The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1921-03-03
LANSING
LETTER
VOTERS TO PASS ON STATE
INCOME TAX AND PRIMARY
important Constitutional Amendments
May Be Submitted; Opposition to
Proposed s-Hour Day.

A constitutional amendment to per-
NIT the people of the state to pass
the question of state income tax
law has been proposed in the senate
by Senator Macarthur, Detroit
The resolution provides that the
voters shall instruct the Legislature
whether they want laws for the adj
ministration of state income tax.
The tax would relieve the heavy
burden now placed on real estate.
Members of the judiciary commit
tee have not yet agreed on the Hart
bill providing optional capital punish
ment in Michigan. Rep. Russell a.
Hart, Detroit. who is author OF the
bill, has declared that he will demand
that il be reported out by the commit
tee for consideration on the floor OF
the house.
WOULD BAR POLITICAL BOSS.
Nomination of all constitutional
state officers by direct primary, is
provided for in constitutional
amendment presented by Rep. George
Lord, Detroit. The measure would
also make these officers thus nominal
ed. delegates to state conventions tor
the purpose OF formulating party
platforms and issues.
Mr.. Lord declares that his amend
ment will bring a showdown on the
question OF primary versus convention
abolish for all time the power OF poll
tical bosses in the state. making the
electiye officers directly responsible
to the people. The governor and lieu
tenant governor are now the only
state officials subject to the primary
the other officials being nominated at
the party conventions. -,
Other bills are pending which wouid
go to the other extreme and abolish
all primaries.
After sharp verbal battle in the
house, the joint resolution to increase
from 10 to 20 per cent the number oil
signatures required to place an
amendment on the ballot falled OIL
passage for lack of two-thirds vote
The resolution was proposed by Rep
Moore, ST. Clair, who had as his prin
cipal opponent in debate Rep. Aaron
Miles, Mecosta county.
PRISON SYSTEM COMMENDED.
Rather than criticism for the sever
instances in which corporal punish
ment have been resorted to in Jack
son prison during the last Is months
Warden Harry Hubert should pt
commended for the fine discipline II
the institution, according to the re
mort filed by the house committee
The report states that those who have
been demanding removal of the war
den on this score have taken actor
biased on entire ignorance of condi
tions existing at this institution" TIL
report was submitted by Rep. Frank
lin Moore. st. Clair. chairman OF tn
committee.
Declaring the report Of the pardon
board incomplete, and for that reason
inaccurate, Rep. Charles Evans IN
troduced a joint resolution in tn
house calling for the appointment O
n Joint committee composed OF tw
senators and three representatives I
investigate the work of the prison an
pardon board since 1906. On motto
OF Mr. Evans, the resolution wa
placed on its immediate passage an
adopted
Senator James Henry. Battle Creel
mas declared the report of the con
mission in charge of the constructio
OF state office buildings as un1atisfa'
tory. and further investigation will b
made this week. Total appropriation
of S1.75O,000 have been provided fC
the work but additional funds hav
been requested which will bring tn
cost OF the building to about $4,000
900.
HOUSE PASSES LENNON BILL.
Weathering a barrage of amen
ments. aimed to destroy its effectiv
ness. as we'll as a series Of assaults
an effort to drive il into the obliviC
of a committee room pigeon hole, II
Lennon frearm bill was passed by Il
house by Sc to 20 vote. In supper
ing his bill, Rep. ennon declare
that the alien had brought the ne
essity for drastic action upon himse
by a consistent refusal to obey Il
laws of the country and conduct hil
self as a peaceful citizen.
Among the bills passed by the sc
ate is included the following: tn
proof copies of ballots be submits
to county candidates; that joint !
solution to restore Fort Mackinac
the United States be repealed; tn
the importation, s..le or running
large of diseased sheep be prevente
that notice OF formation or aboliti
OF new election precincts must
filed with the secretary of state; a
Senator Riopelle's bill to prevent t
marriage OF girls under 16 years
age.
The house passed Rep. Albert Re
ter's bin which doubles the minimi
nanalty for automobile stealing, a