The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1897-03-05

1t Is asserted, and the assertion is sus-
:eptible 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,
in 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 1t 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 In 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. II
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
ftaC Nn,.ix - u Il. \
of the recorders court Of Detroit at
$1,000. This would cut the salary Of the
last named official squarely in two. In
stead of fees variously estimated at
from $4,000 to $1,000 per year, the clerk
of the supreme court is to have a sal
airy of 80 600. 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 $500 to ST.
&c., 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 presept the maximum
salary which can be paid the ordinary
clerks in the various departments is
1000, and most Of these employees are
paid the limit. The Wagar bill fixes this
maximum at 500, the auditor general
being allowed four chiefs of divisions
at 81 900 each. At present these chief
clerks in all departments receive either
LOO or $1,000 The number Of clerks
to be employed in the several depart
ments is materially reduced. Senator
WaSar figures that his bill will effect
an annual saving in excess OF $4,000
PingTees Nominations.
Although the senate confirmed the
nominations of Colonel Fred Fl. Case of
Three Rivers for inspector general, and
A. G. Bird for member of the state
board of agriculture, the fight between
Governor Pingree and that body is as
intense as ever. If there has been any
change in the situation it has been for
the worse. The nominations of ex-Gov-
ernor Luce for member of the Ionia
prison board, and of Rev. l.. Morgan
Wood of Detroit for member of the state
board of correction and charities, are
still hung up, and there is no telling
when they will be disposed Of. 1t Is
freely predicted, however, that when
that time comes it will be found that
Wood, at least, will not be confirmed.
The breach between the governor and
the senate widened very perceptably
last Friday when Senator Covell intro
duced q bill designed to defeat a pur-
pose which has been attributed to the
governor, and which, it must be con-.
fessed, there is some reason for belev-
ing he entertained. Since Dec. 81 the
terms of a number of members Of vari-
Gus state boards have expired, and but
few of the vacancies have been filed.
The term of Labor Commissioner Morse
will expire March 1, but thus far no
one has been named to succeed him.
The theory of the senators is that, be-
cause Of the treatment which his nomi-
nations thus far made have received
at their hands, the governor has de-
cided to send in no more until after the
final adjournment Of the legislature.
Then, under the present law, he can
name whomsoever he pleases and the
appointees can qualify at once and hold
until the Legislature meets in 1899
Bill by SenatorCovell.
In order to prevent this Senator Co.
veil has introduced bill providing that
when vacancies occur on state boards
or in state offices previous to or during
the session Of the legislature, nominal
tons to fill such vacancies must be
made before the session adjourns. If
the governor fails to make such nomi-
nations within the prescribed time, then
the hold-over officials are to continue
in office until the next regular session of
the legislature. 1t Is not unlikely that
this bill will pass the senate, but the
chances are against its going through
the house.
Great things are expected of the spe-
cial committee of three appointed by
the house last week to investigate the
charges of violations Of the law govern
ing freight rates on the part Of railroad
companies. Complaints of discrimina-
ton have been received from all Sec
tons of the state, and for several weeks
the farmers organization of the legis-
lature has been gathering evidence on
this point. The special committee has
been given power to subpoena Witness
es, examine books, ETC., and 1t proposes
to go into the subject exhaustively. In
asmuch as majority of the committee
are recognized Pingree men, who are
in accord with the governors railroad
programme, Ii may be expected to tear
up the turf to considerable extent.