Alma record., 1913-01-09

Thirteen progressive measures were
thrown into the hopper. but just in
what shape they viii materialize, il
at all, is matter of conjecture.
Weekly Payments to Employees.
One OF the first bills to be intro
duced in the house was that provid
ing for weekly payments of wages by
manufacturing and other institutions
in the state. 1t is also designed that
wages shall be paid in cash.
Many employees mortgage their sci.
aries and in hundreds of cases get
their checks cashed at places where
they are expected to spend money un-
necessarily. This measure will cover,
If passed, a new field and serve in
large measure to eliminate such a
practice
Regulate Telephone Rates. 8.
Another matter for legislation will
be bill TO regulate telephone rates.
While on the face of it this may not
appear to be a matter of vast iInpor-
tance to the people of the state al
large, yet it is declared that if the
measure passes It will wipe out glar-
ing Inconsistencies and compel a reg
ulation of rates now deemed exorbi
tant.
Revise Election Laws.
The entire list of Michigan's elec
tion laws will come up for revision
at the present session The senate
has taken the initiative and decided
upon this course. Senator James
called the committee on elections to.
gether at once ana consideration of
the proposition was given with the
decision to have prepared bills to re-
wise all of the primary and election
laws of the state.
Changes in Banking Laws,
There will be material changes In
the banking laws of the state at this
session. Banking Commissioner Doyle
Is aggressive in his advocacy of an
Improvement of the banking system.
The overdraft evil will be one of the
considerations and some provisions
made to compel a depositor to not
draw checks for more money than he
has on deposit. This evil has been
and is constantly being practiced
throughout the state to an extent
that causes the commissioner to sug-
gest a law governing the matter. An
other phase of the proposition will
be borrowing by bankers from their
own and other banks and regulation
In more strir gent manner the loan.
ing of money to directors and other
officials without adequate collateral
Some of the proposed clauses OF
the bill viii be: That at least ter
shares held by a ste ckholders shah
not be hypothecated or transferred;
that state banks shall twice each
year render report on lines Of
officer OF employe of bank to over
draw; fixing the loan limit to direc-
tors and employees at 10 per cent OF
capital and surplus; requiring the
banking commissioner to examine all
banks desiring to go into voluntary
These are merely q few
OF the proposed provisions.
Labor Legislation.
The Michigan State Federation of
Labor is behind a measure providing
for the health of factory employees,
of the compulsory edu-
cation law to raise the age limit to is
years, legislation TO prohibit boys
under II from selling newspapers on
the streets after II o'clock at night
and other protective measure. that
will enhance the conditions oi the
working people of tR state.
Corrupt Practices Act.
There will be some drastic legis.
lation upon the matter of corrupt
practices in elections. Representa-
tive Copley introduced bill along
this line at the previous session. but
It met with defeat. This time it is
believed chances o. passage are
greatly improved.
After Investment Sharks.
A measure which will receive the
of the best business men
and citizens generally throughout the
state will be one to prohibit promot-
ers foisting upon innocent investors
blue sky schemes that have been
20 eagerly nibbled al by the unwary
md inexperienced, II is declared that
lere R an opportunity for profitable |
.-yealIs---- Lls sasef0re- legisia-
ion is proposed tol save the get.rch-
luick aspirant fron himself and from
he seductive prol potter whose only |
security is the clouklsy hut ,whiRi has
appealing properties ,o the mniniti-
ted.
Physicist Fitness For Matrinony.
Representative Glasner comes for
yard again with a measure to compel |
pplicants for marriage licenses to-4
rocure medical certificates.
Railroad Sanitation.
There wiz be a measure introduced
D regulate the sanitary arrangements
railway companies. Representa-
ives of numerous lines operating in |