The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1905-01-06
He STRONGLY URGES ECONOMY
Demand Throughout the State
for Greater Conservatism
in Expenditures.
Economy, However, Should Not Pro-
coed 10 the Extent of Penuri-
business Recommendation
as TO Taxation.

The inaugural message Of Governor
Warner has been delivered to the state
legislature. 1t is as follows:
Established custom imposes on the
governor of this state, at the beginning
of the term for which he is elected,
the duty of making to the legislature
such recommendations as he deems eX-
pedient. Following this custom. l
would call your attention to the follow
ing matters:
This legislature takes up its labOrs
representing a united and prosperous
constituency from every portion of this
great state. Our farms and our fac
tories have yielded fruitful haryests.
Our mines and our quarres show no
signs of exhaustion of their great
treasures. Capital and labor are
protitably employed, and in general
feeling Of mutual satisfaction exists
between them. Under such circum.
stances l bespeak a session profitable
al
conservative legislation on your part.
Party responsibility cannot be nor
should not be divorced from official
acts i'm legislative and administrative
halls, but in the control and manage
ment of tie affairs Of a great state.
partisan politics should never be the
ruling motive That only one political
party is to be represented in your de-
alterations makes the responsibility the
greater and the necessity for a proper
subsection of party spirit more obvious
With Il deep feeling Of responsibility
to the people who, by the exercise OF
their franchise have chosen me to be
the chief executive of this great state,
and with an unalterable determination
to do my plain duty i'm the interests
of all the people | pledge to YOU my
cooperation i'm the working out Of the
problems that are before you
State Practically out of Debt.
The opening Of the year 1908 finds
the state Of Michigan practically out
of debt. With great promptitude the
extraordinary expenditures caused by
the Spanish war have been met: and
the established principle Of paying as
we go is steadfastly adhered 10.
There is. however. well defined
feeling among people generally i'm this
state that state expenditures have
reached the limit of present judcious
requirements. With this feeling | am
in thorough accord. While Michigan
may well be proud of her state institu-
tons and satisfied with the general
conduct Of the several state depart
ments. yet ii may well be questioned
whether this result has been brought
about by that degree of business pru-
dence which similar conditions demand
in the business world. It is because
of this that | would impress upon you
the necessity of carefully investigating
all recommendation for appropriations
which you may officially or otherwise
receive.
The question of insurng good bust
ness methods i'm the several state insti.
tutions may well receive your careful
consideration. | suggest the granting
10 the auditor general of greater pow
ers i'm connection with the accounts
Of these institutions. 7 recommend
that the auditor general be required to
report monthly to the governor any
receipt or expenditure by any state
institution. state department. or any
public official required to file vouchers
with the auditor general, which. after
careful examination by him, shall bear
evidence Of improper or injudicious
business methods: and that the audi
tor generals department be required TO
examine all vouchers with this purpose
in mind. The governor would thus be
furnished information upon which suf-
ficiently prompt action could be taken
to prevent the recurrence of the i'm
proper acts.
Salaries Based on Duties Performed.
/ also recommend that i'm the con.
duct of the several state departments
the salaries of the employees. including
the clerical force, should be based upon
actual duties performed. \ system
has gained prevalence. especially i'm the
capitol building, of paying practically
every clerk $1,000 per year. regardless
Of length Of services, previous expert
ence. or the nature of the work per
formed. Under this system MAORI.
ty Of the clerks are paid higher salaries
than they sbogl0 receive. ON the 9th
er hand. no cIerK in the departments
can be paid more than 81 1000 per year
no matter how efficient he may be. nor
how responsible a position he may fill
This l believe TO be radically wrong
1t is discouraging TO the more faithful
clerks of good ability who are filling
really responsible places TO be kept on
n continual level with their less eff.
fcient and less ambitious fellow labor.
ers. believe legislation should be