The Yale expositor., 1905-04-28
PRIMARY BILL
IN STATU QUO
Senate Committee Did Moth
ing to Measure During
Past Week.
OPINION OF GOVERNOR WARNER
Opposition to Eichhorn's Bill At
fecting Electric Railway
Companies.
Proposed Department of Good Roads
r.. Fierce Fight in Senate over
Martindale's Bill Cigar
cite Bill Referred.

Lansing, Mich, April 25.-The
primary election bill, which is the
piece de resistance of the present legis-
aative session, has remained in statu
duo during the past week, nothing hav-
ing been done by the senate elections
committee having it in charge. 4
Nearing was announced for last Thurs
day evening, but it failed TO materi-
Ilize. Progress has been made, how
ever, for there has apparently been
getting together of the senator's sever
al who have heretofore vigorously OPP
posed a direct voting bill which in
cludes governor and lieutenant govern
or, having declared themselves in favor
of the Double-Ivory- Dickinson bill,
(which includes these two offices. The
friends of the bill now declare that it
will have easy sailing in the senate.
Governor Warner has been active all
the week in winning support for the
measure passed by the house and he
has made substantial Roadway. An
Examination of the measure since it
passed the house shows that it will
have to be amended in order to carry
out the ideas of its projectors. For
distance, it has been discovered that
under the terms of the bill as at pres
ent drafted, nomination for governor
Gould not be made by direct vote until
a9OS.
Views of Governor Warner.
y In speaking of this feature of the
bill a day or two since Governor
Warner said: AS the Ivory Double
dickinson bill now stands it would not
apply to the governorship next year,
aud 1 believe it ought to be amended
so that my own nomination will he in
Guided. 1t could be so arranged that
fhe people of the state could vote in
lune on the question whether they
want TO nominate by direct vote or
not, and the names of the candidates
submitted at the same time. If the
1oeople happened to vote against the
direct system, convention could then
DE held"
EsAs passed by the house the bill fails
TO provide for direct vote on nominal
Gons for congress in the counties Of
HYayne. Kent, Muskegon and Alpena,
(Which have special primary laws. This
defect will be corrected before the bill
passes the senate. In all probability
mo changes in the bill will be made
other than those necessary to make
it.more effective and to insure the bet
tier carrying out of the ideas of its
friends.
Opposition to Eiuhhorn's Bill.
= Some opposition is developing to
Representative Eichhorns bill, which
has been favorably reported by the
railroad committee Of the house, ex-
bending TO electric railway companies
the right of eminent domain now pos
Eessed by the steam roads. The dill
provides that any electric company
may construct, use, maintain and own
q street railway upon private rights
of way and all such companies shall,
when necessary to enter upon and use
private property in such construction
and operation, have the right of emf
nent domain as is now possessed by
steam railroad companies All pro-
ceedings at law or in equity necessary
ITO give this provision effect shall be
the same as proceedings for the con-
demnation of property for companies
organized under the general railroad
law and all statutes relative to the ex-
ercise of eminent domain for railroad
purposes are made applicable to pro
ceedings under this act.
The opponents Of the bill point out
. that in case a township declined to
give an electric company n franchise
The company would have the right, if
this measure becomes n law. TO con-
denim private rights of law wherever
they saw fit TO 20, and the right once
acquired i'm this manner would not
only be perpetual, but would give the
companies the right to fix rates of
fare, ETC., Independent of the township
authorities or residents. This, how
ever, is the same right that steam
roads have always enjoyed, but the
indications are that electric lines will
be much more numerous than steam
roads.
Department of Good Roads.
Now that the electors Of the state
ratified the proposed amendment to
the constitution empowering the state
to grant aid for the construction and
Improvement of highways. Senator
Ely has introduced bill establishing
q department of good roads. The
bill provides for the creation OF the
office of state good roads commission
err who Is to receive an annual salary
Of $500, and who is authorized to ap-
point a deputy at a salary of $500.
tt being stipulated that the deputy
shall be civil engineer. The total an
nual outlay for expenses, including
sol fc 20
Provision is made for an appropriation
of $4,000 for the years 1905 and 1906
Tor road Improvement, the plan being