The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-02-24

nave resolved that IL should be restrict
ed to the revenue from the latter source
Ii Is asserted, and the assertion is sus- |
ceptible OF easy demonstration. that
the quarters of the law department.
which Is more than self sustaining. are
wholly inadequate. The contemplated
special appropriations include money
for new library, so that the present
library can be transformed into recita-
ton rooms, etc. An annex to the hos
pital Is also needed, and II Is desired.
i'm the interests of economy and greater
efficiency to install an electric lighting
plant. These improvements will cost.
In the aggregate. about 100000. 1t Is
extremely doubtful If they will be pro-
vided for. The senate might possibly
consent to the additional appropriations,
but II Is not at all probable that the
house would do so. The bill making
these appropriations has been intro
duced by State Senator Mason.
Cuts I'm the Pay of Employees.
There is great trembling in official
quarters over the unexpected streak of
economy which the final rush of bills
has demonstrated exists in the senate
The particular bill on which the officials
and clerks are casting anxious eyes was
introduced by State Senator Wagar. 1t
Is by far the most sweeping salary-re-
ducing measure ever introduced in the
Michigan legislature, beginning with
the justices of the supreme court and
going clear through the list, taking in
every official whose salary is not fixed
by the constitution. The bill proposes
to cut the salary Of the supreme court
justices from $1,000 to $4,000, and fix
that of circuit court judges, judges of
the superior court of Grand Rapids and
Of the recorders court of Detroit at
$4,000. This would cut the salary of the
last named official squarely in two. In
stead Of fees variously estimated at
from $4,000 to $4,000 per year, the clerk
of the supreme court is to have a sal
airy of $4,000. The office of deputy COM
missioner of the state land office is abol-
ished, and the salary of deputies to 9TH
er elective state officials, except treas
urer and superintendent of public in
struction, is reduced from $1,000 TO ST.
500, as is that of the private secretary
| to the governor. The salary of railroad
and banking commissioner is reduced
from $4,000 to $1,000, and that of labor
and insurance commissioner from ST.,
900 to $1,000. At present the maximum
salary which can be paid the ordinary
clerks in the various departments is
81, 900, and most of these employees are
paid the limit. The Wagar bill fixes this
maximum at s72O, the auditor general
being allowed four chiefs of divisions
at 81 200 each. At present these CHIEF
clerks in all departments receive either
$1.100 or $1,000 The number of clerk:
to be employed in the several depart
ments is materially reduced. Senator
Wagar figures that his bill will effect
an annual saving in excess of $4,000.
Pingrees Nominations.
Although the senate confirmed the
nominations of Colonel Fred ii. Case o.
Three Rivers for inspector general, anC
A. c. Bird for member of the STATE
board Of agriculture, the fight between
Governor Pingree and that body is a
intense as ever If there has been an!
change in the situation it has been 70
the worse. The nominations of ex-Gov
N ernor Luce for member of the loni
q prison board, and of Rev. l.. Morgan
/ | Woodvof Detroit for member OF the stat
Z board OF correction and charities, ar
~ nune ~s-and there is no tellini
n they will be uisf .-,f II 4
81 bsely predicted, however 'i4''
tL'hat time comes ii will be touhu th'
$ Wood. at least, will not be conhrihe'
The breach between the governor al,
t. mate widened very perceptaD'
!, last Friday - senator CoVell intro
:. duced a bill designed TO aefe~. 49,,
> nose which has been attributed 10 u
governor. and which, 1T must De GU
tossed. there is some reason Tor pelle
y ,ng he entertained. Since Dec. 81 L
> ,arr,s of a number of members OF Vai
u &C state boards have expired, ana
&c faw of the vacancies have peeh me
- r,he form of Labor Commissioner MOI
W ain axnire March /, but thus IaI
t~orr-l .s been named TO succeed nj
: The theory of the senator's is that'
caus~~f the treatment which his non
natiens >'N}s far made have recev
,e- at their send in hbe governor mas
III. c1dso adjournment of uh',l 81 49, -,
ul. final under the present Law, sa .
ID Them whomsoever he plsases -ats /,
as nazofhtees can qualify at once ars'-'
III. apPf the Legislature meets in 1899.
.ft -sift .Slsll by senatorCovell.
& In order TO prevent this Senator {
veil has Introduced bill providing II
= when vacancies occur on state boar
nm or In state offices previous 10 vi uui
"a 4 the session of the legislature, nomin
fj6ns to fill such vacancies must
made before the session adjourns.
- the governor fails to make such non
-, nations within the prescribed time. tn
~ the bold-over Officials are to contin
rs in Office until the next res s'ar session
u The legislature. 1t is not UNLIKELY IN
ch this bill will pass the senate pu~
n chances are against its going throu
ed the house. ., tho or
Gu Great things are expected OF tne 81
en- c,al committee of three appointed
n. The house last week to investigate
IL oharges of violations of the law COVE
inc freight rates on the part OF rail,o
10 connanies. Complaints OF discr,,ii,
an ,,on have been received from all 5
O. ,;ons Of the state, and for several we we.
OF the farmers organization of the leg
ne ,ot,re has been gathering evidence
is th,s noint. The special committee
es been given power to subpoena wltne
'ie as EXAMINE books, ETC., ana IL propo
AT ~, 20 On into the subject exhaustiveiyI :.
ne asmuch as a majority OF the co,, nn
,ly are recognized Pingree men, VINO mo-