Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1905-03-09
THE LEGISLATURE.


held session Thursday night behind
closed doors and discussed the matter
OF a primary election bill. rms IN the
first move towards shutting out a rad
ical bill On Wednesday the committee
decided 10 report out the Stone Dill, put
Thursday proceeded with me consider
alton OF the Waters ana other DIS
having nysteriously decided before en-
tering the committee room not TO rush
matters as had been planned. Gov.
| Warner wants 10 have early actlon OH
Il moderate" bill with no strlie. sen
ator Brown Is drafting one Din on the
lines of the New York Jaw uescrlpeu
and Is considering another on local OPP
tlCn lines. Nothing is To be done Ill
the senate until after the president
Inauguration, March I. IoN. warner
attended the session Of the louise com
mittee 10y request. He reiterated MS
position on the state platform, but as
sured the committee he would sign any
constitutional measure the legislature
might pass. The committee coAtluued
in secret session until midnight with
out taking any definite action. Local
option. if provided by the legislature,
will not be submitted TO the people I'M
I'll the fall Of 1906, consequently not
taking effect for the more important
offices in amy district until l9OS
Gov. Mariners dairy and food bli
was passed unanimously on third read
| ing in the house Thursday afternoon,
with It's $4,000 appropriation and its
! provision for many inspectors and fees.
The bill was amended so as To include
the inspection OF fiaXseed products.
| representative Ming. Of Cheboygan,
said he was anxious To have the In
spectorS appointed from the different
congressional districts. 50 rs TO save
expenses. but the powers that be-
HAD Informed him that the appoint
ments would he made i'm such way
that there would he the least chasing
around on railroads.
Senator Doherty introduced an
amendment TO the tax law. providing
for the exemption from taxation OF
! land contracts and mortgages. This bill
passed the senate two years ago, but
| was amended i'm the house. The senate
! refused 10 concur in the alterations and
4 il was Killed.
The elections committee decided on
! Tuesday TO report to the house with
! the recommendation that 1t pass the
! Stone primary reform bill, which is
said to be the measure of the state
! grange and farmers clubs. The Stone
/ bill provides for the direct nomina-
/ ton of all officers, including United
! States senators, except those 10 be
| elected By towns, cities and villages
and school districts. nor shall the act
apply to special elections to fill va
cancies; names to be placed on the
J primary ballot by petitions, TO be
/ signed by | per cent of the party
| voters in six counties for candidates
1 for state Offices, by per cent of the
party in one-tenth of his election dis
! tricts for a representative in con-
/ gress. by 3 per cent Of the party in
onesiXth of the precincts for an
/ Office less than a congressional dis
4 trict in area or a county office. Pro-
vision is also made for independent
candidates.
The house and senate will likely
send special committees to Newberry
TO investigate the alleged stumpage
deals of s. N butcher. chairman of
! the board of control of the asylum
4 there. il being charged that butcher
sold 10 the board $4,000 cords of wood
az 80 cents per cord. for which he
1 was TO pay the Palms estate, for
which he was agent. 20 cents per
cord. The house is expected to take
the initiative.
Representative Robinson. OF Detroit,
! presented measure restoring to the
| tax rolls some 100000 worth of prop
Crty belonging 10 the Clergue interests
/ ut the Soc. which has been exempt
i hitherto.
I Representative Herkimcr. of Mon
roe introduced a hill III the request
OF Warden Vincent. of the state prison
I 1T Jackson calling for an apprOpra-
( ton of S25O.OOO for the installation of
I Il hard fibre binder Irvine plant al that
I institutions Vincent says 200 convctS
will be- out of employment next Au-
gust. when tine contract with the
broom people expires. The same prop
Ositon was turned down by the house
j last session. when il carried an apprD-
priation OF S1T5O0O more.