Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1895-01-10

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. Un-
der the existing circumstances it would
seem to be the part of wisdom and justice
to 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 be 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 as 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
is little doubt that there are difficulties in
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 is GER
| tain.
AS the law now stands the appropria-
| tions for the use of the geological survey
,o;I ba of hn
nor. There seems to be no good reason
why this fund should not take the regu-
| lar course of other appropriations.
There is very little if any complaint with
| reference to the present election law, but
| in the interest of accuracy and to avoid
any change in the returns l renew the
| recommendations of two years ago that
provisions be made for counting the vote
at intervals during the day by separate
board. As fast us the result is known it
should also be posted in at least one pub
| lie place and signed by the board, and
| further results should be added to 1t
| 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
| or o'clock in the evening, and as boards
| usually receive pay for two days there
| would be no increase in expense, but there
| would be a 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 Canvassers is expensive, and no
| better done than it could be by a much
| smaller board. This is a matter well
worthy of your consideration. By the
provisions of Act No. 1G9, Public Acts of
| 1893, the Governor was authorized to ap-
point q commission to prepare and re-
| port a general municipal corporation bill,
under which all municipalities may be-
come Incorporated, and this commission
has worked faithfully and earnestly to
accomplish what the act imposed upon it.
1t is hoped that this report will be such
that without material amendment or al
teration ii may be passed early in the
session and become law. / would also
urge that an amendment to the Constitu-
| ton be early submitted to the people pro-
viding that the Legislature shall hereafter
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 early in the ses-
sion it will save a great deal of work on
proposed amendments to various city and
village charters throughout the State.
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-
L.,