The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1895-01-11

aud privileges, and upon them is imposed
certain limited liabilities and RESPONSE
bilitles. On the other hand labor has been
left TO fight on single-handed so far as
law is concerned.
Incorporate Labor Unions.
The necessities of labor have, however,
caused them to organize among them
selves, but in order TO accomplish their
object they have been led TO do many
things not authorized by law, and in some
instances in direct violation of law. I'M
der the existing Circumstances il would
seem to be the part of wisdom and justice
t. provide for the organizations of cor
porations of labor. with as much power
and no greater liability than is imposed
on corporations of capital. Create them
as body corporate, which may make con-
tracts and enforce them, and be empow-
cred in turn To sue and he sued, and in
short to do anything they may be author
lied TO do in the articles of incorporation.
This would place them on an equality,
and difficulties between capital and labor
would be settled rs other difficulties and
disagreements are settled, through the
courts. 1t is hardly consistent TO con-
denim labor organizations for taking the
law into their own hands unless some law
full and practicable method is provided
for the protection of their interests. There
il little doubt that there are difficulties in
the way of carrying ont this plan, and it
is hardly probable that any law enacted
would ut first be satisfactory, but with
the object kept steadily in view of pro-
v:ding for equitable contracts and an
equitable and practical method for their
enforcement, in The end success is GER
tain.
As the la"' now stands the appropria-
tons for the use Of the geological survey
are paid out upon the order of the Cover
nor. There seems To be no good reason
why this fund should not take the regu-
lar course of other appropriations.
Tlcre is cry little if any coml laint with
reference to the present election law, but
in the interest of accuracy and to avoid
any change in the returns | renew the
recommendations Of two years ago that
provisions be made for counting the vote
at intervals during the day by n separate
board. As fast rs the result is known il
should also be posted in ut least one pub
lie place and signed Ivy the board, and
further results should be added to it
during the day. This would prevent any
changes for partisan purposes later in the
day. With this arrangement the result
of election in most cases would be known
and the returns made out as early as 6
or { o'clock in the evening, and rs boards
usually receive pay for two days there
would be 10 increase in expense but there
would be Il guaranty of greater accuracy,
because the men would be (. esh and would
have ample time to count the votes and
declare the result. The present method
of canvassing votes by the Board of
County Canyassers is expensive and no
better done than it could be by much
smaller board. This is Il matter well
worthy of your consideration. BY the
provisions of Act No. 1863, Public Acts of
1893, the Governor was authorized to APP
point commission to prepare and re-
port general municipal corporation bill,
under which nll municipalities may be-
come incorporated, and this commission
has worked faithfully and earnestly to
accomplish what the act imposed upon ii.
1t is hoped that this report will be such
that without material amendment or al-
teration it may be passed early in the
session and become n law. | would also
urge that an amendment to the Constitu-
IlOn DC clIlN SuDulltlcu W tne ptOIble pro-
viding that the Legislature shall herea fter
not be permitted To- enact special munic-
ipal charters. A bill providing for the
incorporation of villages, and one for the
smaller cities are already prepared and in
print, and will be found upon your desks
If these bills are passed carly in the ses-
sion il will save great deal of work on
proposed amendments to various city and
.Iat thrn, no, totn
The number of building and loan and
similar associations in the State, the large
amount of money which they have loaned
and on deposit, and the number of people
who are interested in their management,
would seem TO demand that the State
should require reports to be made from
these associations, and that they should
also be. subjected to some State supervis-
ion