The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1895-01-11
snlnrieS--DondS.

i cannot TOO strongly urge lhat you
again submit TO the people an amendment
10 the constitution increasing the salaries
OF state officers. The officers comprising
the board Of state auditors also hold the
important positions OF secretary OF state,
state treasurer and commissioner OF the
state land office, respectively, two OF
whom receive only $500 per annum, while
the other the state treasurer. receives
but $1,000. Owing 10 the meager salary
and the impossibility OF compelling a man
of ordinary means 10 leave his business
and live at the capitol, or even OF attend
Ing habitually to his duties, IL has made IL
necessary TO employ deputies who are
competent TO do the work of the principal,
and paying them a liberal salary. Then
chief clerk has been appointed who has
had general supervision of the office, and
who has usually done the work which the
deputy would do In case the principal
duties of the Office. The men who have
occupied theposition OF deputy lfaye been
good men. and have with few exceptions
done their work well, but there Is diff
ference between power and responsibility
and power without responsibility. 1t cam
not be doubted that the interests OF the
state OF Michigan would be greatly bene-
fitted by requiring all the state officers TO
attend personally to the duties OF their
offices. If this were done enough would
be saved in salaries OF deputies and clerks
about the offices 10 largely compensate
for the increase, but even II this Were
not done, the important duties which de-
volve upon these officers, as members OF
the board of canVassers and especially
as members OF the board OF state audi
tors, all requiring personal attention,
would justify 1t. 1t Is not just 10 those
holding these important offices that the
pay should be SO meager that thev must
turn over the most important du les TO
subordinates. Important as are the Of
ficials above mentioned, the case OF the
encouragement is none the less so. He
is only paid the insignificant salary OF
$500 per annum, and he is expected TO be
the legal adviser OF all the state officers,
elective and appointlve, and the legal
adviser to the prosecuting attorneys OF
the state, and various other officials and
Is expected 20 give legal advice In real
estate, and criminal matters. also In rali-
roads, insurance and various other de-
partments of law where corpora lions emf
ploy attorneys educated and experienced
in these particular branches. believe
the state Is losing CROUCH to pay rea-
sonablc salary to four attorneys general
through lack OF paying a fair compensa-
ton TO one. The same provision should
be applied here, and the Encouragement
given a fair salary, and be required 10
attend personally TO the duties OF his Of
fee. The superintendent of public instruc-
ton is another important state official Of
whom very much Is expected, and who is
only paid $l.OO0 per yeaf.
Neither the secretary Of state nor his
deputy has ever been required TO give
bond, but that u would seem proper that
both of these officials should be required 10
give adequate sec rity for the faithful
performance of their responsible duties,
and for the safe payment of all moneys
coming into their hands. He would also
require that a bond Ee given by the person
| receiving notary public fees and that the
| clerk of the state board OF auditors, who
| handles considerable money should be re-
Quired TO give security for the perform
| ance OF his duties and the safe custody of
money and property intrusted 10 his keep
/ Ing. The same recommendations are made
\ In the case Of the engineer and superin-
| tendent of buildings and grounds.
Some method OF protecting the state in
| the purchase OF postage stamps should be
| provided.
The Supreme Court.
During the legislative session OF 1897 sew
eral plans were proposed for the relief OF
the Supreme Court. The one finally adopt
ed required the judges to reside at Ian
sing. and an increase Of salary was given
them in consideration thereof. At the time
| IF the adjournment of the legislature there
| were upwards OF leo cases ready for hear
| lpg. but which could not be reached. In
| me eighteen months since that time the
| calendar has been cleared, and the court
| feels that under the present condition OF
| affairs they Will be able TO keep up with
| the work. The judges have been where
| and l arm fully satisfied that the relie
| granted has been the most practicable
| that could have been given, and that Il
| cannot help but improve the character Of
| the decisions in giving the opinions OF tho
| full court TO a greater extent than ever
before by being where they can at al
| times consult together and have access e
| the state library. If further relief Is
| eC1ed IL seems to me the most prac
| ticable plan would be to limit the case:
| which may be appealed to the supre,n,
| court under some proper safeguard
| Should TN intermediate court be created
| litigants would be no better satisfied wher
their cases are decided than they are nov
! In the circuit court, and would not be con
| tent with anything short OF a decision
| by the highest judicial tribunal in tn,
| state. Some provision might be made ere
! alnS some authority 10 decide whether
| case raises questions that should b,
passed upon by higher cour.. IL might
be urged that this would be a denia
of justice in cases where the amount in
volved Is small. but there Is lttie doub
mat hugants are more time rived o
justice by VeXatious aprCal- n by
denial or the privilege OF sol 80 the gu
preme court, and some cases are now ia
Ken there which involve so small al
amount that the court should never b.
competed 70 devote any time to II.
due!Ye TO the just determination of re
suits.
! strSiEes-Tic Labor Problem.
Labor strikes" Is the caption unde
which the trouble OF last summer Ia dis
cussed. The governor states that 81
undoubtedly the fact that the creates
sunerers were those engaged in the strike
but that fortunately little damage wa
done by the wanton destruction Of prop
erty. He trusts that the persons respon
sible for the one serious wreck which oc
CURED, causing the loss of two lives, wi
be punished. Great praise is given tn
FIRST Regiment Of the Michigan Natiorc
Guard for the promptness with whic
| they responded to the call for duty. Th
| good behavior OF the companies of tn
ftfth Regiment that were ordered {
lronWood during the troubles last JULY
Is also commended, and suitable recogn
| ton is made of the excellent judgmer
that was displayed by Col. Lyon, and III
| soldierly qualities Of tae troops uuTlii
that trying time. In discussing these tvs
| events the governor takes the onportI
nifty of saying that IL clearly de nor
strates that the Michigan National Guar
Is under good discipline and can be reiie
Upon In any emergency In which the 81
terest Of the state or its people IL in daI
ger.
The strikes mentioned above, and other
In this and adjoining states, causing II
calcdlable damage to many interests, an
some damage TO all interests, raises n
pertinent question, what can be done
prevent them In the future? Is there n,
some way in which the differences b,
| tween canital and labor can be adtuste
without the disastrous resort to strikes
| Capital IN sensitive, and 1t may be que
| toned whether the very means used
, | labor organizations TO Increase wages ar
| get other concessions to better their col
! it.ons does not in the Ind have the OF
| posite effect in causing capital to seek II