Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1903-04-23
OUR LANSING LETTER
Primary Elections Bill To Be Ta'
ken Up by the Senate
This Week.
ADJOURNMENT HANGS UPON 1T
Need of New state Constitution
Holmes Liquor Bond Bill Gone
TO Its Long Sleep.

Lansing. Mich, April 21.-The pri.
mary election proposition is practical.
~ in the same position as when my
last letter was written. The bill, as
passed 10y the house, abolishes conven-
tions and caucuses OF every name and
nature. This bin went to the cleo.
lions committee when IL reached the
senate, and after remaining with the
committee for several days, was sent
back for the purpose of having IL re
printed with the amendments made by
the house. 1t will be some time this
week before this reprint VIII be com
pleted so that the bill will be in shape
TO be considered by the senate or its
committee. In the meantime, the SEN
ators a"e hearing from their consttu-
ents. Ii Is rumored that a conference
that promises to have an important
bearing on the fate of his bill will be
held tonigh, The general impression
is that nothing will he done about fix.
ing a date for final adjournment un.
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 he done as to the bill might
well be done at once.
Sent tn Labor Committee.
As demonstrating the purpose of
the house not to take any step toward
final adjournment until this measure
Is out of the way, II 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 he
wound up within 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 scheme foc prac-
tically electing United States senators
by direct vote of the people. He has
prepared n bill which requires every
person who proposes to be a candi.
date before the legislature FOR this Of
flee to make decla!ation to this eff
feet. such declaration to be in writ
ing and filed with the secretary OF
state Il given time previous 10 the gen
eral election preceding the legislative
session at which senator is to he
elected Ii is then made the duty of
the secretary OF state 10 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 un-
less the pa ty casting ii 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-
tn ned 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.