A Legislative Scandal

Laat week closed with two decided sensations - the Dakin scandal and the disclosures of the special comrxnttee appointed to investígate the graveyard insurance companies. The chargea against Representativo Dakin are of the most serious nature, being in brief, .that on the night of April 1G, in the saloon of Davis & Cottington, in Lan6ing, in talking over the Saginaw charter bill with ex-Prosecuting Attorney Eaton, of that place, he told him it would requiie money to be used among the members in order to secure the passage of the bill. The affidavit of Mr. Eaton states that Dakin cook a ro!l-cal) and checked off the names of seventeen members, placing opposite their names the amounts which would be required to "fix" them. When this was made public, it of course created the most intease excitement, especially among the members designated as purchasable. Upon being pressed, Dakin admitted that he had made the checks and figures, and stated that he intended to nee the money in getting up a feast tor these eeventeen members. On the other hand, the friends of Mr. Dakin claim he has been more sinned against than ginning; that the whole thing is a conspiracy into which this unlucky member, who is not credited with being overly astute, was unwittingly led, They wffl stand by him until full7 assured of h'.s guilt. At this writing it looks as though the outcome would be impeachinent and expulsión, though he may possib'y, if the theory of his friends be fbund to be correct, be censured without being expelled. The labor members feel keenly the humiliation and disgrace of Mr. Dakin's position. This scandal was almost over-shadowed by the exposures of the special committee, appointed soraething over a month ago, of the rottenness ot the speculative insurance concerns of the state. The report proper covers 243 pages of closely written lypewriter matter, accompanied by four stanstical tables which show the present condition of all this class of companies now doing business ia Michigan, besides 825 pages of testimony. It is impossible in the space of such a letter as this to attempt to give the facts adduced, without which no adequate conueption can be had of the swindles perpetrated ; but they will all be made public speedily. The entire testimony wili be published in pamphlet form and the report of the committee will be published in full in the Legisla'ive Journal. Many prominent people throughout the state are mixed up with these frauds. I do not doubt now, however, the legialature will take steps to rid the state oí these nefarious gambling specuUtiong, although the concerns are preparing to fight like fury for their existeace. Though the canstitu ionality of such proceedings is strongly questioned, the custom of revamping oíd aud dead bilis is gaining favor year by year with the legislature. Duiing this session alore tour such bilis have already pa sec!, and no one knows how many more may be resussitated and rushed through. The late exGov. Croswell, in v;toiug such a bilí, expressed the opinión that it is not within the power of the legislatura to pass a measure in such a manner. Judge Cooley, in a note to his able work on consti'.utionall imitations, said such action was clearly in violation of the constitution and considered it a matter of surprise to find it ever resorted to. In 1881 Hon. D. H. Jerome vetoed a bilí for the same reasons. And the provisión of the constitution declaring that "no new bill shall be introduced in o either house af ter the first fifty days ot a session shall have expired" is clearlv mandatory. Nevartheless the woik goes gaüy on. Gov. Luce, being asked il he had any objections to giving his reasons for vetoing the supervisors bill and thus making a scrap book necessary in the executive office for newspaper comments, said he had not, and enlightened the interviewer as follows : The present law is satirfactory ; the amendment would require tco long reports ; the board would publish in one paper ouly, henee fewer people would see the reports than is the case now; the counties are dififerenily situated and each can better publish in the manner best suited to itself; the amendment would centralize the publication into one newspaper and oc?asion an interminable fight; the pamphlet would be abolished because of too great expense; no other state requires a fuller report than Michigan does. Mr. Baumgardner's bill to provide for the election of the insursnee commissioner and to enlarge the powers of the insurance bureau was reported favorably by the house committee on manufactures. It designates the governor, secretary of state, auditor general, attorney general and commissioner of insurance as a board of directors of the intiurance bureau, and empowers the latter to engage in the business of insurance on behalt of the state. It is the intention that this shall be done at such rates of premium as to make the bureau self-sustaining and no more. The bill further provides for the election of one insurance agent in each township to take risks, receive premiums and act as one of the adjustors in case of loss, and appropriates $200,000 to start the business. House file 316, agreed to in house committee of the whole, reduces the rate of interest to six per cent. in cssea where no amount is stipulated and leaves the maximum ten per cent. as at present. Although it was currently reported the governor would veto the bill providing for sending first-termed prisoners from the counties to the Detroit house of correction, he has approved the measure. Mr. Ogg's bill to requiie the use of blowers in factories and shops using emery wheels has passed the house. I have already given the provisions of this bill in a previous letter. Before passage it was amended so as not to apply to shops, factories, Baw or shingle milis where such ■wheels are only oscasionally used. Tne senate bill for the prevention and suppression of contagious and infectious diseases among the live stock of the slate has passed the body. By its provisions transportation companies willfully violating the rules, orders or directions of the live stock sanitary commission, or evading any qnarandne proclamation of the governor, are made liable to a fine of not less than $500 nor more than $5,000 for each and every offense, and for all damages. The house committee on ways and means reported without resommendation the bill for marking by monuments the places where certain Michigan volunteer regiments were engaged at the battle of Gettysburg. The bill was ordered printed and goes on the general order. The senate has knocked out the gymnasium clause from the university appropriation bill, and paseed the rest of the appropriations asked. The house committee on ways and means has passed the appropriations for new buildings and improvements at the soldiers' home until there is very little left of them- about $3,300 out ot the $28,000 asked, Senator Rairden says he was ordered to oppose having the decorative work on the capitol done by a contractor not a citizen of the Ucited States or Michigan. If, however, Mr. Wright is an American citizen no objection can be raised' against him. I very much fear the two cent railroad fare bill is going to be cut down in its infancy. The railroads are fighting it for all they are worth. LaXSIKO, April 26, 1887.