The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1913-02-01

" for the statement that should the
committee not report the bill out
within reasonable time. prompt &c
ton on the measure will be requested
The measure provides that the
state central committee. shall each
have two members from each con
gressional district and that the noml
nees OF each political party for gov
ernor. lieutenant governor. secretary
OF state. auditor general. attorney
general. commissioner OF the state
land Office and state treasurer shall
be members ex officio.
Under the provisions OF the Blerd
bill members of the committees shall
be chosen as follows The congress
slonal, senatorial. representative and
county nominees shall, within ten
days after the August primaf1 cleo
ton. meet at a place TO be designated
by each congressional committee. The
nominees last enumerated shall com
prise district congressional conven-
ton and shall elect two members TO
serve on the state central commit.
tees
The object is to bring the working
forces Of each political party closer to
the people. aud as the nominees are
supposed TO represent the choice OF
tho people. IL is deemed right that
they shah have hand In naming tho
men 10 handle the political destlnies
of their parties, and in that manner
come nearer to a popular representa-
ton OF the will OF the people, at the
same time eliminating the possibility
OF political manipulation to the public
deiriment
Congressional ReapportIonment.
Reapportionment OF con sressional
districts Is given earnest cdnsidera-
ton. Several plans have been
mapped out, but as yet only sugges-
tons for general consideration have
been evolved Each suggestion. how
ever. accords with the ideas OF the
originator as to what would best suit
his own or HIS particular locality's In
terests. IL is recognized by the old.
line Republicans in both houses that
II this matter had been disposed OF
at the previous session IL would have
been n vastly easier job. because
there were few except Republicans to
satisfy Now. with n strong Demo
cratic and Progressive element IN
both houses, there is sure to be
good deal OF wrangling before the
state is redistricted with any degree
of general satisfaction.
Extended Home Rule Powers.
Senator Verdier, OF Grand Rapids.
has a bill before the senate calculated
to broaden the home rule powers OF
the cities OF the state The plan is
TO eliminate from the present law the
Jokers which have made the Law
merely a name and not a fact. The
measure Is a combination OF sugges-
lions secured from Detroit and Grand
Rapids In opening the way for munich
pal ownership OF public utilities.
Under the present law, cities may
only increase their bonded indebted
ness by two-thirds vote. and that
vote may not be taken more often
than once in two years
Under the provisions OF the verdier
bin, the vote is extended to three
ffths and may be- taken once n year.
This bill opens the way to borrow not
20 exceed / per cent OF the assessed
valuation OF the city for the purchase
or public utilities
Under the present law also, general
revision OF a city charter may be
brought about hy the vote OF two
thirds or the electors. and In order TO
initiate plans FOR proposed revision
a petition OF q per cent OF the voters
must be presented Five per cent OF
the voters on petition may, under the
Verdier bill, open the way to vote.
The bin has gained general com.
mendatlon and il Is believed that so>-s
such readjustment as that proposed
Will be brought about II Is consid-
cred one OF the most important bills
yet presented
Care Of state Charges.
The charity ORGANIZATIONS OF tho
state, in cooper tion with the state
board Of corrections and charities are
planning 70 have several bills enacted
for more adequate relief OF the states
charges The need OF In.
creased capacity in the home for tho
Feeble Minded at Lapeer is to be
brought forward and demands made
for better facilities AZ a recent meet
Ing here OF representatives OF organ
izations In the state with the state
board, the astounding statement was
made that there are 1000 lmbeciles In
Michigan utterly without proper care
and that there IL no room for them in
the state institution.
Representative Dunn's bill for the
sterilization OF insane, criminals and
imbeciles was the subject Of consid-
GRAFTON at the meeting, but the ques-
ton OF conetitutionalitv NJ aueh n