The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1908-08-08
NEW CONSTITUTION
HAS STRONG TONE
OF REFORM
HOME RULE AND FRANCHISE PRO.
VISIONS ARE OF SPECIAL IN.
TEResT TO DETRoITERs-sUM-
MARY OF PROPOSED CHANGE.

While there was much publicity
given the revision of the constitution
during the winter when the constitu
tional convention was In session, many
persons have not retained a definite
idea of the many changes In the or
ganic law OF the state which arc
contemplated.
To give this information a summary
is printed below OF the important al
terations In the new instrument Many
OF these, such as the provisions for
acquiring public utilities, are OF par
ticular interest 10 Detroit. The home
rule provision Is also one that afrects
the large cities more particularly,
swing them the right TO revise their
charters instead OF having the legisla
ture do SO.
II was the aim OF the constitutional
convention TO lay down general prin-
cipals rather than 10 ,egislate for the
state. Thus. many matters on which
there was a notable public sentiment
have been left to the legislature. the
idea being that error In legislation
can be quickly remedied while error
In the constitution is hard TO obliter-
ate.
The present constitution was drawn
I'D In 1850, being a revision or the
constitution OF 1887. Some OF the I'M
portant proposed changes follow:
The elimination OF the state census.
No local or special act OF the lesis-
lature can be passed In any case WIZ
general act cen be made applicapLs'
No local or special act shall take ell
feet until approved by a majority OF
the electors voting thereon IN the ais
trict TO be affected -,
All legislation shall be by biiI, thus
Sy teint or concurrent resolution.
No bill shall be passed or become
law at any regular session or the iegis
lature until such bill mas oeeh prihtte zee.
and In the possession or each mouse lot
at least FIVE days. ,,.,.
The Representatives In the legislao
ture are placed upon salary or SsVo
for tho term, with provlso Una. ~meil
pensation shall be Ave dollars per day
for the hrst twenty days and nothins
thereafter.
A liberal scheme OF home-rule for
cities and villages has been incorpor-
ated.
Under safe restrictions cities and
villages may operate public utilities
being frat authorized by the afhrma :
tive vote OF ee-fifths OF the electors
voting thereon.
The elective franchise IL extended to
women upon questions which seek to
impose direct taxes upon their proper
ty.
placed under the control of majority
OF that body, thereby subjecting bills
and measures In the hands of commit
tees to the control Of majority vote
The legislature 10 required TO pro-
vide a system of uniform accounting
by all state officials, boards and insti-
The governor Is vested with power TO
veto specific items in appropriation
Provision is made for the taxation of
telegraph freight and other car COM
panfes, and all corporations engaged In
any other public service business
cultural College and the direction and
control OF it's funds In vested in the
state board Of agriculture.
Provision Is made for the. election
by the people of state board OF agri-
culture to consist OF six members to
supersede the present method OF APP
pointment by the governor.
IL Is provided that corporate fran
chises can not be granted for a longer
term than thirty years.
No state money shall be deposited In
banks other than those organized under
No state money shall be deposited in
any bank IN excess OF fifty per cent OF
the capital and surplus OF such bank.
II Is provided that any bank receiv-
ing deposits of state money shall show
the amount OF the state money so de-
Sbsited as a separate item In all pub
lished statements.
The legislature Ia authorized to pro-
vide for the reforestation OF state
lands.
School districts are permitted to edu-
cate their children in neighboring dis
tricts and draw their proportion OF the
primary school money.
Trust companies are subjected to the
provisions of the banking law
Authority In granted the legislature
to delegate power to n commission to
fix just and reasonable charges for
the transportation OF property by rail-
road companies and express companies
Provision is made for the submission
OF constitutional amendments to n vote
OF the people upon the petition OF
twenty per cent OF the electors voting
at the last preceding election for sed-
rotary OF state.
The Legislature Is authorized to sub
nit any act passed by II and approved
by the governor TO vote OF the people
and II liz provided that unless such act
receives the vote OF q majority of the
electors voting thereon IL shall not be-
come law.