The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1913-01-16
THE NATTER OF CONTESTED
SEATS ENDS IN PEACE AND
HARMONY RElGNS
THE GOVERNOR GOES ABOUT TIE
STATE DEPARTMENTS
Representative SkeeIs Delivers Fiery
Political Speech in Which All
Parties Are Scored More
Or Less
TBy Gurd M. Hayes.]

Skeels of Oceana, the republicans in
the house joined with the progressives
and by an overwhelming vote rescind-
ed the resolution prohibiting legisla-
tive recounts. Rep. Skeels, who is
one of the new republican members in
the house delivered one of the greatest
speeches heard in the legislature in
recent years. The democrats who
voted almost unanimously against leg
islative recounts were roundly scored
by the Oceana representatives. The
national progressives were criticised
for their failure to administer the
square deal" in accordance with the
planks of their platform, and the re-
publicans who assisted in passing the
original resolution were not spared.
During the state conference of the
national progressive party held in this
city the members of the republican
party, and bull moosers as well, were
severely criticised in singing resolu-
tons for their action in supporting the
so-called Chinese Wall" resolution.
Evidently the action of the state con-
vention was not without it's effect as
Rep. heller and Rep. Plumley, the two
progressives, who voted against the
recounts on the first roll CALL changed
their minds when the motion to recon
slider was made.
Although several contests were filed
in the house, none of the members
whose seats were contested, lost out.
In fact, most of them gained several
votes when the legislative committees
conducted the recounts. 1t is generally
agreed among the members that the
recounts will have a good effect, as
there is absolutely no question now
as to the right of certain members to
retain their seats, and no one can
charge that he was not given a square
deal
Treated All Fairly.
In apportioning his committees
Speaker Currie did not discriminate
against those who tried to defeat him
for the speakership. Rep. Ashley of
Detroit, who led the republican bolt
ers, was given the Craftsmanship Of
one of the best committees, and Rep.
Martz of Detroit, who assisted Ashley
in making life miserable for Currie,
drew places on practically all of the
committees in which he is interested.
The democrats drew twenty chair
manships and the bull moose members
of the legislature were not sighted in
any manner. In making up the various
committees Speaker Currie tried to
pick the men best suited for the places
regardless of their political leanings,
hoping by so doing that the 1913 leg
islature would accomplish something
in the way of good legislation and
would not spend all the time in petty
squables.
Governor Looks On
Shortly after his Inauguration Gov.
Ferris announced that it was his in
tention to pay visit to all OF the
state departments in the capitol, and
expressed a wish that he might be on
friendly terms with all the state
officials, despite the fact that they are
allied with an opposite political party.
During the previous administration
Governor Osborn seldom visited any
of the state offices and the only time
that he appeared in the legislative hall
was the day he read his inaugural
message. He did not believe that it
was the duty of the chief executive to
attempt to influence legislation by
working among the members.
In this respect, however, Governor
Ferris differs from his predecessor.
The new chief executive says he in
tends to visit the house and senate,
and has already made good his pledge
to visit some of the state departments.
He has already inspected Secretary of
State Martindales Office and paid con-
siderable attention to the detailed
workings of that department as ex-
planned by Secretary Martindale.
Free Text. Books.
There is considerable opposition al
ready being manifested against the
bills providing for free text books and
uniform text books. One prominent
member of the Legislature says that
If the present law was applied there
would be no demand for free text
books, as the law specifically provides
that school districts can purchase
books at wholesale and either sell or
give them away to school children.
State Tax Commissions.
If the senate aiiirms the appoint
ments of Governor Ferris the demo
Gratis will control the state tax COM
mission as the chief executive has
named Thomas Kearney, of Ann Ar
Dor and Orlando F. Barnes, of Roscom-
mon to uoceed Thomas ID. White and
w. Il. Mershon. Barnes has twice
been the democratic candidate for
land commissioners and number OF
years ago was democratic mayor of
the city OF Lansing. Kearney has
long been a prominent democrat in
Washtenaw county.