The Detroit times., 1917-01-04
Nation Watching Dry
Michigan, He
Declares
BILL WOULD ALTER
ELECTION CODE
Positive Reforms Are
Contemplated in
New Measure
BIZ ". L. cALNoA.

81 ". l.. CALNOA
fsfar Correspondent Detroit Tines
LANSING. Mich. Ian Prompt
~ Mt noon "wednesday he forty
ninth seselon Of the Michigan leg
isIature began in the senate ana
hOuse OF representatives. with prac.
ITALY all member present ant the
galleries crowded with Interested
spectators
In the senate. which was called %
order by Lieut. Gov Lurcn ID Dick
lnson, few formaliiies were needed
TO get the 80 members ready for
business. In the house Il was neces-
sary TO elect the speaker and otheg
officers. and FOR members 70 draw
for their seats. both these pro.
cedureS taking UP much time As
result there was practically no
other business transacted In both
the senate and house the ofHcers
for the session had been chosen a.
the Republican osucuses last eve
ming and their formal election was
foregone conclusion.
Both houses decided TO meet IN
joint session at noon Wednesday 30
hear the exaugnral address ~ for
mer Gov. Woodbridge " Ferris AMI
the inaugural message OF Gov Al
bert r. Sleeper
Lieut. Gov Dickinson read IN The
senate. an extended inaugural mes
sage 10 the senators. In which be
impressed upon them that much is
expected OF this legislature and
urged them 10 expedite all work
a. much as possible.
Among important matters 20 come
before the legislature he mentioned
liquor legislation. insurance. rail
road. public health. high cost OF
living. taxation and primary law
amendments. To liquor legislation
he devoted me most space. saying
on this subject after an opening
I statement as to It's great import
Ance:
by q very emphatic majority the
electors have voted the state dry
and they expect II to be dry. and
the machinery thru which this Ia 70
be accomplished must be created By
the legislature OF the state In all
probability your acts and votes on
this question will be watched closer
than on any II not ali other ques-
tons during the session.
This interest Is not confined 10
Michigan alone Great interests are
AZ actively engaged in the abolition
OF the. American saloon in other
states and for dry nation az thew
are In Michigan and for this reason
Vney VIII vEtCn Win f-----fss==- ===-==-
every action you may take. speak
from personal experience In sev
oral states and communication 10
me during the last few weeks
Detroit is the largest city in
all the worlds history ever voted
dry Because OF this. in all probe
bility. Michigans near future on this
line will BE- watched with keener
interest than has been that OF any
other commonwealth ever voted
dry
The nation AZ large and ofhe-
states individually with large cities
In them will schedule their future
acts largely by the ability ~ this
legislature 70 enact laws that will
effectively enforce this sdict of the
people OF Michigan. You have not
only stale, but a national prob.
lem 10 deal with. n calls FOR the
most serious consideration. The
best experience OF other states
should be critically sought after
The best legal talent should be en-.
listed.
And out OF what must ncces-
sarily be prolonged and careful de.
liberation should come an aci. sane
rensible and in accord with present
advanced public sentiment on this
question and with proper machinery
for effectively enforcing the empha-
sised expression OF the people u
the state az the November cleo
ton"
Following his talk the lieutenant
governor announced the senate com.
mittces for the session. The I'm.
portsnt liquor committee IL headed
BY Senator Foster. OF Lansing. II
has no Wayne county senators on
Il. Senator Fosters fellow members
being Senators Damon. Planck
White and willison. all drys. The
committee IL increased from three
20 ave members for this session.
Wayne senators got chairman
ships az follows
kochler: Federal relations. 70
lixions and benevolent societies
Nurtha: state Normal college
state public school
Hanlsy; state library lackso,
state prison.
Condor. Elections
Scott Finance and appfcpra
fion<. rules ionia state hospital
nesldes these the WAYNE scnaior.
have places on other important com
mitsses In which much of the worl
- the session outside the liquor