The Yale expositor., 1912-12-26

| Rep. CharleS smith, OF Lapeer, were
the only republicans who were avowed
candidates for the speakership. 1t is
claimed that Smith lost some strength
because OF his reactionary stand on
several important bills. while Currie
took every precaution TO fortify him
| self by supporting ali the progressive
! measures.
! When the special sessions were
called the republican candidates for
the speakership continued their cam
paign for pledges, but many of the
members of the lower house who prom
ised to vote for Smith were defeated
in the election this fall, and a careful
canvass discloses the fact that Cur
RE will have at least 32 of the So re-
publican votes at the caucas the night
before the contest is officially decided.
The progressives viii lhave a can
didate for the speakership in Rep. Nc
Bride, of Burton, Shiawassee county,
while Rep. Glassner. Of Barry county,
and Rep. Farmer, Of Livingston
county will aspire to the nomination
in the democratic caucas. There has
| been some talk to the effect that the
democrats and progressives will align
themselves with the disgruntled repub-
licans in an effort to control the house
and elect a speaker, but little credence
is given to this in state political cir
cles.
Whoever the speaker Of the next
house may be, he will be able, If he
sprinkles his committee appointments
judiciously, to become a powerful fac
tor in the politics of Michigan. Some
of the most important propositions
that have been considered in years
will be up to the 1913 legislature, and
as usual, the committees will be the
big factors in determining the fate Of
some of the proposed measures.
Congressional Districts.
Under the provisions of the new con-
stitution adopted in 1903, it is required
that the legislature of 1913 shall re-
apportion the congressional, senatorial
and legislative distrncts of the state.
! Therefore, ii is expected that there
will be general scramble among the
mtmbers of the house to secure the ap-
pointment as chairman of the commit
! tee on apportionment. The present
congressman will naturally want the
congressional districts arranged to
their best advantage, while the men,
bers Of the house who have ambitions
to become state senators, will endeav-
or to have the senatorial districts
! blocked out to suit their convenience.
When the last United tSates census
was completed, it was found that Mich.
igan's increased population entitled
this state to one additional congress-
man. This condition was met by pro-
viding a congressman to be elected
! from the state at large and Patrick
III. Kelley, former lieutenant governor,
was chosen as the thirteenth congress-
man at the recent election.
All indications point to some lively
wire pulling and intricate maneuvering
when the proposition of redistricting
the state comes up for consideration
population the city of Detroit will ask
that it be allotted two congressman.
AT the present time Wayne county is
splt into three different congressional
districts.
It will be impossible to add to the
number of state senators or represent
atives as the constitution provides
that there shall not be more than SO
senators or more than 100 representa-
Sves. No changes have been made in
the congressional districts in more
than twenty years and the attempt
Of the lawmakers to make revision
is sure TO bring on one Of the warm.
est battles Of the session.
Taxation CT Mortgages.
Members of the state grange, the
farmers clubs, and many legislators
stand in favor of repeating the mort
gage tax law passed at the last reg
ular session two years ago, as il is
pointed out that the act has not full
filed the expectations OF those who
framed it and that it is generally un-
satisfactory.
Use of Auto License Money.
Another important proposition that
the legislature will be asked to con-
slider, will be a law authorizing the
use OF money received from the sale
of automobile licenses, 70 rthe con-
struction of good roads. Secretary Of
State Frederick c. Martindale used
this as one of the planks in his plat
form when he was candidate for the
republican nomination for governor,
and he says that he will exert his
influence to have such law passed
next year.
Automobilsts are enthusiastic over
this proposition as they feel that in
asmuch as they are taxed for driving
their motor cars over the public high
ways, that the money should be used
in the construction of better roads, in
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