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Our Lansing Letter

Our Lansing Letter image
Parent Issue
Day
27
Month
January
Year
1887
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

To the Editor : The two houses resamed business Monday evening, the senate at 9 and the house at 9:15, after eüjoying what has become the rpulation Saturday and Mon day recegs. Notwiths'.anding these seasons of recreation with which toe members are indulging themselves, they hare managed to crowd a good deal of business into their working hours, as well as having some fun and several able-bodied tilts If the gupply of ccngress water holds out there is every reason to believe their work will be done as wigely as expeditiously. Among the more important business of the senate during the past week was the introduction of a bilí by Mr. Barton to appropriate money tor the support anc improveaient of the state public school at Coldwater Mr. Crosby inlroduced a bilí to repeal the act establishing uniform time. Mr. Gorman introduced a bilí to regúlale freight tariff and prevent unjust discriminaron in charges upon the railroads of this state. The bill to punieh 'alse preteuses in obtaining certificates of registration of cattle and other animáis, and to punisb givinf false pedigrees, was read a third time and passed. In addition to these there has been noticed and introduced a grist of bilis that could not be eyen mentioned, neverso briefly, were the whole of this letter employed for tbat purpose alone. I therefore only attempt to outline Euch bilis as seem to me to be of eepecial public import. In the house, Representative Dillon introduced a bilí to stamp all prison made goods. Mr. Grinnell gave notice oí a b'll to amend the law relating to the inspection of illuminating oils. The petition of Detroit ladies for raWing the age of coneent for females to 18 years, containing 2,500 names, was presented to the house by Mr. Hosford and ordered spread in full upon the journal. A bill was introduced to make the salary of the supreme court judges $ 7.U00, payable monthly. A bill was introduced providing a uniform state bounty ot f 100 10 all volunteer soldier in in tbc late war who enlisted prior to 18G5, after deducting all bounties paid by this state, or any county, city, township or Tillage iherein. The labor committee re ported fuvorably on the bill to repeal the Baker conspiracy law, and the report was ordered printed. A committee was ap pointed to investígate the charges mace in relation to abuses at the soldier' home, and was empowered to take testimony and get at the true inwardness of tbe management. Mr. Grinnell will introduce a bill to make pawnbrokers take 25 per cent. instead ot 125 per cent interest on their loans. The resolutions adopted to provide the members with knives and gcissors was reconsiderad and voted down the next morning. The question of raieing the age of consent of females has engaged considerable attention since the commenoement of the session. Prominent ladies of the state, wor iing through the W. 1 1. T. IL, have had petitions in circulation for some time askiug that the age be raised to 18 years; but before they were readv for business a new and enterprising member sprung the queetion upon the house, setting the age ol consent at 1G years. The matter was referred and the committee was to have reported favorably Wednesday, the 19th, but at the solicitation of Dr. Anna Ballard, of Lanting, who is charged with the responsibility of looking after and presenting to the legislature the petitions circulating through the state on a look out for signatures, the committee promised to withhold the report for a week. The petitions containing over 2,500 names a!ready presented, asking that the age of consent be raised to 18 years, are trom Detroit alone, and Dr. Ballard desires the members to see how thoroughly the request is backed up throughout the state before any decisive action is taken. W'lule in conversation with that lady the other day she permitled me to read letters Irom I. C. Walker and other prominent persons strongly commending the efforts of the ladies and teridering their good offices. If those iuterested cannot have the age oí consent raised to 18 years they will ac cept 16 years as a long s.ep in advance. If placed at the latter age they believe it will remain therr for many yv-ars to come. It islikely that Representative Hostord's bill providing that railroad corporati jns sball restore to the public domaiu all unsold lands granted them by the government, after ten years, will créate something of a stir. The passage of the bill will be advocated by strong petitions and an influential lobby. Mr. Il sford is one of' the active, earuest labor inembers who believe their constituen 8 expect them to do BOmething usi'ful. This bill will serve ag a foundation upon which divers members will build more or less elaborated orator - ical superstructuras, and Mr. Hoglord himsélf will be brought promir.ently to tbe front. It is expected that Gov. Luce will send a special message to the house recommending that an appropriatior. be made to enable the state to take her proper place in the centennial celebration ot the signing of the ordiuance of 1787, by which the northwestern territory was tormed. Don C. Henderson is interesting himself and others m the matter. Wednesday afternoon, the 19th, in the house the report of the special committee upon the deaih of Hon. Ovid N. Case, of Wayne, became the special order. The resolulions were read by tbe clerk and unanimously adopted. Pending their adoptiou eulogies were delivered by Messrs. Hosford, Rumsey, McCormick, Cbapman.Diekema, Bentley and Crossman. The report of the committee reiative to payiog to the widow of the deceated the salary to wkich her husband would have been entitled had he served out liis term was also adopted. A large and beautiful crayon portrait of the deceased will accompany tbe engrossed resoiutions to tbe bereaved widow. Tbe bill f urther regulating the sale of oleomargerine is liable to become law. I provides that not only signa bearing ihe words, "Oleomargerine Sold Here," o "Biitterioe Sold Here," as the case may be, shall be placed conspicuously over the doorway to and in the centre of room where these anieles are sold, but also provids that similar sign bearirg thi words, "Oleomarperine Used Here,' "Butterine Used Here," etc., shall be hung in the centre of dinning room o hotels and boarding houses where thesi "counterfeit presentemente" are supplied I suppose the granger members expec these signa wlll strike terror to the hearts of those who come in contact with them and cause a greater demand tor the genuine article. At a meeting of the prohibition state central committee in this city last week the proposed constitutional amendment was thoroughly discussed, and decisión reached being that they would accept the situation, and in the event of the passage of the resolution do all in their power to insure the success oí the amendment at the polls. A provisional commiitee was appointed to act in conjunction with the temperance people of the state in case o: gubmissioD. The bill noticed in the house by Representative Ogg to abolish prison coLtracts is the naural outcome of the constant agitation which that matter has been re ceivuiK fir the past few years. Two years ago a similar bill was pawed by both houses but was vetoed by the governor. It is expected, however, that that will not be the fate of the bill this time. Labor Commissioner Pond, who is interested in the success of the bill, will do al] he can to secure its passage and the tpre of the governor. Lansing, Jan. 25, 1887.

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Subjects
Old News
Ann Arbor Register