The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1885-04-16


Ackno wiedg rnent- Plant Tree sun
From Our Own Correspondent
LANSING. April g.
Quitting, as both branches of the Legis-
lature did, at noon on the I'd. 10 afford the
members and officers time and opportunity
to 60 to their homes and vote ON to- day,
the week was very short one in
a Legislative way, yet considerable was
accomplished, and on Wednesday more bills
were passed by the House than are some
times passed In n whole week-twenty- mine
bills and joint resolutions in all.
WORK DONE TO DATE.
Under this heading 1t may interest those
who are interested in the doings of the law
makers to know that up TO this time the
Senate has passed 70 Senate bills, 30 House
bills, Senate joint resolutions, and 5 House
joint resolutions, total OF 179 in all;
while the House has passed 49, House bills,
81 Senate bills, III House joint resolutions,
and Senate joint resolutions. a total of
23l. OF the totals passed by the two houses
perhaps 100 have passed both houses and
become laws by receiving the approval of
the Governor
MORE APPROPRIATIONS.
i gave in my last a long list Of appropria-
5000
the other or been reported favorably and
were In fair way to be passed at an early
day. Since that report the House has
passed the bill appropriating $40, 500 for
completing, heating, and furnishing the
asylum for insane criminals now being
built at Ionia; the Senate the bill formerly
passed by the House) appropriating $57 500
for the current expenses of the Agricultural
College for 1885 and 1886; while the House
Unsurpassed bill appropriating $22, 900 for
building and heating an intirmary and
building kitchen at the Michigan tKala-
mazoo) Asylum for the Insane.
AN INVESTIGATION AND A RESIGNATION.
Early in the session Representative
Dodge of Ingham, moved the appointment
of a committee to ascertain if any frauds or
shortcomings existed in any of the State
departments, if any savings could be eff
fected In any way, etc. OF course this
made him the Chairman, with one other
Democrat and three Republicans. Early
last week il began to be noised abroad that
the committee had summoned State Super
intendent of Public Instruction Herschel
X. Gass before it, and in n secret session
asked him If the story that he was exacting
1888 per month from his deputy, w. l..
Smith, whose salary was 81, 800 per year.
in order to equalize that with his own salary,
which was only 81 900 per yeaE He de-
MED the charges in every particular. and
the deputy was subppnaed and testified
that he had paid Mr.. Gass the money as
as charged for January, February and
March, and that he had done so because he
understood from Mr.. Gass in order to be
appointed or to hold his place afterward.
Mr.. Gass was then recalled and told what
Smith had sworn TO, when he broke down
nj IL laIo that t,rof
not true, but that it was told under
great excitement, and that the charges made
were true, only that he had given the
money back to Smith an hour before, end
after he knew he was to be investigated.
His act, in the nature of bribe-taklng,
coupled with the worse one of giving false
testimony, so thoroughly disguised Repub-
licans as well as Democrats that he thought
best to send his resignation to the Gov
ernor early next morning. Ii has been ac-
cepted, TO take effect as soon as his success
sor Is appointed, which will be as soon as
the Legislature meets this week. The
resignation of the deputy who gave the
bride for his position and then "squealed, :"
with the evident intention of getting Mr..
Gass ont, was then demanded, and VIM.
+. Clark. a clerk in the office, was at once APP
pointed to the doputyship. Corruption of
Michigans State Government
THE MILITARY INVESTIGATION.
The investigation of the Quartermaster
Generals department by the military COM
mittees of the two houses has progressed
somewhat, but Palmer. who collected
the ,$42, 900 from the Government, is
still in Washington and has not yet been
examined, but will be as soon rs he can be
reached. Shakespeare and others. con-
nected with the Begole administration, have
testified, and the end is not yet.
GEN. GRANT RESPONDS.
The following communication is sef-ex-
planatory:
NEW YORK, March "a, 1885.
Hon. H. A. Conant. Secretary of State, Lam
sing, Mich:
DEAR SfR-Your communication of the
10Th inst, transmitting concurrent reso-
luton of the State Legislature, was re-
ceived. Gen. Grant wishes me to express
his thanks to the Legislature and Governor
of the State for their action of March 18th
in passing the resolution. Very respect
fully, j. ID. GRANT.
PLANT TREE.
Following is the full text of the "Arbor
Day" proclamation recently issued by Gov.
Alger:
To the People Of Michigan:
In compliance with concurrent resofu-
ton passed by the Legislature of the State
of Michigan, approved March is, 1881, and
reiterated By the Legislature of 1885, re-
questing the Governor ito call the attention
of the people of the State to the i'm
portance of planting trees for ornament,
protection, and shade. by naming day
upon which this work shall be given espe-
cial prominence, to be known and desig-
mated as 'Arbor Day. which custom pre-
walls In many of the States;
Therefore /, Russell A. Alger. Governor
Of the State of Michigan, do hereby desig-
nate Saturday. the 18th day of April, A. ID.
1885. as Arbor Day. and earnestly recon-
mend that on that day we plant trees by the
roadside, by our farm houses, in our fields,
parks, villages, and cities, around our
school houses and in the cemeteries where
sleep our beloved dead. Let us plant for
uses as well as for beauty. We may not
live to enjoy the full fruits of this work.
but our children and our chidren's children
Will receive the benefits of our labor.
IN testimony whereof, l have caused the
great seal of the State to be hereunto af-
liked, mt Lansing, this 25th day of March.
in the year of our Lord one thousand eight
hundred and eighty
RUSSELL A. ALGER.
BY the Governor: Ii. A. CoNAST,