The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-05-15
HOUSE KILLS BILL
aimed At FLATS
Link Avery and Attorney-General
Bird Defeated-Liberal Measure
Is Agreed to Later.

LANSING. Mich, May 1.-THE rep
resentatives OF the residents OF the
81 Clair Flats are jubilant today over
the defeat of the bill TO confiscate all
. the improvements that have been
made by the owners OF property at
B the Little Venice OF America" and
4 give Il into, the hands OF the state.
The bill. which is said to have been
urged by Link Avery and Attorney
+ General Bird. was rejected In the
& house by q vote OF 67 10 IA. The
Weter bill, which provides that pres
ont occupants OF property AT the Flats
, who had possession previous TO 1899
can secure deeds from the state. was
later passed by the house.
There was a large amount OF lobby
ing done TO secure the passage OF the
bill The encouragement worked
hard to send II through the house.
The arguments in favor OF the bill
we're made by members OF the judi.
ciary committee.
The telling arguments against the
s"confiscation" bill were made by Reps.
Flowers and Miller, OF Detroit; Judge
\ Heckert. OF Van Buren,, and Rep. War
ner. They contended that the resi-
dents OF the Flats had improved their
5 property under the impression that
: they could secure valid title from
the state and that the Avery bill was
Nothing short OF confiscatory. Rep
Warner made an able argument In
favor Of the rights OF the property
owners at the Flats. The bill as
amended by the house provides that
the present owners shall secure 30
year leases and that the rental may be
revised every ten years.
Rep. Cranton, who fought the plan
to give the Flats people their rights.
quoted much law In an EFFORT to defeat
the legal points made by the opposi-
tiou. He admitted that he was trying
70 carry out the policy OF the attorney
general. IL was also learned that Link
Avery was at local hotel. The bill
A amended goes back 10 the senate.
and II II Is concurred In will soon be
mn to the governor for his approval.
The revised highway bill by Sena-
tor Fox, OF Mayville. was passed on
z1hird reading by the house yesterday
under suspension of the rules by
vote OF Sc to 3. Rep. Whelan, OF Sill
aWassee, moved to amend the meas
ure 30 IL would contain an obligatory
proyision affecting every 40-acre farm
B a the state. The motion was carried
and the senate will have TO iron out
the kinks.
The primary bill was reported TO
the house by the conference commit
tee with the amendments previously
noted. These were promptly concur
red In. The rules were suspended and
Abe bill was passed on third reading
~ 3 vote of ~ to 4. The senate is
<oxpected to pass the bill Monday
night.
The senate public domain bill, which
4ln with the house committee, Is said
~ the members TO be worse than the
zoriginal jury commission measure as
- political machine builder. The meas
IRE IL likely to get rough usage before
n passes the house.
Little business was done by the SEN
|ote yesterday. Senators continued TO
kbe excused to 20 home until only IL
we're left The remaining solons fail
"a TO get together ON every PROPOSE
ton that was offered and the senate
nnally adjourned till Monday. They
soent word to the house that the SEN
ots has adjourned. you can do as you
please."
The senate killed the bill by Rep.
Bierd, OF Bay, for appeals from the
action of boards OF supervisors on
0rroperty assessments. The Bolt
+ HAT aims to muzzle the press Is
dead for this session.