The Detroit times., 1913-03-08
Detroit Legislators Oppose Pro-
vision Turning Half of Pro-
ceeds Into Highway Fund
UPPER HOUSE ALSO
PASSES VERDIER BILL
Members of House Locked in
Hall While Sergeant Searches
for SOlOns for Quorum
From q STAFF Correspondent.

AANSAANHJ -NiNA.p >NoiNh w Aa'N
the house of representatives was kill
Ing time in the usual Friday morning
fashion, the solons in the other end
Of the capitol bestired themselves
into unwonted activity passing. be-
sides the amended Verdier home rule
bill, one by Senator Alswede. OF the
twenty-fourth district, which proposes
q tax on automobiles, and In addition
discussing favorably. as committee
Of the whole. Is bills.
Among the latter was the Odeil
short ballot proposal which would
give the governor the authority to APP
point all officers now elected on the
state ticket with exception OF himself
and the lieutenant-g governor. 1t was
not opposed by any OF the &c sena-
tors present, and is expected to meet
with their approval when II comes for
final decision next week.
Senator Alswede's bill is an ad-
junct to his trunk line highway pro-
gram. 1t places tax of 30 cents per
horsepower on motor vehicles and
stipulates that half Of the proceeds
shall 60 into the trunk line highway
fund, should It be created, and the
other half into the general highway
fund. 1t was opposed only by the
senators from Detroit who took the
position that the revenue ought to 60
to the counties in which 1t originates
The house wrangled half an hour
over whether the press of business
demanded an afternoon session. Mon
day, and finally decided in the mega
tive. Most Of the remainder OF the
forenoon was spent In dreary dis
cussion Of a public health bill to put
the water and sewage systems OF the
different cities under direct contro
OF the state board of health. The
bill passed the committee Of the
whole.
When noon came majority o
those present were In peniten
mood for not having made better
inroad on the long list of bills on the
calendar, and they, therefore. voted
for the unprecedented action OF hold
ing a Friday afternoon session.
The result was no quorum when the
speaker called the house to order at
1880 o'clock. The roll-cal showed
only As members mustered to answer
It. A call of the house was ordered
and the doors barred. The sergeant
was dispatched to bring In the alb
sentees, but after 40 minutes OF In
formal fun-making on the part OF the
representatives, the ser
geant reported his inability to find
the delinquent members and adjourn
ment was taken upon the motion OF
Rep. Fitzgerald. who was one of sew
eral on the anxious seat, because time
for-the- departure OF -their-train was
drawing. near.
About the busiest bunch OF men In
the legislature nowadays Is the ways
and means committee OF the house
I'VE find that we shall have to visit
about 20 institutions" said Rep. Hink
ley, chairman of the committee, FIJI
day. 1--WE got together last night anc
parceled them out.
"One subcommittee will take care
Of those In the upper peninsula anc
two others will divide those below tn
straits. We hope thus to get oul
work disposed OF as quickly and eco
nomically as possible. Appropriation
bills. Of course, must be passed, ant
has been done sometimes heretofore
shall introduce a resolution mex
week TO have them put at the ohea'
of the calendar. There Is no use
taking any chances on them III th'
mass OF legislation which VIII u
coming up from now on
The committee reported out the
senate bill to appropriate for the re
building OF the factory recently oe
stroyed by fire in the lonia retorha
tory and voted to report when amend
cd the appropriation for the soldiers
home. The special allowances ashcu
for In the latter for the construction
OF new buildings will be cut OH.
In view OF the fact that the nuinoer
NJ .oldiers and sailors there mas peen
diminishing, and probably VIII con.
Time TO do SO. the committee agreed
tha erection OF new buildings would
he ,nadyisable. especially az TINS tll'e.
The introduction OF bills continues
70 hreak all records for the stage ol
,Io session. The total number up 20
now &c e2S. of which ga were put Ia
~ ,ho house and 379 in the senate.
non Ravburn, a Democrat OF NJ
pena. proposed Friday, 10 raiSe .ne
raior,es Of the speaker OF the mouse
Cd lieuteuant-governor. To S-'oVo'
THOSE positions are chiefly honorary
-, cor they carry with them only