The Detroit times., 1913-03-15
Speaker Would Replace Them
With Commissioners
Elected at Large
CLAIMS OBJECT is TO
DEFEAT POLITICS
Chance of Recall Appearing Be-
fore Voters This Spring
Dwindles
From q Stan Correspondent.


LANSING, Mich. March 15.-
Speaker Currie. who has spent his
spare moments OF the last three
weeks working on . resolution which
has for its aim an amendment to the
constitution to abolish county boards
OF supervisors and establish boards
Of commissioners In their place, il
receiving encouragement from many
sources.
One probate Judge writes to him,
Your proposition strikes me SO
sQuarely where live that ] cannot
help sending you q friendly word Of
congratulation and bidding you to 20
to 1t. For years l have been hoping
some legislator would have the nerve
to attack the whole iniQuity. The sys-
tenn may have been all right rs years
ago but 1t Is all wrong now"
The speaker has had the question
forced upon him by several years Of
bitter struggle with the petty political
ring OF his own county. He has
worsted them In many battles but
they have come back at him by levy
Ing an undue portion Of the state tax
on the strongest pro-Ourrie township
with the result that some of its citi-
gems recently have been circulating
petitions to have the county abolished
Together
The purpose of the proposed plan
two-fold, first to do away with the
evils OF the political machinery to
which the present form of govern
ment lends itself and which In turn
fosters many sorts of petty abuses
and tyrannous legislation, and con-
versely to gain for the counties some
OF the advantages which usually have
accrued to cities from q commission
form OF government.
1t ia suggested that the county be
made the unit of assessment OF taxes
rather than the ward of township In
order to eliminate unjust discriminar
tons. Counties having less than co..
600 Inhabitants would have three
commissioners. elected at large. those
between $4,000 and 100000. hve. and
all more than 100000, seven. The
election at large, 1t Is argued, would
do away with the temptation to work
for local interests.
Both houses OF the legislature ran
of considerable routine work. Friday
morning.
Bv q blunder, which amounts to q
technically. the chance of the recalls
being submitted this spring Is SO
small that 1t Is hardly considerable.
Originally. the resolution. specified
that the legislature should put the
requirement for signatures on petit
lions at mot more than rs per cent"
The senate changed this to mot less
than 20 per cent"
In refusing to concur In the amend
ment, the house by an oversight re-
versed 1t In only one u the two
places in which 1t occurred. thus leav-
ing the resolution grossly incon.
sistent
Friday morning, an attempt was made
to correct It. The resolution was re-
called from the senate and call Of
the house revealed exactly the re-
quisite 81 members present, but Rep.
Newell Smith, of Gratiot, fatty refused
to vote for the measure even under
such cii cumstances. Two or three
more were In doubt, too. % no vote
was taken.
Secretary OF State Martindale has
given assurance that his department
will do the best it can to get out any
turned over TO II even
as late as Monday night, but he Of
fers little hope Of success.
The house passed 10 bills on gen.
eral orders and killed one introduced
by Senator McNaughton, OF Kent. to
raise the salary of the superintendent
OF the soldiers home from $4,000 to
$4,000. Earlier in the session 1t
tabled a similar one introduced In the
house. The order OF third reading
was passed SO that Monday night
there will be 2s bills for the final
vote.
The senate on the other hand spent
the whole morning on third reading.
giving Its approval to 16 bills, one of
which was Senator Murtha's bill rela,
tive to the breaking Of pledges made
by public officers.
Following the precedent set by the
house week ago, the senate voted
TO have an afternoon session and in
II likewise no business was transact.
ed. Some seurrying around was done
TO get quorum together and al.
though the effort was successful, the
only motion put was 10 adjourn