MICHIGAN 837 



the Amherstburg and Livingstone channels of the Detroit river and the 3,000 ft. long concrete 

 superstructure of the breakwater at Marquette, which by the River and Harbour Acts of 1910 

 and 1911 is to be extended 1*500 ft. further. 



Legislation. Besides the regular session of the legislature in 191-1 there were special 

 sessions in 1912 adjourning respectively on March aoth and April xoth. On February 

 23, 1911, the proposed i6th amendment to the Federal Constitution was ratified. In 

 1912 two amendments were proposed, one giving women the right to vote and the other 

 giving to electors in cities arid villages power to make or amend their charters. In 

 November 1912 the latter was carried (285,911 to 138,579), the former defeated by 

 248,135 to 247,375 votes. 



A law of 1912 provides for a presidential preferential primary. In 1911 the legislature 

 amended the registration law; created justice courts in cities of 100,000 inhabitants or more; 

 and abolished the office of the commissioner' of mineral statistics. The law in regard to 

 concealed weapons was amended by Including among prohibited weapons hatpins more than 

 ten inches long. Married women have a right to their personal earnings. The legislature 

 voted $15,000 for the erection of a statue of Zachariah Chandler in the National Statuary 

 Hall of the Capitol in Washington. 



An employers ' liability law of the pseudo-elective sort the election both of employer and 

 of employee being assumed unless notice to the contrary is given was enacted in 1912, and 

 went into effect on September 1st. It does riot apply to farm hands and domestic servants. 

 There is no compensation for a disability lasting less than two weeks; and compensation be- 

 gins on the I5th day, but on the first day if the disability lasts more than 8 weeks. In 

 case of death the compensation is one-half the average weekly wage for 300 weeks, but not 

 more than $IO nor less than $4 a week. If the family left is only partially dependent, 

 compensation is proportional to the degree of dependence. If there are no dependents, 

 200 is the maximum. In case of total incapacity, the compensation is one-half the average 

 weekly wage (between $4 and $10) for not more than 500 weeks or $4,000* For partial 

 incapacity the compensation is one-half the difference between the wages before the accident 

 and after the accident, not more than $10 nor for more than 300 weeks. The act specifies 

 compensation for maimings on the basis of wages paid. Death terminates a disability in- 

 demnity, but a death benefit must be paid. One member of an industrial board (three mem- 

 bers) and one person chosen by each of the parties to any dispute form a board of arbitration. 

 Special provisions for the formation of mutual insurance companies of employers who elect 

 to come under the employers ' liability law were passed in 1912. The number of free employ- 

 ment bureaus was increased from 8 to 10. The law of 1889 creating a state court of medi- 

 ation and arbitration of labour disputes was repealed. All physicians are required to report 

 to the state board of health the name, the address, the place of employment and the length of 

 employment of those having occupational diseases. 



A new child labour code of 1911 forbids children to work on the stage, in shows, pool-rooms 

 or dance halls where liquor is sold, makes hours for children under 18, IO a day (average 9) 

 and 54 a week in factories, mills, warehouses and workshops, but not in canneries, and re- 

 quires employment permits to be issued (only to those completing the fourth grade) by school 

 officers or probate judges, instead of by employees of the state department of labour. No girl 

 under 18 is allowed to work in a factory and no child under 16 in a factory, workshop, mine 

 or messenger service between 6 P.M. and 6 A.M.; and no child under 18 in messenger service 

 between 10 P.M. and 5 A.M. City aid, not more than $3.00 a week for each child or $6.00 for 

 a family, may be granted on the recommendation of truant officers to widows whose children's 

 work is necessary for the support of a family. Free text books also may be supplied. 



A law forbidding breweries to own saloons (directly or indirectly) was passed in 1912. 

 The supreme court held unconstitutional a clause in the local option prohibition law exempt- 

 ing from the prohibition the manufacture of wine and cider from home-grown fruits. A 

 medical milk commission may be incorporated in any city, village or township to supervise 

 milk supplies for infants and sick rooms. The office of state fire marshal was created and 

 the marshal must enforce a law that schools have fire drills once a month. The sale and 

 use of toy pistols, guns and cannon shooting blank cartridges was forbidden as well as the use 

 of fireworks containing picric acid or fire crackers above specified size and explosive force. 

 Immoral advertising is forbidden and pandering is made punishable by 30 years' imprisonment. 



Telephone lines and companies are made common carriers under the control of the state 

 railroad commission and express rates are regulated by an amendment to the common carriers 

 act. A uniform bill of lading act was passed. 



Under a home-rule law East Jordan, Fremont, Pontiac (Jan. 3Oth; in effect Apr. loth) 

 and Wyandotte adopted commission governments in 1911. Port Huron adopted a commis- 

 sion charter November 5, 1910. Lansing adopted a home rule charter on August 27, 1912; 

 in effect October 7, 1912 ; amendments may be proposed by initiative petition. A new charter 

 proposed for Grand Rapids was defeated by 6,878 votes to 5,596 on February 20, 1912; it 

 was a " Federal " plan with legislative (council of 12 aldermen, one from each ward), adminis- 



