The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1905-05-05
Something Will Come to q
Head During the Pres
ent Week. 49,
EFFORTS TO SHORTEN SESSIONS
Representative Mckay Would
Limit Them to One Hun.
dred Days.
Bill Comforting Upon Electric Rail-
ways the Right of Eminent Do
main Goes Through the
Lower House.

LdhsihS, -hLCll', Ihily 1T - SVTC VI
semi-officially promised that the pri-
mary reform bill situation will come TO
head during the present week. The
Ivory-Double-D Dickinson 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 will 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 to be on the inside of the situa-
ton that when the clouds roll by, as it
We're, the house bill amended so as to
cure certain conceded defects will be
sent to the governor for his signature.
To Shorten the Sessions.
There seems to be a 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. 1t will be
remembered that the house has al
ready passed joint resolution sub
hitting to the electors of the state the
question OF substituting a 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 decided step in the direc-
ton indicated. Representative Mckay
mas now come forward with Joint
resolution proposing an amendment
limiting the. duration of the regular
session TO 100 days. There is a grow,
fng alemand for relieving the ,legisla-
.ture o. tt1 cppsideration Of local bills
which now occupy more than one-half
the time of the Sessions. and leave these
matters to be cured For by the local
authorities. AS stated IN a 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 TALL in an adjoining county This is
particularly true as to such general
subjects as elections, drains, etc. 1t is
n dangerous practice which should be
stopped.
Eichhorn Bill Goes Through.
One Of the most important legisla-
tive developments Of the past week
was the passage by the house of the
EichhbrM bill comforting upon electric
railway cShpanies the right of emf
nent domain. Contrary to expectations
there. 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
eral rights Of owners of land con-
demned for use of electric lines I'm
like the steam roads which enjoy this
right of eminent domain, the electric
roads are not made common carriers
The administrations private bank
Ing bill, which has been in the course
of preparation for> some time, was
finally completed and introduced by
Representative Mckay q few days
ago. The measure places these pri-
vate institutions under the control Of
the banking department. OF the state,
requiring them to make annual state.
ments to the commissioner and giving
that official authority to call on all
such banks for reports showing their
condition at the close Of business on
any day designated by him. 49,,
Must Comply by Oct. 4.
All private banks must comply with
the new order of things on or before
Oct. 1 next. At least one Of the mem
bers Of each firm doing private
banking business must be resident of
this state, and each such bank is to
be examined by the state banking
commissioner ut least twice n year.
The commissioner is given power to
apply through the attorney general for
the appointment of n receiver for any
bank which refuses to make the re-
CURED report or which, upon examina-
ton, is found to be in an insolvent
condition. The bill provides for
minimum capital Of $4,000, except in
villages whose population Is less tlnn
300. where the minimum may be
$4,000. No bank is TO loan any person
connected with 1t more than so per
cent. of its capital, and depositors are
given first lien on all assets.
Care and Cure of Drunkards.
Acting on the theory that drunken.
ness is 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.
PRODUCED by the senator provided that
victims of the liquor and drug habits
shall be treated at the expense of the
counties in which they reside. This