The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-03-17
HEC ION BILLS
10 FACE STATE
S0LONS NEXT
Action On Drastic Measures
Certain Before the
Week Ends
CURRIE AND JAMES
AUTHORS OF BILLS
Speaker Declares For Eimina-
ton of Unnecessary
Expense
Frcns Q speciol Correspondent.

LANSING. Mich, March H.
Primary election reform will again
become the center of interest when
the legislature reconvenes Monday
night. In the senate, the election
committee will report out the James
bill TO repeal the party enrolment
q and 10 per cent requirement OF the
present law and to provide secret
4 ballot containing all party columns
on one sheet.
In the house, a bill prepared by
SPEAKER Currie based on that OF SEN
4 efor James but with important addi-
lions will be introduced by Rep.
Bierd, OF Bay, while Rep. Taylor. OF
Kent. whose complete substitute for
the existing law was killed last week
\ viii Introduce a bill OF amendments
\ 6pmowhat different from those OF the
other men.
Tho spaaker was one Of those who
led the fight on the Taylor bill. His
obloc4tOns were that the proper pro-
a ceaure was to amend the act now
4 II fUrce rather than to repeal 1t al
together, and more especially that
\ me second choice feature Of the pro-
\ pooed ballot was an undesirable COM
\ pIication.
In accordance with the stand he
\ tuok then, the bill he now offers has
the essentials Of the James bin above
I and includes the nomination by
4 primary Of all candidates for state
ofaces. It also makes specific pro-
\ v1G1on for registration before primar-
4 ~ and contains q unique section
y which authorizes county clerks to
( cancel the election In any township
- cOunty In which there happens to
z b no contest In any party; and In
4 the 80 ~ . wider jurisdiction such
10 ! judicial circuit. the same au-
thos1ty would Be given the secretary
h ~ state. This last Is matter OF
y conG11erable Importance In the
Y w Gs&he speaker. .es......
II They tell me-" he said, comment
n 1nrsnn ~ that In the recent pri-
\! nnsy Wexford district spent $1.40O.
Eolthough there was not q single con-
\ tooted place on any Of the tickets.
fhat useless expense might lust as
xakoll be saved as not" -.- 49, !.
Ez ~ ballot suggested by Senator.
= James has . circle one-half inch in
n diameter At .the. head of the column
n1Ioted each party. The voter desig-
Eanteo his party by making cross In
Z ~ Of thee circles and he must stick
I - the column 90 marked. II he does
5ump to another column, when he
y eoues 70 sthk candidates for governor,
9zUe instance, his vote does not count
!: tpward nomination for that Office.
Speaker Cufrie makes no change
IN thIi ballot though he is not in
I elined 70 insist on the circles. Rep.
xny1of1 plan follows the same prin-
AcipAl n sticking to one column but
NJ .doeg away with the circles which
be sayy would only bring confusion
Y to the voter.
The new Taylor bill would shorten |
the law great deal. cutting out nine
(. sections altogether. II adds one new I
Z section which deals with the choice I
Of county, state anu national COM
\ Hitteemen. HewuuitF have All coun-1
ssty candidates meet within two weeks
after the August primary and choose
<ftUV NOuuSy Scmulttee.f linen De-
tween Is and 80 days after the pri-i
mary all the different candidates OF |
N each party In a congressional district
\ would meet and select two state COM
q mttteemep. Provision also IL made
q Tor the selection OF delegates to state
cO4ventions every two years and
n every other one Of these would choose
rational committeeman.
The elections committee OF the
Z house IL dominated by conservative
Republicans who openly defend the
very things which all OF these pro-
!, pooala would abolish. However. II ia
not expected to cut very much OF
Azure In the determination of what
K sort Of . measure will be adopted
3 The senate committee on elections
pra~tieally has agreed to report earIv
q In the week and without substantial,
+ amendment. the Copley corrupt nrac-
tices bill passed by the house.
. SCOTT.