The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1901-01-11

IN the industrial Home for Girls eXertS an
injurious influence upon others not so far
advanced in the ways OF wickedness. If
the incorrigibles could be cared for else
where there is ground for belief that the
influence of the home in a reformatory
way would be materially improved Adj
dltlonal argument for the establishment
or the proposed institution may be found
IN me tact that the state now farms out
the care OF women sentenced for violation
or the criminal laws. The proposition to
establish prison for women Is worthy of
attention. because through favorable ac-
ton the state will be taking a step in the
direction of further COPING with crime
supplies for State Institutions.
All things being equal. state institutions
should be required to purchase their siIn-
plies in Michigan.
Fire Warden System.
There is great merit in the proposition
mat the legislature should enact q law
creating state fire warden system. seek
ing through sucf legislation to prevent in
PART az least the enormous destruction of
property annually recorded for Michigan.
III there Is merit in the saving that a
penny saved Is p5nny earned, then there
Is reason for LEGISLATION which is Intended
10 prevent the loss of wealth to the state
It Is argued that an efficient system of
state supervision will aid in keeping fire
insurance rates at the minimum.
The Forestry Problem.
Beieving that Michigan cannot afford to
lose It's numbering industry, / advise the
legislature to give careful attention to
the work of the forestry commission. and
en- enact Whatever legislation may be needed
20 bring about the most beneficial results
The general idea has been to take stems
ior growing timber on abandoned tax
ianus, now relatively worthless 1t IL of
t me utmost mos Importance, before Michigan
taxes mold OF the problem of re-forcstra-
tion upon her lands that she have un-
questionable title to them New York
seems TO have solved this part of the prob
lem emectually and satisfactorily The
commission will recommend similar action
with regard to Michigan state tax lands.
~ VIII also suggest methods of STRENGTHEN
t fng IRE ana trespass laws. and will ask
these two last important features of the
Forest problem The state is in need of n
n,st1nrt forest policy. and this means the
foating and carrying IL out There is no
more important problem before tho state
to-day, looking toward the future Of the
commonwealth. than the one the Michigan
assist In solving. ~
Changes I'm Penal Laws.
The report of the state board Of cor
rections and charities. dealing with rec
concentrations for changes in the penal
laws, is worthy Of especial consideration.
INT conclusion is inevitable that under
the present laws scores of convicts are
annually discharged from prison before
there Is any reasonable evidence thew are
again fitted to mingle in society Under
liie oupTtIne court ruling II is unCOnSti-
tutional to impose indeterminate sentences
as was ATTEMPTED under n law enacted
by the legislature Of 1889. The constitu-
ton should be amended to permit the re-
enactment of that law. The legislature
may profitably give it's attention to the
question of providing for what may prop
erly be called "parole before sentence" a
system in use in some states, whereby
first Offenders are released on probation.
Experience has shown that the parole
system has done great good in this state.
and If after sentence. why not before
The system of probation cost Massachus-
etts about $4,000 year, and it is esti-
mated that the lowest possible saving to
the taxpayers over the cost had the pro-
bationers been imprisoned WAS about
$4,000 year If adopted in this state,
the supervision of probationers might be
left with the county agents of the state
board Of corrections and charities
The law should be amended so that the
state house OF correction and reformatory
of Ionia will be place for the detention
of first offenders only.
Measures should be taken to compel the
absolute separation of prisoners in jails.
and the abandonment of the practice of
using county jails as city lock-ups.
Regulation of Transportation Ser
vice.
Your attention Is called to the recon-
mendation OF the commissioner of rail-
roads that electric railroads should be
brought under the full jurisdiction of
lnat department, Il course ne QecfnS eSpe-
cially advisable In the cases of suburban
and interurban COMPANIES. The argument
Is that inasmuch al they are assuming
full railroad functions ii is necessary
the state should have the same control
over them 1t has over the steam roads.
His suggestion Is that the best way to
bring about this result will be by n thor
ough revision of the train-railways act
The subjects of the regulation of freight
rates. of safety appliances, of depot and
station facilities and the abandonment
of railroad stations, of highway crossings
with particular reference to a separation
of grades, and of securing the fullest pub
licity of railroad reports, should have the
careful attention of the legislature.
Anti-Trust Lnw.
The forteth legislature placed upon the
statute books measure designed to de-
stroy all combinations of capital which
conditions, l recommend that they be in
tend to restrict competition in business. to
create mororolies, to limit production or
to control prices. Believing in the spirit
of this law, If there are any amendments
needed TO make It fit more exactly the
corporated in the law.
Pure Food Laws.
The pure food laws of Michigan have
resulted in largely guarding the people
against adulterated food, and IL this leg
islature. in it's wisdom. deems best to
still further strengthen those statutes, L.
should be done. People are entitled to
know they are getting what Ii Is repre-
scented to them they are buying, and any
legislation tending to make this more GER
tain is a step in the right direction.
Fish md Game Laws.
There has been carefully built up n
most excellent system for the preserva-
ton and protection of fish and game In
Michigan. and the state board cannot af-
ford to take any backward steps. All pro-
posed legislation should be scanned very
closely The slaughter of deer during the
last hunting season suggests the advisa-
bility of restricting to two the number
of deer each hunter may kill. 1t ought
to be inquired into IL the time has not
been reached when 1t Is best to prohibit
the sale of all game excepting duck, or
at least to make additional restrictions
other subjects for investigation are the
ACCESSIBILITY of a uniform open season
and additional funds for fish and game
protection.
Treasury Department..
II Is of practical interest to note that
whereas the retiring state treasurer. on
the occasion of his Inauguration to Office
January 1. 1897, found practically n de-
pleted treasury. yesterday he turned over
I to his successor something over one and a
quarter millions of dollars. The existence
of this large fund, as far as available
ought to bring some relief In the way of
decreased taxation for state purposes.
Cooperation with Departments.
The suggestion has been made and II