The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1881-01-14

ready tifty-sov.n miles are completed. This
road is 10 TO operated by tho Wabash line, and
viii open now and important avenue OF COM
merce directly connecting the State with the
southwestern trade centering at st. LOUIS.
This additional railroad mileage will add still
more To the revenue OF the State from specific
taxation.
A grant OF lands made by Congress to this
State III 1856 to aid in the construction
Of line OF railway from Ontona-
gon To the Wisconsin State line has
remained, until recently, unapp led to the pur-
pose for which il was designed. / am now able
20 say that a company has been organized 10
build the road and that, satisfied of it's inten-
ton and ability TO speedily nc omph IN the
work, the Board of Control of Railroads has
conferred upon it the grant. Through this
action IL is expected that tho proposed ini-
provement will be secured and the grant prove
OF benefit to the State.
A Judgment OF SS3,n00 has been obtained in
the Circuit Court of Wayne county against the
l.. s. X NJ \. Railway Company for spectc
taxes claimed To be due and unpaid an appeal
has been taken and the case Is now pending IN
the Supreme Court.
LIQUOR LAW.
The total number OF dealers. in seventy coun-
ties. paying liquor tax under Act No. 26S. laws
OF 1879, during the year closing Dec. j, $780, Is
1864 total amount of tax received bJ seventy
County Treasurers during the same period,
S47S.207.Sl.
The following counties have. az yet, failed to
report: Benzie, Chippewa, Delta, Gladwin,
Isle Royal, Schoolcraft. Wexford.
FISH CULTURE.
Attention is still given to the artificial propa-
CATION OF fish. The Commissioners have caused
the spawn of great variety to he Matched and
planted in our waters. Thy claim TO have ev-
idence of success, especiallj in the larger lakes
and rivers Their report should have careful
perusal, that they may be family heard i'll their
requests for means TO carry on the enterprise.
COMPILATION OF LAWS.
On the last night of the last session of your
predecessors, bill was hurriedy passed
authorizing a new compilation of the public
laws. A joint convention of the two houses of
the Legislature was held, and Andrew Howell,
a sound lawyer exceedingly well qualified to
arrange and classify the statutes, was selected
for compiler. declined to approve the act,
and il consequently failed to go into effect. l
took this course, because the printing of the
statutes in the form in which they were would
have subjected the state to large and unne-
cessary expense. III the act had gone into
operation it would have forced the publication
of two or more cumbersome volumes, containing
a large number of laws which have no valid
ity whatever. Scattered through the statutes
are ambiguous and conflicting enactments.
Occasionally acts have been declared unconst-
tutiona, or they hive repealed by implication
previous laws, which still retain their places on
the statute book. Some have become obsolete,
and others have expired by limitation. The
printing of tbi, superfuous matter would have
created expense tended to confuse the laws,
and greatly impaired tho value of a new COM
pilation. / therefore dil not give it my sigma
ture The present supply Of the compiled laws
rs exhausted, and provision must be immcdi
ately made for n new edition. In mailing 1t, l
respectfully suggest that all act FOR the pur-
pose be passed at an early day in the session,
and CONF i'er selected, part Of whose duty
1t shall be forthui h 10 make a careful eXam-
nation % the statutes and report to you, before
the time limited for the introduction of bills
has expired, such OF them as need elimina-
ton or modification, to the end That
you may take action TO make these
changes, and thus leave the laws at the con-
clusion of your legislation in good form, SO
that the compiler may prepare the work with a
complete index and proper annotations, and
have it print d ms speedily as possible. Re-
Gently the Legislature of Ohio simplifed and
reduced 1855 statutes 30 as TO include them all
IN eight well-defned legislative enaciments.
ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL.
1t is nv observation that the interests of the
State suffer for want Of n competent legal adj
wiser, resident at the capital. Important ques-
lions IN regard to the construction Of laws, the
effect of contracts, the assessment and coec-
ton Of taxes. tho ass gnment of interests, the
preparation Of blanks and other similar mat
ters arise i'll some department of the st re
Government almost daily upon which consuta-
ton is desired, and should be had with law
yer we'll versed in the knowledge of his prof, Is
sion. Tho duties of the Attorney General
are increasing, and it cannot be expected
that he will remove to the capital and
devote his personal attention exclusively TO
the duties Of a position that affords an annual
compensation of only $500. But aside from
she question Of salary he Will have quite enough
10 do if he thoroughly attends TO the prepare
tiOn and trial Of tla impOrta coses in which
he must necessarily appear in beh If of the
State. We pay every year q considerable sum
for services OF counsel associated in cases with
the Attorney General, portion of which might
be saved by provision for a permanent legal as
sistant. There are at the present time con-
nected with the Office two clerks. If the num-
Der were reduced to one and the Governor au-
thorized, on consultation with the Attorney
General, TO appoint al efficient lIwyer
"a Assistant Attorney Genera, who should
time and thought to the legal bu ,iness
of the State and receive fair compensation
therefor, i'll my judgment it would be of advan-
tage to the public interests which would many
times more than compensate for the additional
expense. i may add that the whole success of
this proposition will depend upon provision for
a salary sucn as Will secure the services of good
legal talent. In this connection desire to call
your careful attention to the suggestion Of the
State Treasurer that some way be provided If
possible within the terms OF the constitution,
through which important questions in -he con-
struction of constitutional or statutory laws,
affecting only the interests of the State, may
be submitted through the Attorney General di-
rectly to the Supreme Court, without resort
to the device OF fictitious proceedings, which
involve delay and subject the State to the ex-
pense of conducting both sides of case.
INTEREST.
l respectfully renew my recommendation Of
two years ago for the abolition of the proviti1n
author izng contracts to be mado at 10. and for
n uniform rate Of intorest at per cent. per
annum.
MISCELLANEOUS.
Whatever can be legitimatey done in the
way of legislation to improve our road. to pre-
clude the erection OF dangerous buildings or
structures, to prevent trespasses upon the pub
bic lands, to protect our forests from ruthless
destruction, aud TO prohibit that indiscr inmate
killing of game and catching of fish which now
RAJ idly threatens to eXtermiDate these choice
food. producing animals that have heretofore
flourished within OR bounds, is worthy of your
thoughtful considera ion.
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTs.
An objectionable praCtice now too freouent