The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1882-11-03

promptly, but about which they are
often dilatory.
B. In recording educational statistics
and movements, which could not be
otherwise learned without enormous
trouble and outlay by the superintend-
ent of public instruction.
o. In furnishing early abstracts of
important decisions of the supreme
court upon the powers and duties of
state officers, that they may become
promptly posted on questions of vital
Importance concerning their depart
ments, which decisions, If procured
from the state reported and paid for
at the usual rates, would, In a years
time, more than cover all the cost of
the newspapers. 1t is not the report
er's duty TO furnish these decisions In
advance of their publication In the reg
ular Michigan reports, but the newspa-
pers do 1t for the general information
of the public, and the state officers reap
a large share of the benefit. The guild
ance afforded to state officers by these
early abstracts of supreme court decis-
ions would alone justify subscription
to daily newspaper for each officer.
z. In furnishing a continuous histor-
ical record for the state library, to
which constant reference is made by
members of the Legislature, judges, pol
-iticians, students, pioneers, and others,
and which, since the destruction of so
many newspaper files by fire. including
some of those belonging to the Detroit
Free Press could nowhere else be found
in our state in perfect preservation.
MILEAGE ON STATE BUSINESS.
Among the most frivolous charges
made against the state officers Is that
they charge when travelling on business
for the state their actual travelling eX-
penses, and the same mileage as Is al
lowed by the constitution to members
of the legislature, lieutenant governor,
and members of board of prison inspect
ors. This policy has been uniform in
the history of the state, whichever par
ty has been in power. That those re-
ceiving salaries ranging from $500 to
81 600 year while serving the state in
the responsible capacity of state officers,
should in addition be compelled to pay
more than the amount of their entire
salaries in travelling expenses on state
business would be both unreasonable
and unjust.
This argument is never used except
for campaign purposes. The history of
the state shows that the success of the
combination" ticket would effect no
reform in this respect. For instance,
John Swegles, democratic auditor gen.
eral in 1854, drew $3.50. 30 for" travelling
expenses" F. w. Sherman, superin-
tendent of public instruction, drew
$l40.17 for travelling expenses from
July to Sept. %, 1854. This record
could be extended indefinitely. No
charge has eyer been made by republic
can state officers except when travelling
on necessary state business often re-
sulting in saving large amounts to the
state. One trip of Auditor General
Latimer costing $22. SIS secured specific
taxes due from corporation at Pin
coming of $7l3.S7. Another trip by
the same officer to Grand Rapids Sc
cured $7,730.46 cash from a corporation
three years in arrears. Another to
Muskegon secured $3,900.97. A single
trip of State Treasurer Collier in 1873,
costing $1,000, resulted in the purchase
Of $225,000 of state bonds at par and &C
crued interest. Had these bonds not
been bought, the premium on them at
the present time woul be $4,000. Had
this business been intfxted to broker
tn the COS. would AaS NE Certain l De re-,
suit that 30 broker cSpld have as sue
cessfully transacted the business as the
state treasurer in person. These items
are given to show how largely the state
treasury has realized from these neces-
sary travelling expenses, performed in
the interest of the people of Michi-
gan. There is no law requiring a
state officer to leave the capital at his
own expense, and when he does so in
the public interest, and the people have
the full benefit, there should be no COM
plant if he receives the same travelling
expenses as are allowed to members of
the legislature. 1t might be well to
add here that no democratic or green
back member of the legislature has ever
refused his mileage.
CONCLUSION.
The above brief statement Of facts
and figures. all of which are true, hav-
ing been taken from and verified by the
official books of the state (Which have
always been and are now open to the
inspection Of every citizen of Michi-
GAM are respectfully commended to
the Intelligence and candid judgment
of every citizen Of Michigan. The re-
publican party came into power when
the state had no credit, and large debt
to meet for internal Improvements,
from which the people never received
any material benefit whatever. Under
their beneficent rule the influence of the
state university has been enlarged and
extended until it ranks first In the
country In the number Of its students,
and stands In reputation side by side
with Yale and Harvard. 1t has given
to the state its reform school, the first
in the country; has built and main
tanned asylums for the insane, the deaf
and dumb, and the blind; founded the
school for homeless boys and girls,
the only one in America; the reform
school for girls, the state agricultural
college, the first In the world; has
opened up the northern wilderness to
the hardy settler. coming both from
Europe and the neighboring states; has
promptly met every obligation incur
red; has built and completed capitol,
Justly the pride Of the people, all this
without increasing taxation; has com.
PEELED every corporation to pay its full
share of taxation to meet yearly ex-
penses, and by its acts has proven itself
worthy of the cordial support OF every
intelligent voter.
There Ia indeed no chance for favor