The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-09-02
THE RECORD COUNTY DELEGI
LEGISLATURE.

| The record OF the 1909 State Lesi
| umes. IL Is therefore apparent that
to the general public. We shall ends
TO each OF the Wayne County deis
was sent two months ago and each y
4, tion on any measure had been miss
| do any man an Injustice.
Gag Ruie and Those Who Favored L.
There was first persistent attempt
TO keep bills from being reported gu,
| from hostile committees for fear tina,
| they might be enacted into law u
| brought before the House. The revised
State Constitution specifically pro-
vides that neither House shall adop,
any rule that will prevent u majority
OF the members elected from discharg
| ing a committee from the further con-
| sideration OF any measure. bu'
| Speaker Campbell ruled that after a
tee IL would require tWo-thirds vote
to take II from that committee. and
that such a motion could only be made
once in regard TO any bill during the
Legislative session, thus violating the
plain provisions OF the revised Consti-
tuition.
on April IL. the attention OF the
House was called TO the fact that "
was within IA few weeks OF the close
| OF the session and yet not one OF the
measures, which the legislature was
pledged TO pass had been enacted into
law. IL was particularly desired to
take from the Committee on Taxation.
OF which Guy A. Miller was chairman.
the adj valorem taxation bill, provid :
ing for the taxation OF telegraph and
telephone companies on the same basis
as the property OF individuals.
When Speaker Campbell. by his de
cision. first thwarted the will OF the
away from the committee, and when
numerous motions appealing from his
decision were put, there was such con-
fusion In the minds OF the Legislators
L.s L. H.. eel. k2I1 ~
their record at that time. However,
after the matter had been thoroughly
aired In the public press so that the
issue was clearly drawn as between
hand, and the rights OF the common
people on the other. the following per-
sistently voted against and prevented
amending the rules SO as to make IL
clear that majority OF the House
could at any time take bill from a
hostile committee and control legisla-
ton: Curtiss, Flowers, Lodge, Miller,
Stevenson, and unsoeId. Those who
voted In favor OF amending the rules
OF the House so that they would be In
accord with the Democratic principles
OF the revised Constitution were Aus
tin. Cinrken, Copley and OGg. (See
House Journal. page 1002)
Representative Lodge has stated to
US that he opposed the amendment ms
there was nothing In the House Rules
preventing a majority from taking a
bill from a hostile committee. The
Speaker. however, interpreted and en-
forcd the rules differently and Lodge
by voting against making the rules
more specific. voted with the Speaker
and against majority control.
Ad vaIorem Taxation Of Telephone and
Telegraph Companies.
The second measure of general pub
lie interest in regard TO which we
think the record of the Wayne County
delegation significant was a bill TO tax
telephone and telegraph companies on
the value OF their property instead OF
imposing specific tax as previously.
the House said. "The principle sought
To be put into effect by this measure Is
one that no candidate or party would
dare oppose in any campaign. Those
measure tthe Anhut- Fairbanks BID,
do so on the broad ground OF it's fair
ness and Justice to the people OF the
state" Had a similar bin THE Dust
Bid, been enacted by the preceding
legislature. tho telephone and tele-
graph companies, according to Attor-
ney-General Bird. would have paid an
additional $3.50, 900 into the state treas
ury during the last two years. The
telephone and telegraph companies
were hghting this measure to the limit
as Is shown by the advertising matter
urer of the Michigan Telephone Traf-
fic Association, TO the papers on April
b. printed as straight news items,
news heads, etc
When this measure finally came to
a vote, Representatives Guy A. Miller
and John Stevenson voted against II.
Representatives Austin, Clarken, Cop
ley, Cnrt',., vs. Flower, Lodge, oss and
Journal. pages 1895 and 1880. Repre-
sentative Flowers, however, worked
against the bill when II was consider
ed In Committee of the Whole where
no record of votes Is taken. calling 1t
"unconstitutional and pernicious"
Representative Miller was chairman
or the committee TO which this bill
reporting 1t out and II was only SO re-
ported out when the House showed
that IL would not stand for further
gag-rulc tactics. In the previous leg
isiature, Representative Miller had
voted for a bill TO tax such companies
on the same basis as other property
How the vote stood In the senate.
Senator's Anhut, Scott and Smell vot-
ed for this measure. Senators Kreug-
err and MacKay were absent and their
Senate JournaD.
Statewide Civil Service hill.
Another measure of general public
interest, because Of the army OF en-
ployees on the state payroll drawing
public money tabout 45OO, was the
state wide civil service bill, endorsed
by such men as James Il. Angel, Presi-
dent Emeritus OF the University OF
MlCnlRan, and Kay Stannard Baker.
Mr. Baker said that II had been esti-
mated that the enactment of this bill
which had no untried provisions, but
embodied the best features OF the New
York. Massachusetts and New Jersey
laws, would save the people of Michi-
gan at least $4,000 a year and prob
ably good deal more.
The Detroit Free Press, commenting
on the defeat OF this bill, said editor
tally on May the Goth. 1909. The Leg
islature's unsympathctic treatment OF
civil service reform revealed it's real
attitude towards vital and necessary
reforms. having a large appeal to that
portion OF the public which Is laboring
for the Introduction OF new ideas
promising betterments." In another
place this paper said, mo logical ar
gument against the bill was present.
ed"
IL is to the credit OF the majority OF
the wayne delegation that they voted
Tor this measure a measure clearly In
the interest OF the public and against
the control OF the state by political
machines.
Record I'm the senate.
Senator Kruger opposed this bill by
voting To strike out everything after
the enacting clause. senators Anhut,
bill by voting against striking out
everything after the enacting clause.
(Scnate Journal, page 309)
The author OF the bill later endeay-
ored to get the vote reconsidered by
which IL was killed, but both Senator's
kreuger and scott voted against the
recon qidpratiOu when THAR votas ftho