The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1899-01-11
MICHIGAN IN TT
National Guard Prompt
the Call.

thusiaSm with Whlch TN
Guard of Michigan respony
call On the other hand, the Natlofal
Guard of other states was extremely
tardy and reluctant in taking the field.
Many Michigan men sacrificed positions
worth several thousand dollars to ac-
cept service under the government at
SIC dollars per month. The poor widow
who parted with her only son is deserv-
ing of vastly more credit than the man
of wealth who, through influence, Sc
cured his son an officers commission.
80 / caused transportation to be is
sued TO sick soldiers from eastern and
southern hospitals to their respective
homes by special trains and otherwise.
for doctors and nurses TO be sent TO
Cuba and elsewhere. and in few in
stances ordered transportation for ia
theirs and mothers to visit and nurse
their sons who were i'll in the hospital,
when these parents were too poor to
pay their own expenses. / felt the state
could not do less for these persons who
had contributed so much to their coun-
try in its hour of need. After
cessation of hostilities and after the
government had made an order provid-
ing that the soldiers should be paid
only sixty days while on furlough, L APP
pealed to those in authority to modify
this order and to permit the pay to con-
tinue until the men were mustered. outs
and succeeded in having the -8fder so
modified for which we aresfargely in
debted to Secretary AlgGkho gave my
request the promptest yQttention. This
permitted the men toedraw from thirty
TO ninety days extra pay, amounting to
Up to n Dollar Per Day.
Il would recommend that the state
make an appropriation for the benefit
Of the soldiers of the late war sufficient
to bring each mans pay up to 81 per
day while in active service. The mat
ter of disbursements for the mainte-
nance and equipment of Michigan SOL
diers will be published by the quarter
master general The total number of
Michigan troops mustered in the five
regiments was 6677 and the total num-
Der of deaths about $50. would not
feel, however that 1 had done justice
to one Of Michigan's honored sons, did
I fail in this connection to call to your
attention the service of General RI A.
Alger. secretary OF war. Through his
efforts and influence / have been able
to do much for Michigan soldiers that
could not have been accomplished with
out his cooperation. l feel that the
people OF Michigan and OF the entire
country have reason to congratulate
themselves because the position OF Sec
rotary of war was held by one who Is
not only a courageous, honorable SOL
der. but a humane. earnest man. who
never permitted red tape and anti
auated regulations to stand In the way
Of doing what conscience and human
ity dictated"
The governor is loud in his praise for
the naval militia. especially those on
the Yosemite during the blockade OF
San Juan. He says: Every fathr
who had a son aboard the Yosemite
during the fierce engagement of San
Juan can point to that sons record
with pride. As governor OF Michigan
I congratulate the state on the showing
made by its naval militia"
Fire Warden.
This state in common with neigh
boring states has suffered severe losses
from forest fires The legislature should
enact a law creating the office OF fire
warden which official, with the assist
ance of deputies, will be able to stop
forest fires In their inception. The fire
warden should have power to summons
a posse to assist him. Such an officiax
could undoubtedly save thousands\ I
dollars of property as well as many
lives The law should also contain
provision compelling lumber men to
make such disposal of slashings as will
remove the danger of fire from them
II earnestly recommend that such
legislation be enacted as may be neces-
sary requiring the appointment of at
least one woman on the advisory board
and of at least one woman physician
upon the staff OF each state institution,
charitable Of corrective. having women
or girls as inmates.
"HAzEN S. PINGREE, Gov"