out of the ninety-nine raernbers of the house. The bill, which was pushed by organzed labor representatives, prohibited the contracting of prison labor and as a substitute provided that the convicta might be farmed out in lots of twenty to the several counties of the state, and employed at road building. The farmers wére opposed to the bill, as were the prison wardens and others familiar with the employment of convicts. The argument that the convicts employed at current labor tended to reduce the price of free labor was effectually refuted by Warden Fuller of the Ionia prison, who showed that certain kinds of furniture is being manufactured by free labor in Grand Rapids and sold at a less price than similar furniture is made in the institution with which he is connected. Lansing, Mlch., April 13.- The Wideow committee of the legislature, which has been inyestigating various allegations made by Governor Pingree and others against the railways of the state, submitted a report yesterday which recommends as follows: First, that a committee be appcinted by the governor to arbítrate all differences between shippers and railroads; second, all freight traffics should be under the jurisdiction of the state; third, railroads should be obliged to furnish freight cars to pers within forty-eight hours alter having been served with written notice lor the same; fourth, railroads should be obliged to furnish storage room for perishable freight until they are able to furnish cars for its transportation ; fifth, railroads should be held liable for damage resulting from wrong delivery or loss of frieght shipped for destinations reached by other connecting lines; sixth, all f ast freight lins should be obliged to incorpórate undor the laws of this state, with offices within the state. The committee also reeommends laws to regúlate switching and delivery of ears and fixing charges for same; that the law forbidding discriminations in freight rates be amended so as to remove its apparently broad discretionary feature; that uniform forms of freight bilis be required, which shall show the weight, rate and class for which the bill is rendered. A state railroad commission is also recommended. It is generally believed that while the house is favorable to anti-railway legislation the senate is not. MICHIGAN CROP REPORT. Weather Not Specially Unfavorable to Wheat During the Winter. Lansing, Mich., April 10. - Cool, wet weather prevailed in September, 1896. the temperature being below and tho rainfall in excess of the normal, but in October the weather wasunusually cold and dry, and on November 1 the wheat plant was small though in healthy condition. Dec. 1 the average condition in the state was 91. During the winter the weather was not specially unfavorable and while in individual fields and localities wheat may have been more or less damaged, there has been no general or severe winter-killing throughout the state. The average condition in the state April 1, was 87; in the southern counties, 86; in the central, 87, and in the northern, 91; comparison being wltb average years. One year ago the ige condition in the state was 86; in L895, 85, and in 1894, 90. The amount of wheat reported in Maren is 657,428 tmsnels, and in tho sight months, August-March, 7,534,871 bushels, which is 221,635 bushels more than reported marketed in the same months last year. The average condition of clover meadows and pastures is, in the southern counties, 91 per cent.: central, 87; northern, 89, and state, 90. Live stojk is reported in good condition, the averages ranging from 95 to 98 "per cent. The outlook for apples seems to be favorable; corresponden ts.however, are of the opinión that the heavy erop of last year :s likely to be followed by a light one this year. Peach buds have been generally and severely injured. Other fruits promise well. PLANS FOR A MEMORIAL. University of Michigan Students AVant a Trophy Koom, Aun Arbor, Mich., April 14. - The senior memorial committee of the University of Michigan, composed of members from the various graduating classes, are considering a number of plans for a memorial, but as yet have decided I upon none. The plan which seems to meet with the most favor is that of fitting up a room in the gymnasium as a trophy room. In the east many colleges have had such rooms for several years, and they have proved to be very interesting. Al) balls used in the gamos l of foot ball and base ball are marked ■with the scores and stored in these rooms, which can be seen by the public, thus preserving the history of the nter-collegiate games in a very unique way. . . The first number of the nevv combined Annual of the University of Michigan, the Michiganensian. will be placed on on sale about May 1. The shape of the book will be quite different from that of the "Castalian," but in other typographical respects will be much the same. It will be divided into different departments and will be in two colors. ILL LUCK OF DIEKEMA. Hls Ambition To Bc Mayor Twloe Dcfeat1 by a l"ew Votes. Grand Rapids, Mich., April 13.