The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1907-06-28

L
each 500 Of equalized valuation per
year. He expressed the opinion that
| the people Of the state will not OBJ
| ioct 10 making the outlay necessary to
| Keep the great educational and chalita-
| bic institutions CO the state in condi-
| ton 10 do the greatest good to the
| greatest number, and he expressed the
| opinion that the balance Of TIE budget
| IS made up of items which it would
| have been extremely difficult 10 have
| made smaller. In other words, the
| proposition is that it takes money to
run the state and keep it in proper re-
pair.
Rescued During Closing Hours.
Several important bills which were
last week supposed to be headed for
| the junk heap were rescued during the
closing hours of the session and will
become laws. Prominent among these
measures is the railroad commission
bill. This bill went to conference
committee, which rather Unexpectedly
agreed upon compromise and its re-
port was accepted by both houses. The
bill as finally agreed to fixes the salary
Of the three commissioners at $4,000.
The commission provided for by the
bill is to be non-partisan body, no
more than two of it's members to be
of the same political party. The two
Republican members have already
been decided upon. They are Hon.
Cassius l.. Glasgow, Of Nashville, the
present efficient railroad commissioner
of the state, and Mr.. George w. Dick
inson Of Pontiac, who has had quite
an experience in certain lines of the
railroad business. Who the Demo
cratic. representative on the commits
Sion will be has not been determined
upon. The person most prominently
mentioned thus far is Mayor Lawton
II. Hemans of Mason, the Democratic
leader in the lower house Of the legis-
lature for two terms. Mr.. Hemans is
very representative Democrat, who
stands extremely well both in and out
Of his party. The act does not take
effect until Sept 81, or ninety days
after the legislature adjourns, mas
much as it was not given Immediate
effect. Provision is made for the cleo
ton of a chairman and the appoint
ment of q mechanical engineer, q sec
rotary, electric engineer, inspectors,
etc. The commission is given general
supervision over both steam and cleo
trio roads, freight rates, passenger
fares. etc., hut Is not empowered to
interfere with contract relations be-
tween the companies and municipal-
ties.
Notice Of Special Session.
Governor Warner failed to have the
primary election law amended so as
to do away with double primary days
and the clause requiring candidates
for the nomination of governor and
lieutenant governor to poll 40 per
cent. of the vote cast. He has not
despaired of securing this change be-
fore the time for making nominations
arrives, however, and has formally
served notice on the legislature by spc'
cial message that it is his intention
10 submit this matter to the legsla-
ture at special session.
AS preliminary to calling a special
session. the governor proposes, If pos
sible, to have the legislature informed
If the wishes Of the people of the
state in this regard At his instance
there was introduced a concurrent res
0lution instructing the secretary OF
state to prepare certain ballots for
use at the election to be held in Sep
TENDER for the purpose OF electing
members Of the constitutional conven-
tion. BY these ballots it is proposed
to get an expression of the people Of
the state on the question Of NOM
mating candidates for United States
senator by direct vote and also Of
eliminating from the existing primary
law the 40 per cent. provision as to
governor and lieutenant governor.
thereby making the candidates who re-
ccive the highest number Of votes cast |
the nominees for these two Offices.
Confident 1t Will Carry.
This proposed expression Of opinion
is for the benefit and guidance Of the |
when II Is convened next |
spring for the purpose Of legislating |
on this particular subject. Governor
Warner Is confident that if the people |
get a chance to vote on the proposition |
II will carry by an overwhelming ma
jority. They may possibly not have
this opportunity, however, because of |
a constitutional question that has been
raised in connection with the adoption |
Of the concurrent resolution instruct |
ing the secretary of state to prepare |
the ballots. The sixteen senators who |
have steadfastly opposed all efforts to
eliminate the 40 per cent. clause from
the law, voted solidly against the con-
resolution. The sixteen adj |
senator's. so-called, voted
as solidly for II. This made tie
which Lieutenant Governor Kelley
proceeded to break against the protests
Of the opposition, which insisted that
he had no right under the constitu
lion to cast a deciding vote on ques-
lion OF this kind.
NAV Be Carried into Court.
Although no previous presiding Of
ficer in the history of the state has
ever assumed any such right. Lieu
tenant Governor Kelley contended
hat his act was within the purview