The Yale expositor., 1903-01-16

nf taxes from railroad properties due a.
July. l%2 was 81 ti,s'i. while the amount
resulting from the assessment Just re-
ferred % will be S2.sd02li. Under this
assessment the property Of express
companies. carloaning stock car. t,frig
orator ana fast freight line companies
yields az the average rate Of taxation
about 81. pa Your attention viii b.
called a. certain inadequate features or
sefsmcnt ~ the last named companies
ard suggestions FOR its amendment ar" ,
be found In the report OF the state Boari
81 Assessors.
MUNICIPAL HOME RULE.
An evll In legislative practice In this
state L. the time consumed IN the con
sideration of so-called local bills. and this
evil Will probably continue until pro-
hibited by constitutional PROVISION. such
a step would be IN the direction or true
economy materially shortening the ses-
sions 81 the legislature. and remove "A
source % unnecessary friction between
the municipalities and the state. The
present legislative practice contemplate
home rule by conccding 90 the Legislators
from any given municipality that they
reflect local sentiment regarding local Leg
islation. While as "a rule this 10 salts
factory In results. In operation u occupies
entirely too much time The legislature.
as basic proposition. should be restrict
cd Co the consideration OF general bills
only II this r. not done as an alterna-
tive tho legislative practice 81 refcren-
dunn sometimes ohtntnlng on local bills.
ought 70 De made mandatory Muultlphl-
lilies should be given the largest measure
OF home rule consistent with their rcla-
lions to the state and the operation OF
general laws. ! recommend that this leg
islaturc take steps To submit 20 the pep-
pie an amendment or amendments TO tn"
constitution In harmony with the fore
going.
CONSTITUTION AND STATUTES
strongly favor submitting 20 the peo-
pie az the ensuing spring election the
question OF the general revision 81 thu
constitution. originally far from elastic
tho progress % the times has compelled
the constitution D. something % patch
work anatr. and this condition must nee
essarily grow worse owing 20 the fhct
that the organic law OF the state was
drafted too much along lines Of legisla
ton instead Of bcing purely basis Tor
legislation
In this connection the bulky statutes ~
the state challenge attention. For IN
stance the laws referring 20 the insane
could better De- embodied iu "A single act
instead OF being scattered through NaFl-
Gus acts rs now. Passage or sucn a
measure viii be urged az the present
session and favorable action ~ rec nm
mcndcd Again the laws ~ corporations
Is a fruitful Held, there being two nun
general principles do not apply and court
decisions in one are not guide in the
legal construction of acts relating 10 an
. other class % Corforutions
EXECUTIVE RESIDENCE AND CAPT
TOL NEEDS.
n IL Tor the best interest OF the state
that the Governor should have his home
az the capital during h!s term and the
state should build and maintain an ON
cial residence FOR him The owners 81
homes having accommodations suitaOl"
Tor an executive residence VIII not lease
their property. and 10 u not Co be cx-
pectcd that the governor Will invest ia
real estate for temporary purposes. Tn 70
necessary funds for such "A building can
%" secured without taxing the people.
The stat" owns foriy-twu lots In thrc'
blocks go the city OF Lansing Thirty
81 these lots have been appraised by com
pete0t real estate dealers az $50 In
addition, the state owns a brick building
at the corner % Washington avenue All
Au,gtu street. suitable for business pur
poses. FOR which an oner of 5000 haF
boon made. The executive residence
should o." built under thH direction of tn
Board OF stat, Auditors and %" placed OF
land nov owned hy the state uf othrrwls
us tho Legislature may direct. tn" sub.
ipct matter covered hy these rccpmm mend O.
tiunz o. entirely free from ans persona.
bearing because GO Will hardly hc possible
% complete the building before my term
Wl'i have expired.
Tho nri.. accommodation 'r 'hs state
GIuito' urr irHdrqunt". The Legislature t.
NlfrI o. make thorough examination
of ~" situation Co tn "rl fhuf either
aU addition to The Da'itll nr J scnurI''
ufl.r hff ding conveniently located m1H
o. hu.if Provision ought Geo lD made No.
Only svrr!.ri Tor fhr present rc-ds. bI.
HutlC. ultlUg 30" lrgitlmtt. demands ~
tEr future Tho state ls growing and
unrregri'y th" work 90 l'1 rovcrnmr1.
becomes greater. Tho sf1fD now tcru.
p!rr 90 3D. certain uNt'f' tnr ir lr:ea COL "
position ~ being '.r1rt ami uo I'm
Should h. lost 400 rr.ylling The 7crommu-
IffIuUs moo. zrnrN Or %. f~uUEtrtluu %
.'s uWt business Tho attention ~ Oh
'nvi elufurr i- also called 90 the urrr-'
sity ot making certain frnairs to tho
Cauitli building Tho. bereavement
should br made under en-" direction ~
the Board 90 state Auditors. whose au-
fhDrlty should be- ample o. protect All IN
Interests ~ the state.
PENAL LAWS FROM THE VIEW.
POINT OF REFORMATION OF
THE OFFENDER
40 more important subj ca viii com
before tlis Legislature thiu that OF pro
posed changes 100 the penal laws having
in view tire reformation ~ thu offender
As protection OF the public IL paramount
. 60 the punishment OF tn criminal, so o.
the subject 90 reformation superior %
that ~ punishment. and in imprlsonins
criminals the state should prevent aH Tar
. as possible the contamination % one b.
another criminal % "A more hardened
. class.
/ Thr Michigan Reformatory az Iouia
ought 10 be- a place of detention Tor al
nrst offenders not convicted OF h"ulou
. crimes and this result can b secured D.
substituting shall for may 90 "a
law AH "a present constituted. the peua.
Z .uFtltutiprs stand practically upon the
. same has and do not follow proper
. rlnrs..iraf on. To secure this result pro-
d vision shnt.ld be- siadr for tn scntrncin
aud confinement Of nrst offenders. as rec
T ommrrdtd. ln an Institution where they
Will not come in contact with conhrmed
/ and vicious criminals and where rctorina'
+ tory methods can De applied. To the saHic
I connection I suggest lowering tn mint
7 mum ago Tor offenders liable 20 be sen
/ trr,ed % the toaia Institution. Under
! the present law. judges are sometimes
ClmTe,lpd 90 sentence tu the Dciroll
. House 81 Correction where the prisone'
2 should more properly b. sent 10 re-
4 farmatary, and 90 send boys 10 auch IN
] ftantcs To- the Industrial School too Boys
/ would create an evil similar 10 that from
/ which the Industrial Home Tor Girls u
suffering
PROBATION SYSTEM.
The average nrst offender u one having
{ very few. n any criminal associa tions
t'nirrs the offeuse with the commission
7 81 which hc stands charged Is a serious
one better results are obtained through
releasing him on probation. At The very
. best imprisonment ~ "a mark which can
never be cffaced. and To a greater or less
D degree b. "a handicap. And further. "
. extends 10 the family ~ the offender, end
. III hr has children. 60 them an particular
Z Not only la he but his family. deprived
/ OF the fruits 10 his labor. aud the stole
q buricned with his support MasAa M
80. - La uruHffFut urUnNfluW IuW which