The Detroit times., 1913-08-07
List Adopted BY the Last Mich
igan Legislature Includes
Many Reform and REM
edial Measures
AFFECT POLITICAL
AND SOCIAL PROBLEMS
Amendment To Primary Statute
and Mothers Compensation
Plan Important


covering wide range OF social, pollt'
zeal aud economic problems viii be-
come effective In Michigan, Aug. 10,
By statutes adopted In the recent SEES
sion OF the legislature. Changes
made in the forms and machinery OF
government i'm addition 10 constitu-
tioual amendments or direct legisla'
ton and the recall or all elective ON
GERS except judges OF courts OF record.
y hich were approved in the spring
election. Include a radical revision OF
the primary law. an effective corrupt
practices act and the selection or
party state central committeeman by
popular vote
The primary reform does away
with party enrolment and provides a
blanket ballot for all parties. II
maintains inviolate the secrecy OF
the ballot upon which party enroll
ment was considered by many an in
fringement and at the same time safe
guards the rights OF the different par
ties by requiring the voter 10 stick
10 one column II also abollshes the
much criticised Il per cent clause OF
the present law by which party
must in each primary cast that frac-
ton OF It's vote for secretary OF state
in the previous election 10 get its
candidates on the ballot for the pend.
ing election.
Corrupt Practices Act.
BY the corrupt practices statute IL
is made unlawful for any candidate,
either In the campaign for nomination
or election. TO spend. or for any party
committee 10 spend for him. more
than 20 per cent Of one years salary
OF the desired office. The only excep-
lions 10 this are that no one shall be
limited 10 less than 500; candidates
or the legislature may spend one
fourth OF their salary for two years
and those for governor and lieutenant
so per cent OF a years salary. Each
party committee is required 70 have
treasurer, who must file an account
OF all moneys received and disbursed
by him Candidates likewise must file
expense accounts and cannot take
office till they do Hereafter also,
money can be spent legally only for
purposes specified in the law.
First among the acts OF purely so
cial significance is a mothers COM
pensation law, modelled after the Hi
Dois statute, which has been designat-
ed by Judge Merritt w. Pinckney, who
has charge OF its operation in Cook
county, as one OF the most important
laws ever enacted. II makes possible
the use of public funds for the sup
port OF destitute children in their own
homes, provided the court finds their
M 20 nt,fG n fnr in
every respect except financially. The
administration of the law and the de-
cision of how much shall be allowed
for each child is left in each case TO
the juvenile or probate judge in
charge OF II.
Domestic Relations Court.
The establishment OF domestic
relations court for Detroit is another
act OF social Importance. The judge
OF this court will hear all suits for
divorce, actions for violations of laws
governing desertion and non-support
Of wife and children and other similar
cases
The Odell sterilization law. aimed
al the prevention OF procreation by
insane and mentally defective persons
who are confined In state institutions
is regarded as the significant begin
ming OF conscious effort toward race
betterment which eventually develop
into a more. positive program or
eugen!cs.
Commercially, the point of central
interest is the new blue sky" law
for the protection OF investors. Ii re-
quires the filing OF .opies OF all Sc
. Toe Affa f0r nj
complete statements OF the condition
and character of the concern back OF
the Investment Each person or firm
doing a business OF selling securities
must be registered and pay fee ac-
cordng TO the amount of its trans
actions The power of passing upon
stocks and bonds to be placed on the
market Is vested In commission
composed OF the attorney-general the
state treasurer and the state banking
commissioners.
Two OF the laws which will go
into effect were prepared by the ma
tional board for the uniformity OF
Legislation in the United States. They
bring together and unity the laws
covering the sale OF goods and OF
STOCKS, parts OI NHiCH' ueIetOIOIe'
were to be found in court decisions
and other parts In numerous and
conflicting statutes In
adopting them Michigan follows the
action OF many other states.
Discrimination Prohibited.
The rural element OF the legislature
was responsible for the passage Of a
law prohibiting discrimination I'm the
purchase OF farm products. Including
milk. cream. butter. poultry, eggs;
that Is. 10 prevent any concerns ar
bitrarily paying more for a product
in one community than another.
Another law provides for the licens.