Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1905-01-20

scientists OF the day. This Is not
mere "happenstance," as II were
Regulations OF this nature are not &c
quired by chance. They are evidences
of ability and worth which the legis
lators will do well TO bear in mind ir
considering the proposition to make
change. / have been a rather careful
observer of state affairs for a mum
Der of years and unhesitatingly eX'
press the opinion that the STATE re
ceives Il larger return on the money
ii invests in the state board of health
than ii does from any other invest
ment The records prove II.
Amendment TO Banking Law.
Banking Commissioner Moore thinks
the banking law Of the state should
be amended so as to require that all
state banks be examined twice each
year. At present this provision eX
tends only to the state banks in re
serve cities. Commissioner Moore has
been a painstaking official and his rec
ommcndation will carry much weight
The growth OF the state banks i'm Mich.
igan has been remarkable Since the
organization Of the department six
teen years ago, loans have increased
S120. 100000 nearly. and deposits nj
most 100000. The aggregate cap.
ital of these banks i'm Michigan mad,
a net increase Of 100000 during the
past year, twenty new banks having
been organized. Only one bank he
came insolycnt and present indications
are that this institution will pay de
positOrs in full without assessing stock.
holders. There are now 257 state anC
lightweight national banks In Michi
gan with a total Of COS, 234 depoSitorS
Tendency To Increase Boards.
The tendency To increase state
boards and commissions has not al
together died out. The butchers and
auctionecrs of the state are the latest
TO come TO the frorf with requests
for legislation providing for the ex
animation ara licensing Of members
of their callings. Pretty much all
classes Of breadwinncrs i'm Michigan
are Obliged 10 show their prowess hc.
fore state board or commission now,
and it may not be greatly out of the
way 10 make it unanimous. However
there are those among the legislators
who incline 10 the opinion that the
matter has already been carried too
far For this reason Il Will not be
surprising if the latest requests are not
granted. Some of the objectors argue
that Michigan citizens ought TO be per
mittcd TO turn their eyes heayenward
or brush the festive miSquito from
their noses without first arranging
with state board for n license, au-
thorizing them to indulge themselves
in these directions.
Farmer and the Autos.
The farmers i'm the legislature are
determined to enact some law for the
regulation OF the running of auto
mobiles They complain bitterly Of
their experiences and the treatment
accorded them by drivers of auto
mobiles whom they encounter on the
rural highways. The first bill on this
subject to make its appearance has
been introduced by Representative
| Holmes Of Gratiot. 1t provides that
| every automobiliSt shall he licensed by
the secretary OF state and the number
| Of the license shall he conSpicuously
| displayed on the machine The bill
limits the speed at which auto
mobiles may be driven on rural high
ways 10 fifteen miles per hour. on gen
| eral city streets TO ten miles and on
| the business streets Of cities and vii
| lagos 10 six miles This bill also pro
yides that each chauffeur must pro-
| cure a license and wear a badge not
loss than two inches i'm diameter. and
must bring his machine to Il full stop
| when approaching horse or team ON
| the highway. The fee for machine
and drivers licenses Is So each. and
the biz provides heavy penalties for
violation of its provisions.
| Regulation of Freight Rates.
There are indications that the pres
| ant legislature may take important ac-
ton looking TO the regulation Of freight
rates. This matter was mp two years
ago when the house passed the Hardy
bill which was designed TO cure the
evils complained of 10y shippers in all
| sections of the state. but the measure
| died in the senate. At the recent an
| 1ual meetings Of tho state grange and
| state association Of farmers clubs, the
| question Of railroad taxation was dis
cussed extensively and the unanimous
opinion expressed was that it was folly
10 increase railroad taxation so long
as there is no law regulating freight
rates. for no sooner are the taxes in
creased than the companies proceed to
assess the increase and more. too il
was claimed. upon the shippers Of the
state. thus. in the last analysis putting
The burden upon the people.
In the Line Of Economy.
An expert nent i'm the line Of economy
hat will he watched with interest has
been inaugurated 10y the presiding Of
hcCrs Of the two houses this year In
arranging the committees members
who reside I'm places where state in
stitutionS are located have not been
given assignments 10 committees on
these Institutions The idea is 10
guard against institutions having