The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1903-04-24
OUR LANSING LETTER
Primary Elections Bill To Be Ts.
ken Up by the Senate
This Week.
ADJOURNMENT HANGS UPON IT
Need Of a New State Constitution
Holmes Liquor Bond Bill Gone
to Its Long Sleep.

Lansing, Mich, April 21.--The pri-
mary election proposition is practical
ly in the same position as when my
last letter was written. The bill, as
passed by the house. abolishes conven-
lions and caucuses of every name and
nature. This bill went to the cleo
lions committee when it reached the
senate, and after remaining with the
committee for several days, was sent
back for the purpose of having it re-
printed with the amendments made by
the house. 1t will be some time this
week before this reprint will be COM
pleted so that the bill will be in shape
to be considered by the senate or its
fommittee. In the meantime, the SEN
ators are hearing from their constitu-
ents. 1t is rumored that conference
that promises to have an important
bearing on the fate of his bill will be
held tonight. The general impression
is that nothing will be done about fix
ing date for final adjournment I'M
til this bit of important legislation is
disposed of, and the leaders who long
to bring the session to an early clos
ing have about concluded that what
ever is to be done as to the bill might
well be done at once.
Sent to Labor Committed.
AS demonstrating the purpose of
the house not to take any step toward
final adjournment until this measure
is out Of the way, 1t may be cited the
resolution of Representative Combs
naming May II as the date for final
ly closing up shop was promptly sent
to the labor committee by that body.
1t is believed that with the fate of the
primary election bill definitely known,
the business of the session will be
wound up within a fortnight. This
would mean the slaughter of by far
the greater number of bills which re-
main in the hopper, but even at that
no great harm will have been done,
for most of these measures were born
to die.
Representative Colby, who is the
chief sponsor for the primary election
bill, has evolved a scheme for prac-
tically electing United States senators
by direct vote Of the people. He has
prepared a bill which requires every
person who proposes to be a candi-
date before the legislature for this Of
flee to make declaration to this eff
feet, such declaration to be in writ
ing and filed with the secretary OF
state given time previous to the gen.
eral election preceding the legislative
session at which q senator is to be
elected. 1t is then made the duty of
the secretary Of state to notify the
various election commissioners of the
state, and these officials are required
to have the names of the candidates
placed on the official ballots. In this
manner the electors will be given an
opportunity of declaring their choice
for senator. 1t is provided that no
ballot for senator shall be counted I'M
less the party casting it votes for two
thirds of the other candidates of the
party to which his indicated choice
for senator belongs. The vote for
senator is to be canvassed and re-
turned as the vote for state officers,
and the result is to be officially trans
mitted by the secretary Of state to
the ensuing legislature for its infor-
nation.
Moral Effect Expected.
While the result of this balloting
will in no wise be binding upon the
legislature, it is figured that the moral
effect will be to impel the solons to
elect the candidate who is shown to
be the choice Of the people Of the
state. Representative Colby has an
nounced his pupose to address q COM
munication to each of the known can
didates for senator in 1905, requesting
an Endorsement of his bill. In this
way he hopes to influence the present
legislators to vote for the measure
Once more will the people Of the
state have an opportunity to speak
their mind on the question OF revising
the constitution. The present consti-
tuition was adopted in 1850, and has
been so generously amended from time
to time that it is now very much of
a patchwork. The people, however.
have always been chary about revis-
ing it generally. Twice have consti-
tutional conventions or commissions
labored for weeks, and they were COM
posed of the best men in the state,
too, to make a revision that would be
satisfactory to their constituents, but
in both instances they have signally
failed. The last attempt was made In
1876 and the first in 1867. In both |
Instances was the revision prepared re-
jected at the polls. This legislature
has now adopted Senator Kelly's joint |
resolution which submits this question |
to the people at the next general elec-
ton, and Governor Bliss has approved |
the measure. The need for constl-
tuition more In keeping with the times |
is generally conceded, but that is no |
reason for hoping that the people will |
adopt a new constitution even though |
they may consent to stand the expense
of having one framed.
Women Greatly Encouraged.
The women who have been working |
hard all winter to secure the passage |
of the Dennis bill, requiring the govern
or to give women O representation on |
% - al e.fo