Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1905-01-20
OUR NEN LAM MAKERS
Organization and Preparations
For the Work OF the
Winter.
ALL PROMISES REDEEMED
Governor Warmers Appointments and
His REQUEST Concerning the work
of His Administration.
Lansing. Jan. l6. 1908

Lansing, Jan. ~ lJV'
The fortv-sccond Michigan Legisla-
ture has passed its second week, and Is
now ready for business. These two
weeks have been devoted TO organization
and preparation, the selection of the
necessary officers in the two houses, the
naming of the committees, the acquaint- !
| ing of the members with each other and
with their places and lines of work, and |
the settling of themselves into such |
living arrangements aS they find neccs
sarv or desirable. There il a large pro- |
portion of new members and these |
prclimnarics have required considerable
time.
The distribution of the one hundred |
and thirty-twO members upon the more
| than one hundred committees of the |
| two houses was no small undertaking |
and the general feeling Is that il has !
been well done In several particu |
lars there has been eyidcnt regard
10 the wholesome recommendations of
| Governor Warner inaugural message;
and in line with his urgent suggestions
of careful economy i'm appropriations l.
speaker Masters adherence 20 ms OWN
proposition not 10 place upon commit
tee ON any OF the state institutions "a
lmcmber from the county where the
institution il located. The governor
took pains 10 urge not only adequate
support Of our educational institutions
at the hands of the legislature, but also
such personal interest IN the details OF
their managemct a. should promote
their best efficiency.
| In many ways il Is happily apparent
that the state government starts on
under hopeful conditions OF harmony.
Harmony between the executive and
the legislature. between the two
branches of the legislature. between
all the departments of the government,
and between the people and their
government. The last condition l. one
cf peculiar sel,itivcncss, and may
bee easily cemcnted or ahcnated. Con-
versatiOn with officers and Legislators
cannot fail TO reveal sincere desire
TO cement II.
Primary reform has wide diversity
Of meaning. a. the term has been used
lin the last two or three years. IN no
two states alike and by no two parties
or factions alike But, in one phase
or another. it has come more promi-
lnentlv into view. and become the sub
icct of wider discussion than perhaps
any other question in our politics
Nearly every state has legislated or Is
lin process of legislating upon II; ana
we NAV feel assured that our own state
will not be behind her sisters IN any
advance in that direction that gives
b safe promise of bettering conditions
+. I'm Illinois a measure Is agreed upon
that will undoubtedly pass for com
| sla fhrnnfrnnf
: the state. but il only provides for cleo
: ton of delegates TO nominating conven-
tions. and not for nomination OF any
officers. quite short of what Republican
pledges in Michigan have promised.
The more important appointments
that Coy. Warner has thus far an
: nounced have been made, a. the Gov
d ernor has specifically stated, in recogm-
Il tion of past services well performed III
c the case of reappointments, and in the
II case of new appointments through eX-
4 Dectation that the men selected are
it especially capable of giving excellent
II service to the state III the line OF official
= duty for which they have been named.
|, Mr.. Barry for insurance commissioners,
r Mr.. Atwood for railroad commissioners
d and Gen. Kidd for quartermaster gen
II eral are reappointments made by reason
It Of that long standing Republican Gus
tom of giving denominations when
d official duties throughout the first term
$ have been well rendered. The appoint
'e ment of Mr.. McCloud as labor commits
lt sioner, of Mr. Wildey as salt inspector
; Of Mr.. Bird as dairy and food commits
II sioner, as well aS Governor Warner :
military and various state board appoint
)r ments. have met with approving com
10 ments from all who personally know
N the men selected and have information
ar touching the duties they are to perform
u II is fair and candid Judgment that
~ Governor Warner asks for his appoint
e ees and his administration-that hi
'd work as chief executive and the worl
le of those or whom lac is responsible
I'd shall be judged 10y results obtained ant
Il. bV whatever evidence shall appear O
- sincere effort on their part 10 NEE
n the wishes and expectations of all th'
Of people of Michigan.
4 bill bv Representative Towner. O
nd Kent. would abolish the state census. a.
" an unnecessary expense. occ urring onl,
"a four wears after the national census
a Probably census at the middle Of TN
is decade would be worth its cost. Tc1
d. wears is long time to go on the ole
- figures. hut ours j. not at the middle a
yO that of New York aud some other state
er is. II would be better worth its cost
10 il were at the middle.
lr. The repeal of the fifty day limit fo
no the introduction Of bills, by popula
'p- vote i'm November. will operate 10 lesse
or the flood of bills introduced. and doub
ot less prove a salutary change.
nd