The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-04-30
HOME RULE BILLS
ARE AGREED TO-
Plan To Kill Municipal Ownership
Provision in House Fails-Senate
Passes Measure, Too.
fErom a STAFF correspoadsa.,,


LANSING. Mich. April 2s.--The
home rule problem was considered In
both branches OF the legislature yes
terday. The senate passed the bill on
third reading after amending II. The
house agreed TO the home rule bill as
II had left the committee and il would
nave passed IL IL had been before the
house the necessary five days.
Behind the announcement q, me
houses action Is an interesting story
II Is said that certain farmers had
been marshaled by the legislators who
object to municipal ownership 10 take
a firm stand against this feature Of
the home rule proposition. The asri-
culturists are said to have entered lntc
a plan to eliminate from the bill the
provisions giving cities the right IT,
own street railways and heating plants
The farmers lost their nerve,
though. Speaker Campbell. who Is
said to have organized the opposition
to the municipal ownership feature.
found himself almost deserted tor the
ruralites learned that news Of their
stand had become public. The amend.
ment relating to municipal ownership
was offered Ivy Rep. Chambers. OF Ora
tiot. and Speaker Campbell then took
charge Of tie fight The vote showed
that all Campbell had left of his army
were Van Raalte, OF Holland. and one
ether
Speaker Campbell. in his speech.
said the legislature was not Obliged
by the constitution to grant municipal
ownership 90 cities. He asserted that
this system vas q failure aud blamed
Democrats. Socialists and Popunsts
for it's agitation. Stewart. or Grand
Rapids. and Miller. OF Detroit. took
exceptions TO the speakers remarks
The bill passed and the municipal
ownership PROVISION Is part OF It. An
amendment to the bill gives the cities
the right To prescribe the number o;
saloons and the amount OF license
they shall pay.
The sena.e amenncd the home rule
bill as follows: Giving each city tho
present representation on the board
of supervisors with che additiona, for
every 5000 In cxcehs OF the present
population: the charter commission
of nine is 10 be elected on a non-par-
tisan ballot. The bill Is now up TO tire
house
The house yesterday changed that
section of the bill which made Labor
Commissioned Fletcher secure in his
position for four years. He Will nave
to be content with two more years as
chief OF that department. The house
also fixed II SO he cannot require fire
escapes to be placed on two-story
buildings
In the senate yesterday these bills
were passed on third reading: Dickin.
sons anti-cigarette bill: by MaeKay.
regulating me proceedings OF presi.
Dental electors, requiring them 10
meet In the senate chamber the sec.
ond Monday in January TO organize;
Rep. Chambers. appropriating $4,000
for current expenses OF the state penal
institutions and $94S.422.5S for the
state asyIu ms; Rep. Copley. provid-
iny that dete bodies OF criminals may
be used for scientific purposes; Rep.
Giles. creating board to license ana
regulate optsmetrisis: Anhut, provid.
ing for the Incorporation and regula-
ton OF Cooperative and mutuaIpro-
.ective associations OF railway conduc.
tors and en.,ineers