The Detroit times., 1917-01-17
BILL MARTz
WOULD HAVE
NO S0L0NS
Wants State Governed
BY Commission
of Ii
MANY BILLS
ARE INTRODUCED
Rep. Daigneau Would
Repeal Presidential
Primary

l<kAA<2thFNAf 'AANAtf RNnf - =
william III. MsrtE. Of Detroit. Pre-
poses that the state Legislature b.
abolished and that Michigan substi
tutc a state commission form 81 gov
eminent in It's place.
He introduced his idea, In %,
house of representatives here in the
form OF a concurrent resolution bs
the house and senate. Under the
rules IL is reposing today on th'
table. to be taken up within =
hours.
Bills" proposal r. that The gov
ernor shall be requested by the leg
islature 10 name commission Of
three 70 70 over tho present consti
tuition and laws and find Just whal
constitutional amendments and lega
changes would be needed 20 wipe
cut the legislature and put In Ia
place . commission OF - members
one from each congressional distric'
in the state, TO make the laws fc
fbe commonwealth.
The tendency OF the times" said
I'm. apropos Of his revolutionary
proposal. lis for smaller Legislative
bodies. In the interest Of efficiency
Thirteen men on a commission could
handle things much faster than the
1Sa men We now have 10 the senate
and house"
TWO other radical proposals were
made 20 the house yesterday after
noon. IN the form Of bills One. by
Rep. Daisneau. Of Benton Bsrbor. is
10 rspsai outright the presidential
Drs1ersnce primary law, OF which
Michigan had one test last spring
IN the famous Henry Ford-wiIlIarn
Alden Smith contest.
The other would come pretty near
putting the time-honored police
third degree out Of business II Il
II enacted into law. Rep. Fred L
Eaton, Saginaw Democratic membel
Of the house, and recently prescott
nag attorney Of Saginaw county FOL
four years. put In q bin 20 Great. N,
county once OF public defender.
Among the defenders" duties would
b that OF interviewing prisoner
when they are first incarcerated and
explaining their legal rights TO them
II asked by the prisoner. the defend
or" would be present when anyont
else interviewed HIM This would
include rude policemen who might
want TO use some strong.arm meth
DDS In extracting information from
their prisoner, but who would be de
TERED by the presence OF the lie
fender" from too ardent physical
methods OF persuasion.
Rep. Baton would have the puoliC
defender elected TO regular two-yeai
terms as county ofhcer. just "a this
prosecutor is. His principal duties
besides advising new prisoners
would be TO give advice and act gen
orally for INDECENT persons. minors
and incompetenis. lie would De al
lowed TO require affidavits, IL h.
wished. TO show that the persons
seeking advice really were unable
TO employ counsel He would not
have TO try cases OF those for whom
the courts new appoint counsel Such
prisoners. however. do not get the
counsel until after they haze kcen
in court and the defenders duty
would be- 10 look after them until
that time. The defenders salary
would be left - the county super
visors 10 fix. and he would 10 allow.
ed a fee OF s. on every 300 he OBJ
tanned for an indigent client.
. Detroit's need OF moro circuit
judges was the idea behind two
house bills. one rut in BY Rep
James ID. jerome and the other by
Rep. Arthur f. wood Jerome bill
asks for a total OF 10 judges the
four additional 10 the present six
TO be appointed by the governor foi
terms corresponding 10 those 81 the
judges IN ONCE when the biz takes
effect. Woods bill asks for total
of 12 judges. the governor 10 I'll ths
ak vacancies with appoinieeS q
serve until Dec. 81. 1918. and be sue
ceeded then by judges elected In the
November election Of 1918. These
would serve terms corresponding
10 the other judges in once
Rsp- Wood introduced another hil
providing a penalty OF one year in
prison or 81 900 fine for any one
giving checks. drafts or orders On 2
bank where he has rot sufficient
funds or credit for their payment
There must be intent 10 defraud
however. In the case q any ono
cverdrawing his account n the per
ron overdrawing takes care OF the
evef-drast - ---nYen-dAxA afteI
he IL notified OF a.. this will h.
proof tina. there was no intent ~ DO,
fraud.
To add TO tho state treasurer't
'ofce Of employees. Rep. Thomas
Read introduced bill calling for a
sashier at salary Of 81 500 a year.
fcokkeepcr At 81 SEQ: an assistant
,oohteeper At $1,000: a chief clerk
a $1,000 and securities clerk a,
1880. The bill provides for their
soDclntment by the state treasurer
REQ. Cutis. a Battle Creek, In