Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1905-01-12
Governor Warner.

The messages of Gov. Warner ana
ex-Gov. Bliss TO the state legislature
were read before the joint session OF
the TWO houses in the hall Of represen-
tatives Thursday afternoon.
This legislature takes up IFS laDors
representing united and prosperous
constituency from every portion OF
this great state. Capital and labor are
profitably employed and in general Il
feeling of mutual satisfaction exists
between them. Under such circum-
stances | bespeak a session prontablc
TO the state as a result of wise ana
conservative legislation on your part.
In the control and management of the
affairs of a great state. partisan poll
ties should never he the ruling motive.
That only one political party is to be
represented i'm your deliberations
makes the responsibility the greater
and the necessity of a proper subJec-
ton of party spirit more obvious.
pledge TO you my cooperation in the
working out of the problems that are
before you.
The opening of the year 1903 finds the
state OF Michigan practically out OF
debt There is. however, Il well de-
fined feeling among people generally
in this state that state expenditures
have reached the limit of present Ju-
dicious requirements. With this feel
ing ! am in thorough accord. The
question of insuring good business
methods in the several state inStltu-
tons may well receive your careful
consideration. suggest the granting
to the auditorgeneral of greater pow
ers in connection with the accounts OF
these institutions. ] also recommend
that in the conduct of the several state
departments the salaries of the en-
nloyeS, including the clerical force.
should be based upon actual duties
performed 4 system has gained pre-
valence. especially in the capitol build
ing. of paying practically every clerk
81 900 per year, regardless of length of
service. previous experience, or the
nature Of the work performed. Under
this system a majority of the clerks
are paid higher salaries than they
should receive. ON the ,ther hand, no
clerk in the departments can be paid
more than $1,000 per year. no matter
how efficient he may be. nor how re-
sponsible Il position he may fill. This,
i believe, to be radically wrong. Il is
discouraging to the more faithful
clerks of good ability who are filling
really responsible places to he kept on
a continual level with their less cf-
fIcient and less ambitious fellow la
borers. l believe legislation should be
provided requiring the respective
heads of the departments TO properly
grade the salaries Of the employees,
The Appropriations.
There will be no desire. | am sure
to cripple or to lessen the practical
usefulness of any of our state institu-
tons or OF any department of the state
government But il can be and II
should be stated plainly that there is
a demand throughout the state for
greater conversation in state eXpendi-
lures.
In dealing with the ordinary eX-
penses Of institutions, YOU will be
quite justified i'm the most rigid eX
animation in order TO assure your
selves that the money granted IS being
used prudently and efficiently.
Permit me TO call your attention TO
n more definite phase of this problem
of state expenditures. The total
amount of what are known as stand
ing appropriations. that is. appropria
lions for state institutions and for
state purposes made necessary by pre-
vious legislators and which run on
form year To year without much
change. is 81 ,601. III. 76.
Under the provisions of the insan-
fly law, the boards of the several
asylums make their own appropria
tons for current expenses. These eX-
penses will ne materially greater
through the next two fiscal years. The
amount during the fiscal years OF
1903 and 1904 was S1.J61 .907 50. Tn
der the law governing the manage
ment of the prisons. the warden Of
each of theca institutions is allowed
to draw such an amount as he shall
find necessary TO meet the current
expenses Of the institution Ct which
he has charge. 1t is not probable that
the amount TO be SO drawn during
the next two years will be less than
during the fiscal years of 1903 and
1901. which amount was S259.O00 We
find. therefore, that legislation al
ready i'm operation has provided for
appropriations for the coming two
years to the amount Of S3.422 ,679GJ.
Those institutions which present
their estimates to the state board OF
corrections and charities for approval
will come TO the legislature asking
for the amount approved by that
board. which . is 1,SS6. 707.30. The
Normal college and normal schools
will ask for appropriations to the
amount OF $726270. The College OF
Mines, judging from past requests and