The Calumet news., 1913-03-05
LAW MAKERS
WORKING HARD
Big Lot of Legislation viii Be
Ground Out This Month


eight weeks OF time spent chiefi, in
running in bils. making myestiPa-
tons, etc, the legislature really is
down to work. landing ;hus far always
on the side Of the people, even IL that
meant To overturn the opinions of the
attorney general. Here are "a few Of
the things which stand out as accom-
plishments of the last week
Passage of the home rule bin, with
Immediate effect in the Senate.
Passage cf the women's suffrage
amendment ia the Senate.
Argument on the Odell sterilization
bill in the Senate.
Beginning of the rtrc Marquette
probe.
Reporting out Of the bills providing
for the initiative and referendum and
recall for both constitutional and leg
lslative purposes.
Reporting out of the uniform text
book bill.
Passage Of the Jerome apportion-
ment bin i'm the House
Public hearings on many important
subjects.
Woman's Suffrage in Doubt.
The passage of the woman's suf-
irase amendment i'm the Senate was
another big job done well and again
stamped the Senate as the progress
sive body. But that bill seems To have
gotten into a tangle which almost
makes IL look doubtful If the amend
ment viii be submitted this spring
The bill was introduced by Sena-
tor Kelley in the Senate and by Mr..
Flowers in the House. Each branch
of the legislature passed it's own
measure. Each lies now i'm the house
opposite to which it started. Senator
Verdier had the bill amended some
what. in order that women from a
foreign country must be here five
years before receiving the right Of
suffrage. Mr.. Flowers is not lust
satisfied with the wording of the bill
and wants his hill to pass the Senate
after recalling the Kelley bill. This
Is what is most likely to be done, but
the tangle is such that one or the
ture must recede from ns previous
action before anything cap be accom-
plished toward placing the amendment
before the people this spring
The passage of the Jerome bill pro-
viding for the reapportionment Of the
state into representative districts was
a case of pure bone headed legislation
20 far as Kent county was concerned
1t is aLothcr case of where Wayne
county c"mbincd with the smaller
counties in the nQrthern part of the
state 90 set what il wanted, leaving
ohers 10 shift for themselves. Except
Representative Foute. no member from
Kent saw the point Mr. Foote pro-
tested ana voted against the bill bat
all other Kent members sat calmly by
and watched their legal right taken
away through combination of Wayne
and some other counties.
How the Plan Was Carried.
Under the law and under the CON
stitution, Wayne is entitled to nine
teen representatives., an increase Of
live over the present allotment. Kent
is entitled 10 six representative
-four from the city, instead of three.
In order to bring this about. Emmcl,
Cheboygan, CharlcvoiX. Presque Isle,
Oceana and Newaygo would be forced
To lose their individuality. Wayne,
finding a hard iisht was going to be
made against the loss of individuality
by these counties, combined with
with them and agreed to take but
seventeen representatives, an increase
of three instead of five. on condition
that Kent was To get no increase. This
would turn lose three more represen-
tatives To he distributed among these
smaller counties and each would re-
tain its individuality. or course, they
grabbed at the chance. Kent slept on.
except Foote. Foote demanded what
was right for Kent and what Kent is
entitled to under the constitution. He
fought against and finally voted
against the bill, but of course stood
no chance against the combination op-
posing him.