The Detroit times., 1917-01-11
PURE MATTRESS"
BILL LAUNCHED
Appointments of Gov.
Sleeper Confirmed
by SOlOns

stan Correspondent petrot. Tines

out Michigan Will get as much OF the
limelight in this legislature as city
government methods have been in
he habit OF getting IN preceding
legislatures. Many bills designed TO
better the conduct OF township af-
fairs have already been introduced
and numerous others are promised
for the near future.
Rep. Patrick O'Brien, OF Iron
River, will introduce proposed
amendment 10 the constitution in.
Tended TO bring all townships up to
date in the matter OF road building
He declares that many thousands OF
dollars are wasted annually on poor
roads by townships because there IL
little method used in spending the
money He proposes that the cleo
tive job OF township highway com
missioner shall be abolished and
that in place OF these commission
ers men shall be named by the
township trustees who know how 10
DO the work and who will do II un-
der the general guidance of the
county surveyor.
Rep. O'Brien does not charge that
all Of the 800 or more township
highway commissioners IN the state
arc lacking IN efficiency. but that
enough OF them are TO interfere
with tho right kind Of good roads
progress Therefore he would do
away with them as elective officials
and systematic the work under
county auspices. just as county road
work everywhere il being sys-
tematized under state auspices.
Rep. O'Brien also does not like
the way township tax assessments
are altered Sometimes they are
changed when the taxpayer isn't
looking. be says. and the taxpayer
has no chance 10 find Il out until
taxpaying time. when he emits a
roar that does him no good except
10 let of steam. n the tax assess
mcnts were published when pre-.
pared for the board OF review and
subject after Official publication 20
no change except as ordered by the
board OF review. conditions would be
much better, says Mr. OBrien. He
has a bill ready TO introduce that
viii provide for this
Three township bills and one pro-
posed constitutional amendment
made their appearance in the legis
lature yesterday afternoon. 4 bill
by Rep. Wells would permit town
ship boards 10 raise or borrow as
much as $1,000 annually to defray
necessary expenses where the peO-
pic OF he township had failed 10
make necessary provision. Another
by Rep Hulse. would put township
presidents and trustees on salaries
OF not 10 exceed one dollar for each
meeting actually attended by them
and not 10 exceed SIS a year under
any circumstances.
Senator Condor. OF Detroit. intro
duced r bill 10 have the polls open
in townships until s p. m on pri.
mary election days. AZ present most
OF them close AZ p. m. Senator
Covert introduced proposed amend
ment TO have township officers elect.
cd for two years. instead OF every
year. in the interests OF efficiency
Senator Condor also introduced
his pure mattress" bill. designed
TO halt In their tracks the kind OF
mattresses that are apt 10 walk
away with an unsuspecting sleeper.
A Condor bill mattress must b.
made OF sanitary goods. and MOI ri
"insanitary. unhealthy. old or sec
ond hand material" Also II must
be properly tagged or branded by
tho manufacturer To show its SAM
tary condition. and dealers who
handle IL must observe the sanitary
requirements. Renovated mattresses
and comforts also must come up 10
the same specifications. Any one
who violates these provisions. II this
bill is enacted into law. Will be sub.
ject TO penalties as high as $500. or
six months Imprisonment, or both
fine and imprisonment
Senator r. V. Smith. in the sen
ate, and Rep. Weissert. in the house,
each introduced bill for non
partisan commission of three men 20
revise and consolidate the laws in
relation TO corporations and 10 pre-.
pare any new laws to go with them.
the same to be submitted TO the gov
crnor and later 10 the next legis.
lature. The pay 81 the commits.
sioners Is not fixed. but must be
reasonable" and be cared for by
the state board OF auditors.
Four appropriation bills made
their appearance yesterday. a fund
Of $4,000 is asked 10 meet all un-
paid claims and balances Of claims
left over fnam,-the Spanish war
DAYS and only partially cared for by
preceding legislatures. Tho normal
school AZ Marquette asks $4,000 for
a new building. si70.032 for main
lenance during the next two years