The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1877-01-12

of banks, be engrafted in our laws. No one OBJ
Jeots to these provisions and they give to the
pie not alone the sense OF security, but security IT,
sell, while the banks themselves are more
careful and conservative In their manage.
ment. Banking is not private business however
conducted. Calling oneself banker carries with
It, to the common mind, the idea Of public bust
ness. governed by Legislation and 1 am OF the
opinion that II should be so governed-not in
row and restrictive sense-but in liberal, careful
protective manner.
Many 81 the counties and municipalities of the
State have suffered heavy Losses by the defalcation
OF their Treasurers. There is something wrong a
system that allows these officers, first 10 perperate
and then TO conceal for along time such frauds as
some of them have been guilty of.
IL the words "defaulter" and " defalcaton T"
could be stricken out of our vocabulary, and the
old-iashioned plain English substituted, il would
tend to make these crimes less common. This
subject deserves your thoughtful consideration.
The provisions OF law in the city charters OF the
state relating to the taking Of private property for
public uses are as varied In their character the
charters are numerous. Several of these have
been pronounced unconstitutional by the Supreme
Court, and IL IL fair to presume that others would
share the same fate tested. The cities aud indi-
vidualS sntfer alike from the effects Of these de-
cisons. Would II not be well TO prepare a careful,
general enactment covering this subject, that
should apply everywhere and TO every one alike?
MUNICIPAL TAXATION.
The gross amount OF taxation levied in the State
for all purposes IL about S. 100000 OF this about
onethirtieth part Is the State tax the balance il
for city, town, village, school, and highway pur-
poses. SO, II we grumbe at our taxes, the State
gets one-thirtieth and the other forms OF govern
ment twenty mine thrtieths of our maledictions.
SO, too, II care in legislation IL demanded for the
State, how mnch greater care should be given 10
legislation affecting the different municipalities of
the State. The trainers OF the constitution. recog-
mixing this duty, have clothed the Legislature with
power to restrict in cities ana villages the
OF taxaton, borrowing money, contracting debts,
and loanng their credit The total municipal
indebtedness Of $6,5s4 $40, is abundant proof OF
the necessity and propriety Of this provision OF the
fnl
low the example of the State, and the dictates OF
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. that out of debt il out of
danger-that debt means taxation-that debt is
mortgage on, not only the property, but the indus
try OF the people they would be 10th to incur in
debtedness ana would soon find lighter tax-roll
and increased prosperity.
Would it not be we'll to provide for the collection
of taxes semi-annually, instead of annually This
plan has been adopted several of the States and
works well. can see no reason why the taxpayer
should not have the use of portion of his taxes
for half OF the year instead OF the paity
its Treasurer.
The experience of the States that have adopted
this system proves that taxes are paid much more
promptly, willingly, and easily than under sys-
tenn. The interest on seven or eight millions for
six months Is an amount worth saving to the peo-
pie. The decreased amount Of public funds in the
hands of treasurers would partially remove the
temptation to speculate with them, and there
would be less losses from this source. 1t may be
some trouble to fnaugurate the system, but am Of
the opinion that 1t would be decisive reform.
FISH CULTURE.
Since Dec. !, 1874, there has been hatched and
placed in the waters of the State IL, AGO 900 white
fish, 900 salmon, and $50, 600 lake trout There
now in the two Matching houses O01, 900 eggs
to he distributed during the csming spring. The
total expense since July 1879 has been 500
an amount considerably less than the appropria-
ton. The inventory OF property belonging to the
Fish Commission is a, 0c. Sufficient time has not
yet elapsed to decide conclusvely to the success
of this enterprise, but am Of the opinion that it
will prove q success, and should be continued. 1t
is the belief Of those engaged in the work that
every acre OF water In the State can be made val
liable as an acre of land, AS the appropriation ex
pres July l. 1877 IL the business is to be continued
a new one will need to be made. The catch Of fish
in great lakes, that has heretofore been source
of great revenue to our people, is decreasing very
rapidly, and chiefly from Causes that are within
our own control, viz the wholesale destruction Of
Young fish by the present methods of fishing
catching In season and out CT season-without any
regulation on the part of government.
