The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1895-01-04

| get Otnef CONCESSIONS 10 DeUter tnclr COnQltlOuS
does not In the end have sthe opposite effect In
causing capital TO seek investment in some
l other line which does not require the employ
ment OF labor. Labor organizations have done
much In educating and aiding each other In
1 times of need. BY their organization they
have welded power which has compelled
concessions from employers. but although
leaders advise their followers TO refrain from
| violence or damage to property it almost
| invariably happens that before u settle
ment Is effected there is more or less
violence used. In any event the locality or
strike Il o place where the lawless
element congregate ready for the first oppor-
| tunity for violence and plumber Among all
| the numerous sufferers from strikes none
| suffer so severely, and in the end disas-
| trously, as those engaged In the strike They
also find it much more difficult to recover from
its effects than others. Laws have been en-
| acted providing for the association OF capital
| to carry on large operations which would be
| impossible for an individual to do, and many
| times the investment is OF such character
| that no prudent man would be willing to invest
his all in it, but is willing to ventu re fixed
amount which IL lost will not ruin him Thus
corporations are given certain powers and
| privileges and upon them are imposed certain
| limited liabilities and responsibilities On tho
other hand labor has been left to Eight on single
| handed so far as law is concerned.
| The necessities OF labor have, however.
| caused them to organiZe among themselves,
| Out IN OrQer 10 accomplish their OBJECT tney
| have been led to domGny things not authorized
by law and in some instances in direct viola
ton Of law Under the existing circumstances
| it would seem to be the part of wisdom and
justice to provide for the organizations Of
| corporations of labor with as much power and
no greater liability thaa is imposed on corpor-
ations of capital Create them as u body
! corporate, which may make contracts and en-
| force them, and be empowered in turn TO sue
and be sued, and in short TO do anything they
may be authorized TO do in the articles OF in
| corporation. This would place them on an
| equality, and difficulties between capital and
labor would be settled as other difficulties and
! disagreemonts are settled through the courts.
| 1t is hardly consistent to condemn labor
organizations for taking the law into their own
hands unless some lawful and practicable
method is provided for the protection OF their
interests. There Is little doubt that there are
! difficulties in the way of carrying out this
plan, and it is hardly probable that any law
enacted would at first be satisfactory but
with the object kept steadily IN view Of pro-
viding for equitable contracts and an equitable
and practical method for their enforcement, in
the end success il certain.
Geological Survey.
The state geoloSist, Or. L. L. Hubbard,
makes report which is now in print which
| will prove valuable addition 10 the reports
heretofore made. With the exception Of a
small volume two years ago, this is the first
report in fourteen years. 1t is nearly two
years since Dr, Hubbard receiS ed the appoint
mont OF state gooloaist and entered actively
on the discharge OF his duties. c was some
months later that Dr. Lane was appointed his
assistant, Both these gentlemen had been en-
| gagged in tho work ana were able TO take hold
intelligently where THOR predecessor left OF.
Heretofore all tho specimens and pgrapher-
MALTA connected with the survey had been kept
at the mining school, but IL was evident chat
while there was u certain similarity OF pur-
pose, IL was TO tho interest of both the survey
and the school that they should not occupy tho
same building, although iJ,was desirable they
should remain in close proximity to each 9TH
or. The liberal people OF HoughtOn contributed
$1,000 towards the erection OF building, ana
the mining school board kindly permitted the
building 10 be erected on tho mining school
| grounds. There WAS Appropriated the sum OF
81, $50 from the survey fUni o. iiniSh and equip
the binding, which makes for the survey
comfortable aid convenient home.
State Pioneer Society.
This society since its organization has re-
covered from Oblivion many valuable and in
| teresting facts connected with the early settle
ment OF Michigan, and which viii prove doubly
valuable when all those who took part in this
work have passed away. 2 heir work is one Of
love for tlp object in which they arc engaged,
and for which they have neither asked nor re-
! ceived any compensation. They only ask that
the state print the results of their labors that
it may be preserved. Tho usual amount of one
Sl,OJOwill be needed for the ensuing two years.
Election Laws.
There is very little, IL any, complaint with
reference TO the present election law, but in
the interest Of accuracy and to avoid any
change in the returns | renew the recon-
incubation OF two years ago that provision be
Ina0c for counting the vote 1t intervals during
the day by u separate board. AS fast as tho
result is known 1t should also be posted In at
least one public place, and signedby the board,
| and further results should DO added to il dur.
| ing the daV. 1hiS WonlG phanopa
for partisan purposes later in the day With
| this arrangement the result OF election in
most cases would be known and tho returns
made out as early as @ or O'Clock in the even
ing, and as boards usually receive pay for two
days, there would be no increase in expense,
| but would DO guaranty of greater accuracy,
| because the men would be fresh 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 1t could be by much
smaller board.
Michigan Municipal Commission
BY the provisions OF act No. 1862 Public Acts
of 1893, the governor was authorized to appoint
q commission to prepare ana report general
municipal corporation bill, under which all
municipalities may become Incorporated, aud
Hon William Hartsuf, Hon. Gerrit J. Dekema
and Hon. Edwin f. Conely were appointed as
such commissioners Soon after appointment
| llOH ttttIlSul resigned, Owing TO prCSS
of othor business, and Hon. Mark s. Brewer
was appointed in his place. This commission
has worked faithfully and earnestly to accom-
plish what the act imposed upon them. 1t is
my understanding that they have not attempt-
ed to introduce any now or startling provisions
into the municipal law. but II has been their
aim to introduce only wcll-tried and tested
provisions, those which have been found after
years of use to DO satisfactory. 1t is hoped
that this report will be such that without ma
terial amendment or alter tion IL may be
passed carly in the session and become law.
] would also urge that amendment to the
constitution be carly submitted to the people,
providing that the legislature shall hereafter
not be permitted to enact special municipal
charters. II Is hardly necessary to COLL your
attention to the great saving OF time. litigat ion
and annoyance that would DO gained IL all viii
lagos and cities Of the same class were brought
under the same provisions OF law.
Conclusion.
You are charged with vast responsibilities.
You are to legislate for two and quarter mil
lion OF people, with as great variety Of inter-