Students' Votes

The bilí introductd by Mr. Sawyer, by which it is proposed to enable students to vote, is one that sliould have the serious consideration oí' every TOter. Ün its face the bilí seems reasonable. Every student who comes here, who is a voter at his home, feels that he should be privileged to cast his vote here without the necessity of a long and expensive trip to reach home. In national matters this might be attended with no very serious results. Their votes in most years are so nearly divided between the parties, that it would not materially effect the result here, though of course the last election would have proved an exception But it would be different with their inlluence in local affairs, and as the franchise is not a divided thing, and they must be fully enfranchised one place, and wholly disfranchised an other, this must be borne in mind in considering the question. A great majority of them are not tax-payers fiere, never become such, and never intend to. ïheir 'interests are wholly transient, and for the time only that they are in school. At the same time they are just in a position to take the greatest interest in politics, and would undoubtedly do so. They would be able to díctate all matters of city government, and experience tells us they would hang together for their own ends. The broad rule which prevenís any of them gaining a residence while attending college is the best for all. We are aware that there are cases where this works a hardship. Married men move their families here while attendïng college and surrender all other legal residence. It sems hard to deprive them entirely of a vote. J5ut general rules always work some hardships, and these special instances must suffer for the good of the great irnjority. "We think the law betteras it is. Other cities in Michigan are effected, and all such should see to it that their representad ves hear from them on the subiect before it is too late. The Bell Telephone company may not be willing to do everything that is asked of them in the way of low rates, so long as they are in undisputed possession of the field, but when they have good stifl eompetition they manage to get down,far enough and Oiow no disposition to leave the field. The fcllowing telegram f rom Grand Kapids shows how they accept the situation there: " Manager F orbes said today that the Bell company would expend half a million in Michigan the next few months in bettermg the service and added significantly: 11 We will spend'a million dollars before we will leave Grand Kapids." The lirst active move of the Heil here will be to erect a telephone building for ïts solé use, to be equipped with the most modern switchboard and other apparatus. Wires will be put in an underground conduit and the Heil will begin an aggressive (ight, with unlimited money and the latest telephone innovations." Aan Arbor may expect proportionate energy here, as Manager Keech has said right along that they are prepared for eompetition, so long as that is all they have to face. And so the people get the benefit. The patronage clerk of the administration, in the guise of fourth assistant postmaster general, has been appointed in the person of J. AV. Bristow, f ormerly secretary of the Itepublican state committee of Kansas. Mr. Bristow has a big job ahead of him if he expects to equal the achievements of some of his predecessors in the postmaster removing business; but these Kansas politicians are record breakers, and from the position hé occupied out there he probably has at least average ability in that line.