The Detroit times., 1913-01-28
FERRIS WOULD
STATEBUY
PERE MARQUETTE
Move in House Is Tabled, But
Glassner Will Bring II
Up Again
MANY CHANGES PROPOSED
IN STATE PRIMARY LAW
Secret Ballot and Elimination Of
Is Per Cent Clause
Suggested
From a star Corrsspoa

>
LANSING. Mich, Jan. 2s-Ths plan
which has been suggested by Gov
ferris for the sttae to purchase ane
operate the Pere Marquette railroad
will make tn reappearance In the
house Wednesday. Rep. Glassner In
troduced q resolution In the house
Monday nightc alling for the appoint
mant Of q committee to Investigate The
matter, but Il was laid on the table
when Rep. Flowers called attention e
the fact that q constitutional proyi
sion excludes the state from entering
into the railroad business. However
Rep. Glassner has received the opin
Ton OF ex-Speaker Col. Campbell and
other constitutional authorities In the
house that the state can bug. or 'oper
ate q railroad on the ground that II II
remedy q menace to public business
conditions Just az the board OF health
can take steps to correct a menace &c
public health. He win, therefore, In
troduce the resolution again and has
received assurances from members
that they will support IL and that II
viii be adopted. Governor Ferris
says;
"The Pere Marquette system social
cd forms q net work throughout South
ern Michigan and has an extensive
trackage in the northern part OF the
state. II matters can be so arranged
that the state may legally take ovt
and operae the road II would be a Cod
send 10 the people OF Michigan.
AS usual the two houses or the leg
islature met last night, introduced q
new lot Of bills and adjourned. The
senate also went through the formal
ity OF a legal vote on the Fitzgibbon'
measure To abolish salt inspection. II
Is expected that the house will take
up the consideration OF bills for the
first time today.
Senator Wood, thirtieth district,
sent up bill to prohibit the operation
OF private banks and another In re
gard to the incorporation OF such exist
Ing Institutions as state banks.
A modification OF the Mobile bill
which caused sharp contes. In the
lfst legislature when II was defeated
IN the senate, was introduced by Rep.
Ashley, of Detroit. II Is department.
measure In regulation OF the granting
OF insurance by fraternal beneficiary
societies, orders or associations. IL
is recommended by the joint confer
ence Of representatives Of the asso-
ciated fraternities OF America, the ma
ti0nal convention OF insurance com.
missioners and by the state body Of
fraternal orders.
Rep. Ashley also proposed TO put the
appointment OF city health officers
back In the hands OF the mayor as 1t
was before the Pingree administra-
ton, and an amendment to the act
establishing IRE marshals' depart
ment.
A bill to create an educational com.
mission to direct courses OF instruc-
ton In the public schools OF the state
as well as to select and enforce this
use Of uniform system OF text
books was proposed by Senator
Straight, ninth district, and a similar
bill by Rep. Young In the house. The
commission IL TO consist OF the gov
ernor, superintendent OF public instruc
ton, president OF the Agricultural col
lege and two members appointed BY
the governor.
Other bills were: To allow boards
OF supervisors to establish manual
training and agricultural schools and
TO increase the fees for the recorder
or deeds from 80 cents TO 75 cents,
Rep. Tufts, OF Mason: TO provide an
additional police justice In Detroit,
Rep. Jerome, OF Detroit; to require bet
ter headlights on railroad locomotives
and bill In regulation OF hotels, Rep
Henry, OF Calhoun, to appropriate
money for q science building at the
state university, Rep. Sutton; to
amend the drain laws, Rep. Stevens:
10 allow the wife to testify against her
husband being sued for desertfun IN
certain cases, Senator Corliss, and an
other by him In amendment of the act
Founding department OF labor.
primary bill to do away with the
present hfteen per cent enrolment re-
quirement, to provide a new ballot
and the nomipation by primary OF all
state oficers chosen at both spring
and fall elections is being prepared
and will be introduced sometime thIs
week by Rep. Taylor, OF Kent.
The ballot called for Is that now In
Use In Wisconsin. The tickets OF all
parties are printed on sheets uniform
In size and shape. They are made
broad enough 10 be reasonably short
and one Of each Is bound into a sort
OF booklet which is handed to the
voter Perforations are made so he
can readily tear cut the ticket he wish.
es to vote. He folds and returns tn,
rest OF them to- be put I'm a proper
receptacle and destroyed, thus no one
can know which he used.
Other changes. suggested are 10 mt
the March primary . week earlier ana
the one now held IN August a weeL
later. The purpose given Cor the shift.
ING OF dates - to accommodate the
farmers BY setting times when fhev
VIII be least busy. The fifteen per cen,
enrollment provision has caused
great deal Of satisfaction and IA
abandonment was recommended b,
Governor Ferris IA his inaugural mes
sage.
The state oficers affected by thi
measure are the Justices OF the si
preme court, the regents OF the UNI
fcrsIty. secretary Of state, state treas
urer, suditor-general. land commission
~. attorney general and superintent
emit 81 public instruction. SCOTT.
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