Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1909-01-07


Of the city OF Detroit TO change ito
present system OF a single commits
sioner In charge OF its police depart
ment TO board of three or more COM
missioners. This can only be done by
charter amendment or by the enact
ment OF general law applicable Ia
the entire state. Henry M. Campbell.
lawyer OF acknowledged ability. who
was a member OF the convention which
framed the new constitution. says that
In the first instance II would be neces-
sary to watt until the legislature de-
cides how cities may secure new char
| tiers or amend existing ones and pro-
coed under the method provided by the
general law.
No Classification OF Cities.
In the second case it would be neces-
sary to enact general law applicable
to all the cities OF the state. There
can be no classification of cities under
the new constitution, and law Great
ing four-man police board for Detroit
must OF necessity create one for all the
incorporated cities OF the state. II Is
certain, in Mr.. Campbell's mind, that
the legislature cannot pass any act
applying especially to Detroit.
mention this matter simply 40 illus
trate what a radical departure the new
constitution makes In this one impor-
tant particular Heretofore there were
enacted about az many different acts
on a given subject as there are cities
In the state.
Possibly the greatest controversy OF
the session will be that incident to the
framing OF law providing a large
measure OF home rule for the munich
palities OF the state. The new consti-
tuition provides that no public utility
corporation shall transact business In
any city village or township without
a franchise This franchise must be
submitted to the people under the ref
erendum. All the machinery surround
Ing the submission Of these matters TO
the people must be provided by the
legislature and II goes without saying
that all persons interested on either
side of the question will endeavor to
have a part in the framing of the law.
Salaries Of Circuit Judges.
The old constitution fixed the sal
aries Of judges Of circuit courts at ST.
500, to be paid by the state, giving GER
tain counties the privilege OF making
such further payment from their own
funds az the county boards Of super
visors saw at to allow. The new con-
| stitution is silent on this point The
legislature, therefore, must tx these
salaries. Ii must also nx the salary OF
the clerk OF the supreme court. who
for years. under the old constitution,
received the fees collected by him as
his compensation.
Women taxpayers are hereafter to
enjoy the same right to vote on ques-
lions involving the expenditure Of
public funds. the issuing OF bonds.
etc, as have heretofore been enjoyed
only by taxpayers of the sterner sex.
statute covering this subject must
be forthcoming.
Innumershle other questions which
arise out OF the adoption OF new con-
stitution will come I'm for attention
and as they are all Of unusual impor
|
isIatiCn enacted regarding them will
be pioneer legislation II will be seen
| that the lawmakers who will take hold
Of the job tomorrow Will find that they
have important work on hand.
Attorney General viii Assist.
In the work OF preparing the new
legislation. the lawmakers will have
the assistance OF the attorney ger
eral, the constitution making il the
duty of this official to do this %Gsk.
Attorney General Bird and his assist
ants are prepared for the fray and
have already done considerable pre-
paratory work in this connection.
The senate and house caucuses for
the nomination of officials will be held
tonight and at noon tomorrow the two
bodies will convene and after the mem
bers are sworn in will elect and install
the officers nominated
The old practice of rushing bills
through the legislature without con-
sideration and on the simple say-so OF
the Legislators responsible for their in
PRODUCTION has been dumped into the
discard by the new constitution, which
provides every bill must be printed
and that no bill shall be considered
until five days after II has been SO
printed and placed on the desks of the
members. This is hoped to insure the
careful consideration OF every bill or
at least prevent the railroading OF
measures through the two houses.
Door Wide Open as Ever.
The new constitution. too. sought to
| effectually do away with the old prac-
tice OF giving immediate effect to a
large portion OF the new legislation
enacted. Attorney General Bird, how
ever. is Of the opinion that the COM
mission was not sufficiently careful IN
framing the provision designed TO stor
this practice You will md" said the
attorney general in a recent interview.
that the door Is as wide open as ever
The constitution now provides that no
bill shall take effect until ninety days
after the expiration Of the legislative
session. except that the legislature may
give immediate effect to acts makir =
appropriations and acts immediatel
necessary for the preservation OF the
public pea :, health or safety by a
two-thrds vote Of the members OF each
house Tn, legislature is the judge OF
what bills shall come under the head
OF public peace, health or safety and
there IL no appeal from its judgment