The Yale expositor., 1905-05-19

PRINCIPAL FIGHT DISPOSED OF
Primary Reform Legislation In
Position for an Early
Settlement.
Two Liquor Bills Sent 20 the Morgue-
Constitution Is Still Receiving
Much Attention-State
Fair Bills.

Lansing, Mich, May 16-So far as
primary reform legislation is con-
Eerned. it now seems that lit is all
over but the shouting" The action OF
the senate in passing practically the
Dill recently passed by the house ap-
pears to put that matter in the way
of early settlement. The action OF
the senate was not taken without an
effort. AS noted last week, the bill
reported by the senate elections COM
mittee ana then re-referred TO that
committee, was constructed strictly
along the local option lines laid down
in the last Republicans state platform.
The bin finally reported by the com
mittee reinstated governor ana lieuten-
ant governor III the list OF candidates
10 be nominated by direct vote, but
provided that unless a candidate re-
ceived a majority of all the votes cast
at the primaries there would be no
nomination and n convention should
be called to make such nomination.
Majority Vote Eliminated.
The bill was in this form as agreed
to by the senate in committee of the
whole. Before the measure came up
flor final passage, however. Governor
Warner, who had insisted that govern
or and lieutenant governor should be
Included in the bill, exerted his in
Huence and. with the aid OF his friends,
brought about compromise, which
illuminated the majority vote PROPOSE
tion and substituted therefor n pro-
Nision that in order TO be successful
n candidate must receive only plural
nty of 40 per cent. Of the votes cast,
otherwise the nomination shall go to n
convention. IN this shape the bill was
passed by the senate by a vote OF 30
Ito 2. Primary reform leaders in the
mouse assert that the latter body Will
accept the bill rs passed by the SEN
ate. If these leaders are right in their
predictions, and the indications war
rant the belief that they are, this leg
islatlon will be out Of the way within
q day or two.
Believing that the principal fight OF
The session has been disposed Of, the
senators see the end of the session and
IldNe duOlllth Il concurrent resolution
Mixing May 2G rs the date for cessa-
Hion of business and May 81 as the
date for final adjournment. When
this resolution was received by the
9iouse IT was tabled 10 await Inc final
disposition of the primary bill. The
Representatives are. however, inclined
ITO quit business mt the earliest date
possible, so there is little doubt that
fhe legislature will finally adjourn not
far from June 1.
1. Liquor Ellis PuE 20 Sleep.
Two liquor bills, so-called, which
nave engaged the attention Of the
members OF the lower house TO q great
extent during the past few weeks and
given the retail liquor dealers of the
state many n sleepless night, were ap-
parently sent to the morgue n few days
ago and the chances are that they will
not be again heard from during the
present legislative session. These.
Were the Hudson bill, by which it was
Sought to apply the local option pro-
hibition principle TO townships and
wards, and the Mckay bill, which in
creased the annual retail tax from
$500 to $1,000. Both bills had been re-
ported favorably Ivy the liquor traf-
fic committee and the latter had been
9greed to by the house In committee
Df the whole The NoFay bill was
Killed outright on third reading. while
fhe Hudson bill was simply re-referred
to the committee OF liquor traffic. from
which it was wrested last week after
u severe struggle The committee will
houbtless see to it that the bill does
not reappear.
Still Discuss Constitution.
Mlchigan's moss covered and wealth
beaten constitution is still receiving
much attention at the hands OF the
lawmakers. If persistency counts for
anything. Michigan will some day pro-
Vide for a convention to make gen.
eral revision of the constitution. Moth
Ang daunted ny the numerous rcfusals
1f the electors Of the state to endorse
such a plan, the house has again
passed a Joint resolution providing for
such convention. This proposition is
to be submitted to the electors at
special elections to be held in April,
d9O6. Inasmuch as no other state mat
Ter is to he voted upon at that time.
it is hoped that a greater number or
electors than ever before will vote one
way or the other on this proposition.
by way of further increasing the
finances for the adoption OF the plan,
the senate committee on constitutional
amendments has favorably reported
sKe Lindsey joint resolution proposing
an amendment whereby proposition
30 provide for general revision will
carry II it receives majority simply
Of all the votes cast on that particular
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