The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-04-12
DEMs. ENGAGE IN
Vain F|L|BUsTER
Object to Percentage Feature in
Flowers Primary Bill, Which
Stays in, Though Reduced.
(From a star correspondent.)

(From a STAFF correspondent.)
LANSING, Mich, April l2.-Demo-
cratic opposition TO Rep. Flowers
primary reform bill, developed the
first real flibuster of the season In
the house, yesterday afternoon, and
Unused old-timers to hark back to
the first primary reform debate, back
In Pingree's time, when the late Sher-
idan Colby talked all night TO pre-
vent vote, defeating bill The nj
lbuster yesterday afternoon was over
In two hours, but IL was hot while IL
lasted.
The bill was on third reading. the
Democrats objected to section re-
quiring that any candidate TO receive
a nomination must receive 20 per
cent of the number OF votes cast at
the previous election. This was ue-
sired by Republicans In Detroit, who
alleged that the Democrats had hock-
ed into the Republican primaries ana
weakened the tickets. The Democrats
considered this a chip on the Detroit
members shoulder, and made des-
perate attempts II not to knock II on,
. at least. to fuddle around and consume
time until IL fell of.
Several amendments had been pro-
posed to the bill, when Rep McNaugh-
ton moved The previous question:
Rep. Happier moved TO postpone IN
definitely. Rep. speaker pro tem., VINO
was i'm the chair, declared that the
previous question took precedence,
and that a motion to postpone indefin-
itely was out of order. This brought
Speaker Baker, who was on the floor.
into direct conflict with Perry, who Is
his intimate friend. Rep. knight. ne
publican. appealed from the chairs de-
cision, but withdrew his appeal. Rep.
Farmer, Democrat, Immediately took
no the appeal The chair was sus-
tained The minority then demanded
that the bill be read. IL consisted
of nearly 40 long sections, and Read
Ing Clerk Newkirk's voice gave out
before he had finished. Paul IA. hing,
clerk of the house, took up the job.
being interrupted by frequent motions
,hat the bill be considered read each
Df which required vote and was de-
feated. The bill then was passed, 52
10 &c. Rep Stewart demanded re-
consideration for the purpose OF In
PRODUCING amendments.
Rep. Flowers then accused the
Democrats Of bad faith, saying that
he had had a conference with them
and had offered to lessen the percent
age required for nominations, and had
been given to understand thot the
concession would make the bill ac-
ceptable. Rep. Farmer replied that
he had had nothing to do with such
an agreement Rep. Bricker sidestep-
ped. Rep. Flowers then voluntarily
offered to make the percentage 10.
With this amendment. the bill pass
ed, az to 13, the Democrats standing
pat. Rep. Taylor then demanded a
second reconsideration and the final
vote was 70 to IL.
At times the argument assumed the
phase OF the whole state against De-
troit, and at one time an amendment
was proposed, making the bill apply
only to Detroits city elections. The
final outcome was victory for Rep.
Flowers and the other Wayne mem
bers.
Rep. Flowers bill to give married
women the right to their earnings
also passed the house, after strug-.
gle by about the same bunch that de-
feated the woman suffrage amend
ment.
The statewide boiler inspection I'LL,
which passed the house in the morn
ing was reconsidered and passed, by
the same narrow margin as In the
morning.
Two bills were killed, one introiuc-
ed by Rep. Glasner abolishinS the
state pardon board and vesting its
duties In the governor. the other in
troduced by Rep Dusenbury, prohtb-
iting probate judges from sitting In
cases in which they had ever drawn
papers.
A large number of minor bills we're
passed.
Enough oratory to fill three ordin-
ary capitols for a few sessions was
uncorked in the senate committee OF
the whole, Tuesday afternoon, when