- G. J. Diekema of Holland is in hard luck. He was nominated for mayor a year ago and on the face of the returns wad defeated by a majority of four votes by James De Young. He demanded a recount and the recount gave his opponent an increased majority of twelve, and De Young has been mayor the last year. Thp same candidates made the race this spring and on the face of the returns Diekema was elected by a majority of four. De Young contested and a recount of the ballots gave De Young the election by a majority of flve, anl he wiU keep right on being mayor. Th office is especially desirable this yeav, inasmuch as the semi-centennial of the coming of Dutch to this country will be imposingly celebrated in Holland in August and the city will havedistinguished guests from all parts of the country. The issue in the election was not one of silver or the single Standard, but was betweenelementsrepresentingHope college on one side and greater personal liberty on 'the other. The college element is strictly orthodox, and believes in running the town on puritanical lines, while the other element wants more freedom. The college element backed Mr. Diekema. ÖIKUOIS ÖY M rmcoi. What a Young Man Got for Whispering in Church. Owosso, Mich., April 14.- A warrant was sworn out Monday afternoon for the arrest of Rev. Father Peter J. Slane of St. Paui's Roman Catholic church of this city on complaint of James Welen, a merchant of Corunna, charging him with assault and battery. Welch attended vespers Sunday and Father Slans asserts that he was disturbing the meeting by whispering to a young woman who occupied the same pew. The priest left the pulpit, walked down to the pew and asked Welch if he did not know enough to behave like a gentloman in church. Welch says he started to leave the church when Father Slane struck him in the face and added afterwards that he regretted that he did not kick him downstairs. Welch is of medium size and no match for Father Slane, who is a tall, powerful man. The affair has attracted considerable attention. Kockefeller in the Pool. Houshton, Mich., April 12.- The widely published report that the Rockefeller mines on the Gogebic are not included in the Bessemer Iron association, perfected Friday at Cleveland, is entirely unfoundeci. In fact, the Rockefeller interest made strong efferts to hold the old ore pool line, and is heartily in aecord with the objects of the new pool. The old pool was broken by the Minnesota and Metropolitan Iron companies and not by Roekefeller or Carnegie. Tillie Andergon Is Invincible. Detroit, Mich., April 12.- Tillie Anderson won the six-day twelve-hour women's bicycle race Saturday night, with Helen Baldwin second, Dottie Farnsworth third. It was only a question of inches between the three leaders' wheels at the finish. The score was: Anderson, Baldwin and Farnsworth, 264 miles 14 laps; Gable, 261 miles, 5 laps; Bartlett, 201 miles, 5 laps. State Notes. L. E. Hermann was killed at Blissfield, Mich., by being drawn into the machinery of a grist mili. A veteran named Dickerson, living about three miles from South Haven, Mich., shot and killed his wife and then shot himself, inflicting probably fatal injury. Alva Campbell of Charlotte, Mich., was found in an unconscious condition from the effect of laudanum taken with suicidal intent. It is doubtful if he survives. He has a wife and one daughter about 19 years old. William C. Maybury was sworn in as mayor of Detroit Saturday. Governor Pingree was one of the flrst to congratúlate Maybury. Liroy Elison, an Algoma township, Mich., farmer, died yesterday as the result of being stabbcd by his own son. The son is believed to be insane. Pearl Lilly, 8 years old, of Glenwood, Mich., was burned to death while attempting to put wood in the stove. Taiiner Sliuts Out Cattle. Springfield, Hls., April 14. - Governor Tanner has issued a proclamation upon the recommendation of the state live stock commission scheduling the territory described by the secretary of agriculture of the United States, against Texas cattle on account of splenic ver, and prohibiting cattle therefrom being shipped into this state between Feb. 15 and Dec. 1 of each year, in accordance with the regulations of the state live stock commission. The regulations and territory prescribed are about the same as published for 1896. Found Hanging from a Tree. Middlesborough, Ky., April 14. - News has been received here that the body oí Wilber Bayden, who shot and killed Thomas Hayden, the betrayer of his (Bayden's) sister, was found hanging to a limb near the Tennessee line. After killing Hayden, Bayden escaped and as he had many influential friends to aid him everyone thought he would escape from the country, but the Haydens, it is thought, followed him and captured and hanged him. Farmer Found Murdered. Jacksonville, Hls., April 14.- William Martin, a prosperous and well-known farmer, was missing from home Monday night and Tuesday morning a search for him fcund nis body beside a haystack and nis he'ad pierced by a bullet. Martin lived about eight miles west of this place, had many friends and hardly any known enemies, and there is no plausible reason offered for the murder. Over Mayor Strongs Veto Albany, N. Y., April 14.- The greater New York charter bilí has passed the senate over Mayor Strong's veto by a vote of 34 to 10.