Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1883-01-11

afford inspectors who travel considerable dis
tances TO inspect few barrels as much COM
pensaton as those who merely stepOut OF their
offices few minutes TO test hundred barrel
tanks.
EMIGRATION.
The Commissioner of Emigration Is by law
under the direction of the Governor, and the
expenditures of his Office are under the Govern
ors control. am satisfied that the Office, as
managed, Is q success. and justiies its creation
| by the Legislature. IL has not only secured
! very large number Of intelligent emigrants
| from other states, but its valuable array OF
facts and figures, wisely distributed throughout
| the state, is eminently calculated TO convince
| our enterprising and ambitious young people
that Michigan is undoubtedly the least desira-
bic state in the union from which 10 ernigrate
| TAXATION.
have received many letters from intelligent
| citizens calling my attention TO supposed de-
fects IN the new tax law, and IL would seem
| that some of its material provisions fail TO meet
| the general approval. have not been able to
| give such attention to the subject as would
warrant me in recommending material changes
In a law on which SO much labor has been ex-
pended, at great cost TO the state, and which is
| as vet untried
The advertising of tax sales should be con-
Quoted on business principles, and given TO the
| lowest bidder. The recent advertising of state
tax lands has been generally condemned as an
unnecessary expense.
CONVICT LABOR.
| The matter of selling 10 contractors the labor
of convicts I'm our prisons, should receive your
attention. / do not think the state can afford
to conduct these establishments in a way that
will injure the industries of the state. Manu-
facturers, with large capital invested in build
ings and real estate, and who employ self
respecting mechanics and laborers, should not
be forced into ruinous competition with CON
Wet labor controlled by contractors. The
prisoners should, think, be employed under
the prison management and the goods manu-
featured sold TO the trade at fair market rates.
II percentage of the profits was credited to
well-behaved prisoners, to be paid them on
| their discharge, 1t would be a motive to willing
labor and good conduct, and furnish them
means TO begin life anew with when their terms
expire.
| COMMISSIONERS or LABOR.
Railroads and insurance, corrections and
charities, education, agriculture, and health,
have been committed to State boards, whose
valuable statistics and suggestions form a
basis of legislation. Paupers and criminals,
the fish that swim In our rivers and lakes, and
the cattle that Craze In our fields, are cared for
by commissioners appointed by the State. A
large class of our citizens and who are seldom
found in our halls of legislation to speak for
themselves, have no one whose especial duty IL
is TO investigate their condition, and report
what legislation is necessary for the protection
The State of Massachusetts has Labor Bureau
whose reports and statistics are eagerly sought
for by all who study the labor question, and
has been the means of reforming numerous
abuses. i would recommend the appointment
of three commissioners to be known as Com
missioners of Labor, with authority to employ
secretary az the expense OF the State. feel
assured 1t would he the means Of placing much
valuable information before the next Legisla-
ture, and become an important element in de-
termining questions as TO the rights of labor
that must sooner or later be settled by legisla
ton.
THE DISSECTION BILL.
/ would call your attention to law requir-
ing superintendent of the poor to forward the
remains OF deceased persons who would other
wise be buried at the public expense, to Ann
Arbor for the purpose of dissection.
In the hour of our bereavement, when human
sympathy finds its truest expression in flowers,
and loving hands bring their floral tributes to
deck the dear remains should dray bearing
coflin-shaped box marked "Ann Aibor" stop
nj our door, and an officer armed with the au-
thority Of the State claim that loved FORM
would we not resist even TO death the enforce
nlent Of the cruel statute!
have yet to learn that the inability to pay
for funeral indicates lack of natural feeling
A common struggle against adverse fortune
may have served TO cement ties of affection,
and the wood cross or simperose bush express
as true devotion as was ever chiseled in the
purest marble.
In the poor house in nv own county are two
aged couples whose path to the unknown is
frightened by their confidence that the good
Superintendent will be more humane than the
law, and that their remains will find a resting
place in mother earth, and side by side. / rec
ommend that If the State must continue to
supply subjects for dissection the selections be
made on other grounds than that Of poverty.
EARLY LEGISLATION.
Ny experience in the State Senate and in
Congress leads me to ask you to begin the work
OF enaeting laws at an early day. There is
much less danger CT inconsiderate legislation
by so doing than by leaving important meas
ures TO be crowded through in the last days of
the session.
FREE PASSES
The acceptance Of free passes on the railroads
by members Of the Legislature is of doubtful
propriety. do not say that the vote of any
member would be influenced thereby when
legislating on the subject of railroads: but at
least one party has denounced the practice in
Its platform, and good men Of all parties re-
gard II with disfavor. Its practical effect is to
materially prolong the session. So long as
members can 60 home weekly, not ONLY without
expense, but with O reduction Of their board
bills, Saturday and Monday will be almost
wasted, and the session prolonged by several
weeks.
APPROPRIATIONS.
Let not a false economy induce you to cripple
any interest of the State. This Legislatilre
composed of intelligent and practical men,
VIII not, feel assured, adopt ''penny wise
and pound foolish" system of appropriations
The growing State of Michigan, with many of
Its industries yet in their infancy, cannot af-
ford TO adopt the methods and economies of
some OF the Older States. Remember that with
the State, as with the Individual the best Is
the cheapest. Let us, however, see to il that
every dollar appropriated is honestly and
Judiciously expended, holding all public SER
wants TO Gtrict accountability, and making
instant removal from Office the penalty of neg
lect of duty.
| CONCLUSION.
a few days ago after my election, | was
amused TO see statement in one of the papers,
that when reached Lansing / would find a
senate and House opposed to me. / am salts
ned that 1t is not true, but that the most kind
| ly feelings are entertained toward me by the
party In the majority in both houses. There
| snail be nothing lacking on my part to main-
| tam the friendly relations. / trust the only
| rivalry between us will be as to who shall la
Dor most earnestly and successfully for the
general good. / enter upon the duties of nv
once distrusting my own ability and wisdom
| but determined to do my duty as best | NAV,
and humbly trusting In Almighty God, whose
divine protection and guidance pray for all
branches OF the government and all interests of
the State.
JOSIAH W. BEGoLE
| EXECUTIVE OFFICE,
Lansing, Jan. 3, 1883.
The RUSSIAN COLONY IN ALTA CALI
FoRNIA.-Fully a century ago the pleas