The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1909-03-12
HOUSE WORKS
TO 6 O'CLOCK.
State So|ons Are laboring
With Much Vigor.
PRIMARY BILL IN THE SENATE

That Body Stood Right by the Job un'
til Measure Was Finally Disposed OF
on Third Reading-This Action Con.
sidered to Be the Most Important
of Past Week-Ormsbee Liquor Bill
Is Acted Upon by the House Com.
mittee.
Lansing, Mich, March 9.-Both
houses of the legislature addressed
themselves to the work in hand with
unusual vigor and enthusiasm last
week, holding prolonged sessions and
accomplishing excellent results so far
as the despatch of business is con-
cerned. The house devoted great
deal of time TO the consideration of
bills in committee of the whole, work
ing right up to 6 o'clock.
The senate took up the Dickinson
primary bill and kept right at it
through an afternoon and evening and
the succeeding forenoon, standing
right by the job until the bill was
finally disposed of on third reading.
Having "got the habit" it is predicted
that the solons will not weary with
well doing and that business will
continue to be despatched with all
promptness consistent with the prop
er consideration Of the important mat
ters that come up for Coz sideration
and action,
Action Was Important.
The action of the senate in passing
the Dickinson primary election bill
was possibly the most important ac-
ton of the week, this bill being, Of
course of widespread public interest
and concern. The main provisions of
this bill. which was passed with but
five negative votes, are that there shall
be but one enrolment day, which shall
obtain throughout the state, and be
the first Monday in April, election
day. Two general primary days are
fixed, one the third Tuesday preceding
the April election and the other the
first Tuesday in September.
The effort made to have the bill
provide for two additional primary
days for the city of Detroit was not
successful, but a concession vas made
whereby the primary polls may be
kept open until 10 o'clock p. m. in
Detroit. The bill makes the primary
which have thus far adopted it, on all
cities having a population in excess
OF 10000, and on all cities in which
one party has adopted it. Further
than this, it is required that the ques-
t,on of adoption be submitted to the
voters CO all other counties at the gen.
aral ell 'tion in April, 1910.
Nominations Made Mandatory.
The animation of governor, lieuten-
3 governor candidates for congress
and >andidates for the legislature is
made mandatory and it is provided
hat candidates for circuit judge shall
be nominated at primaries when such
direct vote is petitioned for. The bill
further makes r mandatory that an
advisory primary vote to be taken for
candidates for United States senator.
Al unsuccessful attempt was made
t. couple with this feature of the bill
a provision which, in effect, required
all candidates for the legislature to
agree in writing that they would, If
elected, vote for the candidate of their
party who received the highest num-
be- of votes in the primary. For this
was substituted a provision that the
candidates receiving the highest num-
Der of votes should be certified to the
legislature as the candidate Of their
parties.
The proposal to make the bill state
wide In its application and to include
all nominations from governor to cor
oner was defeated by vote Of II to
8, and substantially the same vote de-
feated the further proposal that all
state officers be nominated at pri-
maries. There are some who think
the provision relative to certifying the
receiving the highest num-
Der Of votes at the primary to legis-
lature as the candidates of the respect
I've parties for United States senator
Is unconstitutional, their argument be-
ms 'h"' SuSh a. pioNioiOu pTSCluueS the
possibility of any other person than
those certified becoming candidates
before the legislature for this Office.
The house will take this bill up for
at an early day.
ormsbee Liquor Bill.
The so-called Ormsbee LIQUOR bill
which has created quite a furore
throughout the state, the result being
he filing Of very numerous protests
against its passage, has been acted
lpon by the house committee on liquor
traffic and reported out for printing.
As reported, the bill is in a vastly diff.
Ferent form than as introduced, the
committee having devoted several |
sessions to its consideration and hav-
ing made numerous amendments
hereto. All this refers to the Orms.
bee bill amending the general liquor
aw. The other Ormsbee bill, which |
lad for its object the doing away with |
he county local option law still lies
in the committees pigeon
role and Is likely to remain there.
The main bill as amended by the |
committee provides that If a saloon.
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