The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1905-06-09

legislature is required to look after al
the minor business of all the counties
townships, wards and school districts
in the state, the people need not hope
for any material diminution in the
length Of the legislative sessions.
Sessions Of Sixty Days.
Other states which are wise enough
to leave these local matters to the PEG
pie Of the several communities to han
die for themselves, escape with legis
lative sessions of only sixty days dura
tion, and all their needs in the way OF
legislation are fully provided. 1t is
a fair proposition, too, that the mum
cipalities would be better taken care
Of by themselves than they are by the
legislature for the sufficient reason
that not legislator save those from
the particular district affected by the
local legislation under consideration al
any specified time, gives the subjectthe
slightest consideration. The word OF
the local representative is taken fol
whatever the bill may be and the
measure goes through with rush. In
any event, 1t would seem as If the PEG
pie of Houghton county, or Of any
township or city in that county, know
far better what they desire and are fal
more capable to legislate in their owl
interests than legislat tors who reside
hundreds of miles distant in the south
ern part Of the state and have never
set foot in that county.
The change will never come about
probably until we have a general re
vision of the constitution, and the peo
pie of the state appear to be 10th
to provide for such revision, prefer
ring. apparently, to content themselves
with finding fault with what we have
which every one possessing any
knowledge of the situation knows t.
be Anticipated and inadequate for pres
ent needs.
Question of Good Roads.
The question Of good roads is alto
gether likely to be extensively agitatec
in Michigan hereafter, and it is ex
pected that rapid advances in the line
of road making will be made through
out the state. The people, having
amended the constitution so as to per
NIT of the giving of state aid in the
construction of roads, the bill creating
a state roads department has been
passed by both houses and signed by
the governor, who has appointed eX
State Senator Horatio S. Earle of De
troit state highway commissioner. Mr.
Earle is easily one of the most enthu'
siastic advocates of good roads in the
state, and he can be depended upon
to make the most of his opportunities
in this connection. There will be nc
section of the state to which the ad
vantages of good roads will not be
brought home in manner calculated
to bring results.
1t is proposed to construct model
road between the city of Lansing and
the Michigan agricultural college. II
is figured that more people from differ.
ent sections of the state travel over
this three and half miles of road
than traverse any other particular
piece of road Thousands of citizens
from all over Michigan visit the college
annually, and it is proposed to give
them an object lesson In road construc.
ton. The college board, township au-
thorities and the city of Lansing will
contribute portion of the expense
of this work, and the remainder will
come from property owners along the
highway. Michigan will be represent
ed at the forthcoming session Of the
National Good Roads Congress, to be
held at Portland, Ore, the governor
having named X. d. Chaplin and d. V.
Huss Of Detroit and A. G. Bird Of Ian.
sing as delegates to that body.
No Exhibit at jamestown.
Present indications are that Mich.
igan will not have an exhibit at the
jamestown exposition, the house hav'
ing smothered the senate bill which
appropriated $4,000 for that purpose
Speaking of appropriations suggests
the thought that the omnibus apprp
priation bill, which provides for the
general expenses Of the state govern.
ment, will carry total of $1,5OO, 900
as agreed to by the ways and means
committee. This bill makes an appro
priation for all the expenses Of the
state government not otherwise pro
vided for and Is consequently the last
appropriation measure to be consid
cred. The sum named Is S179,000 les
than the amount estimated to be nee
essary by Auditor General Brady. II
Is 100000 more than was appropriate
ed for this purpose two years ago. II
cannot yet be stated how much this
years aggregate appropriations will
exceed those Of 1903 One Of the larg
est institution appropriations IL that
for the soldiers home, which, as fin.
ally agreed upon, gives that institution
1922. 800 for 1905 and $50, 900 for 1905
OF the sum appropriated for this year,
$77,5OO is for new buildings, hospital
being the principal need provided for.
Whether the legislature will provide
for the compilation Of new index 70
the compiled laws Of Michigan Is prob
lematical. The bill providing for this
work failed by one vote to pass the
house. The vote was reconsidered and
the bill tabled with view to making
another effort to pass 1t.
Another bill that appears to be IL
precarlous situation is that which
makes the appropriation for the state
fair. 1t is alleged that legislators from
IL A-fl A. q L..