The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1905-06-09

dallying so that they may continue TO
enjoy the constitutional stipend of 80
per day. Whether this consideration
makes any contribution 10 the general
result need not be considered. for the
major fact remains that So long as the
legislature is required to look after all
the minor business of all the counties,
townships, wards ana 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 peo-
pie of the several communities TO ham
die for themselves. escape with legis-
latiye sessions of only sixty days dura-
tion and all their needs in the way of
legislation are fully provided. 1t is
fair proposition, too. that the muni-
cipalties would be better taken care
of by themselves than they are 10y the
legislature for the sufficient reason
that not Il legislator save those from
the particular district affected by the
local legislation under consideration at
any specified time, gives the subjective
slightest consideration. The word of
the local representative is taken for
whatever the bill may be and the
measure goes through with a rush. In
any event, it would seem as if the peo-
nj Of ii Of
township or city in that county, know
far better what they desire and are far
more capable to legslate in their own
interests than legislators who reside
hundreds OF miles distant i'm the south
ern part of the state and have never
set foot I'm that county.
The change Will never come about
probably until we have 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 to
be antiquated and inadequate for pres
ent needs.
Question of Good Roads.
The question of good roads is alto
gether likely TO be extensively agitatel
in Michigan hereafter, and it is eN-
pected that rapid advances in the line
of road making will be made through
out the state. The people, having
amended the constitution SO rs to per-
Of Il i,sit of ST a N
construction Cf roads, the bill creating
state roads department has been
passed by both houses ana signed by
the governor, who has appointed eN-
State Senator Horatio :. Earle of De
trot state highway commissioner. Mr.
Earle is easily one Of the most enthu-
si1stic 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 no
section of the state TO which the adj
vantages of good roads will not be
brought home in manner calculated
to bring results.
1t is proposed to construct a model
road between the city of Lansing and
the Michigan agricultural college. 1t
is figured that more people from differ
ent sections of the state travel over
this three and a 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 a portion of the expense
of this work. and the remainder will
come from property owners along the
highway. Michigan will be represent
cd at the forthcoming session of the
National Good Roads Congress- to be
held at Portland. ore. the governor
having named X. -. Chaplin and ID. V.
Huss Of Detroit and \. c. Bird of Ian
sing as delegates to that body.
No Exhibit at jamestown.
Present indications are that Mich
igan viii not have an exhibit at the
jamestown exposition. the house hav-
inc smothered the senate bill which
appropriated $4,000 for that purpose.
NllCdhiA4 Oi UIpIOp4 Ia lltl-N NN-StSlS
the thought that the omnibus appro-
priation bill, which provides for the
general expenses of the state govern
ment, will carry Il total of S1,J00,OOO.
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 coIsid-
cred. The sum named is $4,000 less
than the amount estimated to be nee
essary 10y Auditor General Brady. 1t
is 5000, 1000 more than was appropriate
ed for this purpose two years ago. 1t
cannot yet be stated how much this
years aggregate appropriations will
exceed those OF 1903 One Of the larg-
est institution appropriations is that
for the soldiers home, which. as fin
ally agreed upon. gives that institution
SOD, 800 for 1905 and $4,000 for 1906.
OF the sum appropriated for this year,
- -nn a IA.