The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1905-03-31
KILLS DIRECT
NOMINATIONS
Test Vote show~clause Will
|-...-...sI-.n-m Primary
Law.
STONE BILL CRUDELY DRAFTED
DR.. Frank w. Shunway Succeeds
DR.. Baker on Board OF
Health.
Representative Bosley's Anti-Trust
Bill Introduced In the Low
er House-Michigan Owns
Much Property.

Lansing, Mich, March 2S.--Last
weeks test vote on the question OF
direct nominations Of all officers from
governor to coroner" would seem to
warrant the assertion that the pres
ent legislature will not pass any such
measure, although 1t can be depended
upon to carry out the pledge laid down
In the last Republican state platform
and give the electors of Michigan
genuine article of primary reform.
During the discussion Of the special
order which involved the fate
of the Stone direct nomination meas
ure, those legislators who assumed to
speak for the administration made 1t
clear that the platform promised to en-
act q primary reform legislation, but
made no such pledge as to a direct
nomination law. Governor Warner it
will be recalled, both before and since
his election has repeatedly spoken
against the enactment of such law
as is demanded by the extreme pri-
mary reformers, so-called, directing at
tention to the fact that the, demand
which found expression in the Stone
bill was far more radical and far
reaching than that which had been
given ear to by any other state legis-
lature with the possible exception OF
those Of one or two of the southern
states.
Was Crudely Drafted.
Tho Ctona r,aocura which bod IN n
endorsement Of the state grange, was
admittedly crudely drafted. Its op
ponents declared that it contained
more holes than skinner. 1t was
favorably reported by a majority of
| the house committee on elections, and
when it was reached as n special or.
! der last Wednesday a motion to re-
refer it to the committee provoked a
| lively discussion. 1t was during this
debate that the declaration was made
, that an extreme direct nomination. bill
| could not pass the house, and the vote
on the motion to refer would indicate
that such is the case. 1t was well
| known that once referred the bill
would probably never again make its
the committee by vote of 80 to Al
! all but seven members being present
! and voting
It Is not unlikely that some Of the
| provisions of the Stone bill will be in
corporated in the measure which will
finally become law. There is plen-
ty of material for use in drafting a
bill which will meet the approval Of
q majority of the legislators, several
having been already introduced and as
! many more being in sight. There is
little doubt that out of this wealth Of
material there will come measure
that will be vast improvement over
the present law even in the minds of
the extreme reformers and that will
fulfill the platform pledges Of the par.
ty.
| Bakers Successor Named.
The new law governing the opera
tons Of the state board Of health is
now in effect and a new secretary of
the board has been appointed. The
man who will succeed DR.. Henry b.
Baker, who has been secretary Of the
board for nearly thirty-five years, is
DR.. Frank w. Shumway, of Williams
ton, who has for several years been
the medical member of the state board
of pardons. DR.. Shumway is capable
and energetic and will no doubt give
a good account Of himself.
The usual biennial controversy over
the exemption Of all credits from tax
alton is again in sight, Senator Doher'
| tvs bill providing for such exemption
having been favorably reported by the
committee on taxation. IT is probable
that the bill will pass the senate, but
its fate in the house is problematical
| inasmuch as some strong influences
are working against it there. Former
Tax Commissioner Dust has endorsed
the measure as being In the interest
of business men generally. arguing
that il would stimulate business and
building.
Bosley's Antitrust Bill.
Representative Bosley's antitrust
bill, reference to which was made by
me recently. has been introduced. II
seeks to restrict and prohibit unlaw
full and unfair discrimination and com
petition in the sale of articles, com
mpdities, goods, wares and merchdn
disc between the different sections
communities or localities of the state
and provides severe penalties for viola
lion Of its provisions. The bill ha'
been drafted with special reference t.
the Standard Oil company, one Of I'll
main purposes being to do away will
the pleasing habit of the octopus o
squeezing a competitor by dropping
prices to starvation rates in communi
ties where the latter has built up ,
\ trade, only to boost the prices sky
ward when the competitor has beer
disposed Of.
| In his annual report to the stat
board of agriculture President Snyder
~.