The Detroit times., 1915-01-08

be empowered to alter the general
purpose OF H.
The value OF This plan lies in the
fact thai every proposed piece OF leg
islstion must pass through the hands
~ committee of experts whose sole
object Is 10 discover and remedy de
fects before It becomes law The
plan. which Will undoubtedly meet
with the approval OF the legislators,
was suggested by Archibald Broom.
field, Big Rapids attorney ana close
friend OF the governor.
The governor paid his respects 10
the Michigan primary law by saying
that IL Is the best the state has yet
had, but like all human laws il has
It's limitations To avoid the chance
OF the choice of a minority candidate
from among large field In the pri-
mary. the governor advised a prefer.
entail ballot, with columns for frst,
second or third choice. The chief
objection 10 this plan" he said, lies
In the fact that every voter must ex.
ercise HIS intelligence, the one abso-
lutely essential thing for voter TO
do" There was no further explana-
ton OF this rather ambiguous SEN
tenoe.
Still referring TO the subject OF bal
lot reform. the governor declared
himself Ia favor OF the short ballot
and recommended change in mark
ing ballots. declaring that the present
system made 1t easy for an ignorant
voter TO mark the straight ticket. but
difficult for the independent voter 10
split the party ticket" A commits.
sion 10 investigate and recommend
changes In the state election laws
was also suggested
He also suggested the publication OF
campaign publicity by the state at a
nominal expense OF the candidate.
The governor recommended the re
peal OF the present mortgage tax law
and other laws exempting secured
debts from taxation and the substitu-
ton OF tax providing for an annual
fixed payment on both secured and
unsecured credits, bank deposits and
other intangible property represented
| by certificates other than the stock
! or domestic corporations. This could
be accomplished, he said, by "spe.
cif1c tax" or, preferably by amending
the constitution to allow classihca.
ton OF property for taxation pur-
poses The governor also declared
that all corporations not now required
TO make reports TO the board of as
SCISSORS or state tax commissioners
should be made 10 Ale sworn state
ments with the board of state tax
commissioners giving such informa-
tion as the board may deem neces-
sary. Property OF interurban rail.
roads. light and power companies and
all corporations whose property ex-
tends through more than one assess.
ing district, should be assessed by the
state board OF assessors and the same
apportioned among the several assess.
ing districts, he saic.
AS a substitute Tor the present
Blue Sky law" upheld by the state
court. but hindered in operation by
an adverse decision in federal court
the governor advised the passage OF
Law drawn up by the attorneys.gen-
eral Of Michigan. Iowa and Arkansas
authorized at meeting OF attorneys
general in Washington in October
The bill, similar To the one now on
the statute books, removes the por.
tions objected To by the federal courts
while retaining the important features
OF the present law.
The powers OF the railroad commits
sion should be enlarged, according tC
| the governor, TO cover all public util
lity corporations in the state.
After verbally patting himself or
the back at great length for his con
duct during the Michigan copper
strike the governor in discussing in
dustrial relations, suggested the for
nation of court of inquiry to in
vestigate the cause at issue I'm labor
disputes. This court should be com
posed. he said, OF the circuit judge OF
the district in which the dispute
arises, the governor and attorney
general OF the state, and one or more
members named by each Of the par
ties involved. The governor failed
to suggest that the commission be
given any real power, the sole object
OF this elaborate machinery appar'
emily being TO make public report
OF its findings. In this connection the
governor said: I'm the light Of leg
islative experience little more can be
accomplished than TO focus public
opinion upon industrial disputes"
| Several excellent amendments tend
ing to strengthen the workmens com
pensation law, were proposed. The
law should be changed to bring under
the scope OF the law portions OF work
sublet by contractors or manufactur
ers SO as to protect all men employed
on the job. whether they are working
directly for the principal or sub-con
tractor, he said. Other recommenda
tions included amendment TO brinf
so-called "occupational diseases" un
der the scope OF the law; lengthenins
the time during which the employer
must furnish medical aid. and, in fig
uring earning capacity as a basis FOL
determining compensation for persons
In seasonal occupations. 10 include