Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1893-01-12

-
>,Y~ guished members of
MN the highway Commits
sion, whose report will
GOV RICH be laid before you. yet
IL is hoped that the information given and the
recommendations made Will result In such
constitutional amendment and legislative
enactments as will in the immediate future,
result In good country roads.
The Miner Bill.
The last Legislature passed a law for the
election of Presidential electors by single dis
tricts, instead of, as formerly here and the al
most universal custom elsewhere, on the gem
eral ticket. In the early history OF this coun-
try this plan was practiced to considerable
extent, but gradually gave way to the plan of
electing all on the general ticket. One of the
reasons claimed for the discontinuance OF the
standing In the national councils, and It GER e
tainly does have this effect. Michigan now has
fourteen votes in the electoral college, or one
sixteenth enough to name the President. which
gives us a commanding position in the nation,
but II five belong safely to one party and six
to the othef, then there are only three to con-
tend for and IL reduces our influence In the ra-
ito of IA to3 Whatever may be the merits of
this district system, in the abstract It should
be adopted in all the States or none. This , act
tribunal in the land to be constitutional not
wtthstanding the universal practice OF sixty
Question either the correctness OF wisdom OF
this decision but my attention has been called
to great danger which may arise from the de-
oision in thus comforting almost unlimited
control over this matter on the Legislature
and to such other persons or boards as they
may delegate this power to. Hon. Il. A. Baker,
one of the eminent counsel employed In this
case before the Supreme Court, believes that
the Legislature has power to declare the
elector and alternate elector for President and
Vice President In those districts where they
are not in accord with the majority of the
people of this State. as shown by the votes
cast at the last election vacant, and to provide
for the filling of these vacancies by men
in accord with the majority OF the people.
II this can be done and should be
done, so that the Michigan electors should all
cast their votes in accordance with the dom
inant party in the State, IL could make no pos
sible difference in the result of the election OF
Nov. 8, 1892, nor be OF any partisan advantage
to either party.
Election Law.
The present election law is a grrat improve
ment over the one in force previous to it's en-
sSsTent; but would Tes4essiIiy ceSommsn end
remove opportunity for fraud law be passed
providing for separate board for counting the
ballots; that the boxes be changed In the mid
die of the forenoon, at noon and In the middle
of the afternoon: that as soon as the count Of
the first box Is completed 1t shall be the duty
OF the canvassing board to put up in public
view bulletin showing bow the vote stands,
and as soon as the several boxes are counted
have the result bulletined at once. When the
polls close there will be but few votes to
count; and by 9 o'clock the result can be
known, and as the result OF the vote mp to .
o'clock has already been made public, there Is
|, little opportunity for mistakes or deception.
Expenses OF Candidates.
Section 43, act No. 100, laws of 1891. 5th sub,
reads as follows: TO contribute money for
any other purpose intended to promote an
election OF any particular person or ticket, ex-
cept for defraying expenses of printing, and
the circulation OF hand bills and other papers
previous to any such election, or for conveying
sick or infirm electors to the polls There can
be no valid or reasonable objection to the pub
lie discussion of political questions which in
terest the people. To do this halls must be
hired and some speakers paid. To do this,
party committees are NECESSARY. and 1t seems
wise to recognize them and specify for what
objects money may be contributed by candi-
dates others. and require them TO report for
what such expenditures have been made IL
seems better to permit all legitimate objects
improper Inducements TO vote OF refrain from
voting with vigor and impartiality.
State Worlds Fair Managers.
The last legislature appropriated 100000 to
pay the expenses OF making an EXHIBIT OF the
State of Michigan nc the Worlds Columbian
Exposition, under the direction and superin-
tendence of a board created by the same act
and known as the Board of Worlds Fair Man
ayers for the State of Michigan. This Board
can do certain things with the amount already
while there, and make fair exhibit. There
are however, certain interests notably the
vast live stock interests of this State. that will
not be represented as they should be without
a small additional appropriation. The ex-
pense of exhibiting there liz very large and few
men can afford to exhibit on their own ac-
an amount, under proper safeguards. as may
be needed to carry out these objects
Institutions.
Michigan now has seventeen State institu-
tions. These institutions, with their millions
of permanent investments and the large
amount which Is appropriated by the Legisla-
ture for their maintenance, speak highly for the
people of this State, who have so generously
which sta ond 70 nons ia the
nnfOrtunafQa w
boundaries than has Michigan. Her prisons
and reformatory institutions are abreast of
the times.
Notwithstanding this almost unparalleled
provision for the unfortunate, further pro-
vision in some directions Is urgently needed
now. The present accommodations for insane
are inadequate, and It will become your duty
to provide additional accommodations for
their care. The feeble m al, ana ePiieeptics
accommodations for these Glasses just noted
are urgently needed, we have surplus of
ali for some time to come. The question
whether the inmates of the Upper Peninsula
Prison may not be transferred to the other
prisons and this establishment at Marquette
transformed into an asylum for the insane is
worthy of your consideration. Then, II the
prison at Marquette is TO be continued, 1t will
soon BIZ necessary to have shop room and
machinery In order to employ her inmates.
This IL already provided Mt jackson and Ionia.
These institutions d .S are an needed While
in view OF their numbers and ,multitudinous
wants the same care should be exercised in
making appropriations for their support that
practical man should exercise In his own
business. In other words IL IL not necessary
to finish them all this year as others win
come after us to care for their needs they
L arise. I.f HffCI
For many years the government and con-
troll of our institutions has,been by boards for
each institution. who have either served
gratuitously or for moderate per diem COM
pensation when actually employed I'm the per-
Torrance of their duties. In the case of the
Regents OF the University and the State Board
Of, Education a constitutional provision
prescribes their powers and duties and fixes
their compensation. Two years ago the law
was changed, and all the institutions, except
the asylums for insane, were placed under the
charge OF two boards. think a system OF
boards, whose members serve without conf,
pensation except expenses, has more to recon-
mend it than any other. Experiences has shown
that members become acquainted and inter-
ested In the institution under their charge,
and they give the matter a painstaking care
which cannot be purchased with money, and Is
second only TO their interest In their own fam
lily and home AFFAIRS.
IN view OF the number Of institutions and
their liability to loes or damage by fire, / re-