The Detroit times., 1908-12-23
THIS WILL Be BUSY
SESSION Of THE
LEGISLATURE
MANY IMPORTANT QUESTIONS
TO BE DEALT WITH-PRlMART
LAW REQUIRES MUCH ABILITY
-oThER LEGISLATION.

| LANSING, Mich, Dec. 2S.-Nith
the session OF the legislature close
at hand there Is more and more dis
cussion among state politicians aud
state officials regarding what is TO
be the result. politically. of the seS-
sion. From the outset IL Is 10 be the
most important session OF many years
and it Is pointed out. the opportuni'
ties for men to gain approval from
the state aud equip themselves for
higher honors will be many. In dis
cussing these things men invariably
/ take into account Gov. Warner. The
question is frequently asked as TO
whether he will he able TO control the
! legislature.
With Lieut. Gov. Kelley appointing
! the committees in the senate and
! Speaker Colin p. Campbell in the
| house, both of whom are his close
friends. 1t would seem as II the task
would be easy for the governor. but
there are several wise ones who dis
pute this, although admitting they
will watch with much interest for the
/ first clash and test OF strength.
This year, aside from endeavorins
TO induce the legislature 10 enact the
| laws he has been telling the people
should be passed, Warner has also
/ to look out for the politica. future or
| Lieut. Gov. Kelly and his own ambi-
! ton TO become United States sena-
/ tor.
! That the administration forces have
so far as possible broken into the
ranks OF those opposing them. by
means OF the appointments and pat
ronaSe at their disposal, Is self-evi-
dent Many holder OF a state job
who expected TO be oustet without a
word found himself popular and. on
agreeing TO certain conditions was re-
tanned in office. The way 70 the pie
counter presented no unsurmountable
| obstacle to many who expected to b.
! handed brickbats and they have Sc
cured a stool with ease.
During the session, however. In.
stead OF the old factional fight. II is
pointed out. there will pe genuine
questions of statecraft u be met
Some mighty important legislation is
10 be enacted. Certain corporations
are going To wage a hard fight 70
keep the game in their own hands
and il is declared that the man and
men who make good this time are the
men who are going TO secure re
ward IL Is stated that in handling
the primary election law there mus:
be more ability shown than in pre-
vious enactments or there will be
trouble. The governors anti-lobbying
measure is liable TO be drowned out
in the storm over home rule and the
question regarding the liquor traffic
has reached a stage, many believe
where IL cannot be side stepped or
shoo-ed into the brush once more.
The legislature will be busy the first
few weeks getting organized and pass.
ing some measures which require I'M.
mediate attention. From the first
moment the financial sitGation will
be the ever-present "bogy' with ma
terial features however. that will
have serious effect on the plans OF
many greenhorn Legislators TO ac-
quire fame at the expense of the
state.
/. 8. Pratt, con-con delegate from
Bay City, who was the advocate of the
uniform accounting section IN the new
constitution, is drafting a measure
which he Will present to the legisla-
ture 10 carry out the basic principles
established and that matter will re-
quire careful attention, for il will af.
feet every city and county In the
state.
These matters, 10 say nothing OF
municipal ownership and few other
new things. will call for the exercise
Of good gray matter It is suggested
instead of holding a hand in pedro
games in committee ROOMS, and the
men who are found capable In hand
ling them are liable. regardless of any
frame-up, to have the way opened to
them without difficulty for securing
future political preferment