The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1905-05-05
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.


semi-officially promised that the pri-
mary reform bill situation will come TO
a head during the present week. The
Ivory Double-Dickinson bill, which
passed the house, is still in the hands
of the senate elections committee, and,
although there has been a 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
were, 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 ef-
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 a 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 Il decided step in the direc-
ton indicated. Representative Mckay
has now come forward with a Joint
resolution proposing an amendment
/ limiting the duration Of the regular
session to 100 days There is grow
ing demand for relieving the legiSla-
ture Of the consideration Of local bills
which now occupy more than One-half
the time OF the session, and leave these
matters to be cared for by the local
authorities. As stated in Il recent let
ter the tendency for the past few years
has been to lOcaliZe pretty much every
! thing. the result being that what is q
/ law In one county may not be the law
at al in an adjoining county. This is
particularly true as to such general
subjects as elections, drains, etc II is
n dangerous practice which should be
stopped.
Eichhorn Bill Goes Through.
One OF the most important legisla-
| Of l,n
was the passage by the house of the
Eichhorn bill comforting upon electric
railway companies 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. Tn
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 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
anv dav desionotad nv him
Must Comply by Oct. I.
All private banks must comply with
the new order of things on or before
.Oct. l next. At least-one of the mem
bers Of each firm doing private
banking business must be n resident of
this state. and each such bank is TO
be examined by the state banking
commissioner ut least twice a year.
The commissioner is given power to
apply through the attorney general for
the appointment of receiver for any
bank which refuses TO make the re.
quired report or which. upon examina-
ton. is found to be i'm 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 be
$1,000 No bank is to loan any person
, connected with ii more than 80 pei
cent. Of its cfpital. and depositors are
given n 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 I'm which they reside. This