The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-02-08
HOUSE STANDS
rs TO "a ON SIDE
OF SUFFRAGE
In Estimate of Rep. Flowers, of
Detroit, NAntis" Are Shy
Ten Votes
OPPONENTS. FINDING
SUBMISSION SENTIMENT
Murtha Bill Is Addition to Long
List of Progressive
Measures
From q Stqn Oorresponde,lt.

LANSING, Mich, Feb. S.-Follow.
Ing Wednesdays hearing on the pro-
posed equal suffrage amendment, the
anti leaders among the representa-
ttives have been busy quietly taking
roll OF the house~to see where they
stand, and TO round up. II possible,
the "a votes NECESSARY to defeat the
resolution. They do not propose to
make an open fight unless enough
backing can be mustered to give
them q reasonable hope OF success.
but thus Iar they have been unable
to get that much support.
Rep. Flowers, OF Detroit, house
leader OF the pro-suffrag ists. Is more
amused than worried by the reports
of the poll from men who come TO
him after having been approached by
the anti-missionaries. He says that
after giving the opposition all the
doubtful members, they will still be
10 short of the number needed. BY
this estimate, he places the lineup as
76 to "a, and In doing 30 remarks that
he Is just as familiar with the situa-
ton now as he was last spring when
his forecast missed the final result by
only one vote.
In a copy OF the Flowers resolu-
ton, Senator Kelley, Of the Twenty
eighth district, introduced to that
body, Friday morning, the question OF
resubmitting the amendment.
Neither house was In session Fri
day for more than 80 minutes and
most OF that time was taken up by
the details of routine work.
One more proposal OF advanced
| legislation was added to the long and
ever growing list In bill by Senator
4, Murtha, OF Detroit, to make 1t a
felony for an official Of the state or
OF any county, city, village or town
ship to go back on a pledge he had
previously signed and allowed TO be
circulated In support of his candidacy
for the ONCE.
II is thought that law OF this
nature would put a premium on such
pledges and that the result OF Il
would be to have each official bound
by contract to carry out the wishes
OF majority Of his constituency. The
suggestion comes so suddenly, how
ever, that the legislators are some
what nonplused. Some OF them seem
hardly to know how to take It,
Senator Murtha argues that break
ing an agreement OF this sort Is az
fragrant a case OF getting money un-
der false pretenses as one could wish
and that II the law is a good thing 1t
ought to be made stringent enough to
be respected. The penalty attached
Is fine OF not more than $1,000 or
imprisonment In the County jail not
more than one year, or IN the state
Ienitentiary not more thar FIVE years
or both fine and imprison ment.
Prosecution under the provisions
OF the bill could be brought either in
the court Jurisdiction where the
pledge was signed or that in which
1t was broken.
Calling attention to the conflicting
statements in newspapers and school
| journals with regard to the respec
tive merits and dement's Of various
| plans for regulating the courses o.
study and textbooks used in the pub
lie schools, Senator Straight, Of the
| ninth district, offered a resolution Il
have appointed a special committed
of five senators to look into all sides
OF the subject.
He asserted that II there is an,
valid argument against uniformity o.
text books, he wants to know IL be
| fore casting ballot on the question
that he would like to hear evidence
from school authorities in the q
states that already have such sys
TEN, as we'll as from the school men
and women of Michigan, who are op
posed to the plan.
The house committee on education
decided. Wednesday, not TO report out
the Two bfIls backed by the State
! Teachers association, which provide
| free books and the regulation OF their
prices, but not uniformity. This ac-
\ ton was in accord with Senator
straight's present sympathies. but he
| favors getting all the information pos
/ sible.
Senator CoIliss. OF the twenty-frst
| district. proposed a change In the act
| regulating mutual fire insurance com
| panies TO allow them to insure against
| losses by lightning, wind and hail.
and to safeguard growing crops. IL
! also adds Cleaners halls TO the
/ Grange halls, churches and other
buildings formerly included.
Senator Alswede. of the twenty
fourth district. presented a bill to
control the use and registration or
motor vehicles. The fees stipulated
for licenses are. per horse power. so
cents on motor cycles, and automo-
biles. and 20 cents for commercial
trucks.
The other bills were To provide