The Detroit times., 1912-12-02
New Senator Plans to Intro
duce Many Progressive Mea-
sures in Legislature
FAvORS SHORT BALLOT
AND CIVIL SERVICE
Rep. Mas, Saloonkeeper, An
nOunces Himself Squarely
Against Woman Suffrage

State Senator Clarence Il. Gittins,
who defeated Leroy Nelson in the first
district. will have a large number o.
bills to introduce In the coming ses.
sion OF the Legislature. Senator Git
tins Is one OF the six Progressivas
elected TO the senate.
II intend to stand By the principles
OF the Progressive platform Mr.. Git
tins says. II believe that many
measures proposed In that platform
can be put through This Legislature
The people OF Michigan showed In tn
recent election that they are for pro-
gress in legislation. and believe that
a majority of both houses will be
found imbued with this spirit"
Senator Gittins is busy with the
consideration and preparation OF many
bills, but Is not yet prepared TO an
Inounce them. He talked, however, OF
measures in general which he favors
II. am in favor of the short ballot
in connection with civil service" he
SAID There are state ofiices Which;
II seems to me, nigh: as well be APP
pointive as elective. For instance.
the secretary OF state holds a job that
is largely clerical; there is little or
nothing in IL that makes IL necessary
for the people 70 exercise direct con-
troll over this office. Why not have
the Secretary OF state appointed Ly
the governor, and the employees OF
the office subject TO civil service?
And why not extend ;his measure II
other state Offices?
IL do not say that / contemplate
4. l.. I..1 a.. ffcaV~
which | have thought about consider
ably II would take q constitutions!
amendment, but 1. seems to me that
there are MANY things required in
Michigan that will necessitate amOed-
nents to the constitution
''Inasmuch as II TAXI coneiderab'e
time and energy TO amend the con-
stitution, why no. have recall OF judi
cial decisions which affect the peo-
pie as a whole? A vote on petitio
for such a recall. IL favorable, would
amount to a constitutional amend
ment. II seems tc me that this woull
be a more expeditions way than the
present system.
81 am thinking Of bill for the regu-
lation of lobbyists. 1t will probably
demand their registration.
Complaints have been made to me
by farmer friends-my district lies
half in the couRtry, half in the city
that they are constantly annoyed by
city people with guns who make life
unsafe for men and animals. These
people come into the country on Satur-
DAY afternoons and Sundays and
shoot at anything, from rabbits anu
chickens to cattle and horses. | have
been asked II something cannot be
done to protect the farmers from this
nuisance"
Rep. Joseph Greusel said that he
had little or no legislation TO intro.
duce.
Our books are loaded with
statutes" he said. I'm in favor OF
fewer laws, not more. I'm inclined to
think that the best governed state IL
that which has the fewest laws"
Joseph p Mas, saloonkeeper, at
No Cos Gratiot-ave., said that he has
no plans for legislation.
81 nan on a platform Of primary re-
form. short ballot and home rule" he
said. II haven't thought about bills
along these lines. II nobody else in
PRODUCES them, | suppose Ill have to
do 1t myself. This is my first term,
and I'll have to learn the ropes. Wo-
man suffrage? Not much. | represent
the Dutch liberia: vote II / should
vote for the women. I'd simply put a
moose around my neck. My people
wouldn't stand for 1t. I'm going 10
vote for William Alden Smith for sen
ator. There isn't any split in the
Wayne delegation on Smith. Domestic
relations court? / think, as Judge
Durfee says, that It's all right II the
proper man can be found to handle It.
It's a little premature to discuss my
plans; besides, haven't made any"