The attention of our Senators and Representa-
tives in Congress should be called to this subject,
as the General Government has exclusive power
and control over 1t. Michigan has about $1,000
square miles of fshing-grounds, and our interest
in the business is one Of great pecuniary magni-
tude.
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS.
The amendments TO the constitution, submitted
to the people at the late election striking out the
clause that prohibited the granting OF license for
the sale of liquors, and permitting amendments to
be voted upon hereafter at spring elections, were
both adopted by large majority The amendmt mt
increasing the salary of Circuit Judges defeat
ed by small majority.
1t is to be regretted that with the submission of
this anne ndment there had not been some accompa-
nyinR legislation equalizinR and reducing the num-
Der of circuits. The inequalities of population,
business, and territory are very great. Gentlemen
who have lately filled the position of Judge in
of our circuits have assured ME that they could
have transacted all the business with ease had the
district been doubled. We now have twenty
Circuit judges and three special judges who per-
form the duties of Circuit Judge. Wisconsin, with
population of 10000 less than ours, has thirteen
ID
than ours has thirteen Circuit and thirteen District
Judges, but they have Probate Courts. the Cir
cult Judges having Jurisdiction in probate cases.
Indiana, with q population 100000 greater than
ours has forty Circuit and five special Judges, but
no Probate Judges. wisconsin pays salaries of
$1,000 per apDum; Iowa, $1,000 Indiana, 81, 800.
Our judicial system u whole is more expensive
than any of the aforementioned Would it not be
wise to rem odelt consolidate some OF our circuits,
reducing the number, pay our Judges respectable
salaries, and at the same time save expense? The
expense OF stenographers in the State for 1876
$40, zoe.
THE LIQUOR TRAFFIC..
The law of 1875 providing for the regulation and
taxation Of the liquor traffic has been in operation
nearly two years. It the purpose of the friends
Of this act only to regulate, but to restrain the
traffic in strong drink that had grown to be, under
other laws the greatest the day. For the pur-
pose of ascertainiDg what has been accomplished
under it, addressed the Treasurer OF each county,
asking for full details Of the operations of the law In
their respective counties. The information is
what incomplete. but is probably near correct
could be expected. In 1875 the number assessed,
reported to me, was 4.974; OF those, APIS paid
the tax. amounting TO S46l 462 80. It In altogether
probable that those who have not paid have retired
from the business. In 1876 the number assessed
was 1858; of these. 1885 are reported AS having
paid the tax, amounting to $685., 1897.
The collectors Of internal revenue report the
Der Of persons assessed in 1876 by the General
Government, dealers in liquors. 5,33s, but this
includes druggists who, as rule, not assessed
under the State law while in 1874 the number as
sessed was 3,444, showing decrease Of l, 100 in
two years. IL Is evident, therefore, that the act of
| 1873 has decreased the number OF places where
| liquor Is sold very largely.
AS many Of the persons assessed have retired
from the business, and others have been assessed
| for PERIODS less than a year, estimate from the
reports that there about 900 places for the sale
| OF liquors in the State
The official reports Of the police officers Of the
| cities of Detroit, Grand Rapids, East Saginaw and
Jackson, report 1914 arrests for drunkenness In
| 1874, 3 2S2 in 1875, and 228 in 1875. This do
mauity Ia made barter Of. and dollars traded for
| degradation, must be gratifying TO every
citizen. The reports show very generally
| that behind this law there stands public senti-
ment that says enforce IL. There are counties,
however, shown by the reports of 1876, in which
1t has not been properly enforced. This IL notably
the IN Bay, Houghton, Inpham. jackson, Kent,
| Lapeer, Marquette ut. Clair, Saginaw and Wayne
| counties. Some OF the officers, whose business il
is TO enforce the law have lost sight Of the restrc-
tive and restraining idea underlying it, and rather
than co.e up the business, have fostered IL by
| ceptug monthly payments on account. ind this
/ system in vogue quite extensively. There IL no
| tiue fixed in the law for the collection by the
Co. A..