The Yale expositor., 1905-05-05
PROSPECTS FOR
PRIMARY BILL
Something Will Come to a
Head During the Pres
ent Week.
EFFORTS TO SHORTEN SESSIONS
Representative Mckay Would
Limit Them to One Hun.
drod Days.
Bill Comforting Upon Electric Rail
ways the Right of Eminent Do
main Goes Through the
Lower House.

Lansing. Mich, May ct Is sort OF
Eemi-ofEicially promised that the pri-
mary reform bill situation will come to
q head during the present week. The
Ivory STANDARDIZATION BILL which
passed the house. is still in the hands
of the senate elections committee, and,
although there has been great
amount of talk on the subject since
the bill was so referred, no action has
been taken. Chairman Baird Of the
senate committee is advocating an
amendment which viii provide for the
nomination of all state officers by di-
rect vote instead Of only governor and
lieutenant governor as fixed by the
house, but it is believed By those who
claim 10 he on the inside of the situa-
lion that when the clouds roll by, Ms it
were, the house bin amended so as to
cure certain conceded defects will be
sent to the governor for his signature.
To Shorten the Sessions.
There seems to he determined eff
fort on the part Of influential legisla-
tors TO make provision by which the
biennial sessions OF the legislature will
be materially shortened. IT will be
remembered that the house has Al
ready passed a joint resolution sub
hitting to the electors Of the state the
question of substituting fixed salary
for the per diem now paid members Of
the legislature. This measure has now
been favorably reported by the senate
committee on state of affairs and will
probably pass the upper house. 1t is
figured that this if ratified by the peo-
pie, will be Il decided step in the direc-
tion Indicated. Representative Mckay
has now come forward with Il joint
resolution proposing an amendment
limiting the duration of the regular
session to 100 days. There Is 4 grow.
ing demand for relieving the legisla-
tur~s of the consideration Of local bills
which now occupy more than one-half
The time of the session, and leave these
matters to he cared for by the local
authorities AS stated in q recent let
ter the tendency for the past few years
has been to localiZe pretty much every
thing, the result being that what is a
law in one county may not be the law
at all in an adjoining county. This is
particularly true as to such general
subjects as elections drains. etc. It is
4 dangerous practice which should be
stopped.
Eichhorn Bill Goes Through.
b, One of the most important legisla-
Hive developments Of the past week
Mas the passage NY the house Of the
Eichhorn bill comforting upon electric
railway companies the right Of emf
nept domain Contrary TO expectations
fhere was but little opposition to the
bill although that little was quite
strenuous. The only amendment made
to the bill was one protecting the min
RTaI rights Of owners of land con-
deulned for use of electric lines. IN
like the steam roads which enjoy this
tight Of eminent domain, the electric
roads IRE not made common carriers.
The administration private bank
lug bill, which has been in the course
on preparation for some time, was
finally completed and introduced by
Representative Mckay few days
ago, The measure places these pri-
vats Institutions under the control of
The banking department Of the state,
requiring them to make annual state
rfents to the commissioner and giving
that official authority to call on I'll
such banks for reports showing their
condition at the close of business or
any day designated by him.
Must Comply by Oct. 1.
All private banks must comply with
the new order Of things on or before
Oct next At least one Of the mem
bers OF each firm doing n private
banking business must be resident of
this state. and each such bank Is to
be examined by the state banking
commissioner at least twice year
The commissioner is given power Ia
apply through the attorney general for
the appointment of a receiver for any
bank which refuses TO make the re-
quired report or which. upon examina.
tion, is found to be in an insolvent
condition. The bill provides 70,
minimum capital Of $4,000, except in
villages whose population is less than
300, where the minimum may he
$1,000. No bank is to loan any person
connected with il more than 30 PEI
cent. of its capital, and deposltors arc
given a first lien on ali assets.
Care and Cure OF Drunkards.
Acting on the theory that drunken
ness is a disease, Senator Russell OF
Kent. would have the several coun
ties Of the state look after the care and
cure Of the unfortunate ones within
their respective Jurisdictions. A bill in
croduced by the senator provided that
victims of the liquor and drug habits
shall be treated at the expense OF the
aounttes IN which they reside. Thi: