The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1905-01-20

plain fact OF the matter IL tnat tht
Michigan state board OF health stands
in the very front rark Of similar in
stitutons throughout the world, and
DIR. Baker is recognized authority not
only in the United States, but in for.
eign countries, his writings and Opin.
ions being accepted by the leading
scientists of the day. This is not a
mere "happenstance, as 1t were
Regulations Of this nature are not ac'
CURED by chance. They are evidences
of ability and worth which the legis-
lators will do well to bear in mind in
considering the proposition to make a
change. ! have been a rather careful
observer of state affairs for mum
Der of years and I unhesitatingly ex-
press the opinion that the safe re
ceives larger return on the money
ii invests i'm the state board of health
than it does from any other invest
ment The records prove 1t.
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 i'm re-
serve cities. Commissioner Moore has
BEEN painstaking official and his rec.
ommendation will carry much weight
The growth of the state banks in Mich
igan has been remarkable. Since the
organization of the department six
teen years ago, loans have increased
S120,O0O,Oo0 nearly. and denositS ~
most $3.50, 000,0 900. The aggregate cap
ital of these banks i'm Michigan made
a net increase of 100000 during the
past year, twenty new banks having
been organized. Onfv ono hnnt he-
came insolvent and present indication
are that this institution will pay de
positors in full without assessing stock
holders. There are now 257 state and
eighty-eight natioral banks in Michi-
gan with a total of COB. 234 depositors
Tendency To Increase Boards.
The tendency To increase stat"
boards and commissions has not al
together died out. The butchers ami
to come to the frort with requests
for legislation providing for the ex-
animation and licensing of members
Of their callings. Pretty much all
classes Of breadwinners i'm Michigan
are obliged TO show their prowess be-
fore n state board or commission now,
and it may not be greatly out of the
way to make it unanimous. However.
there are those among the legislators
who incline to the opinion that the
matter has already been carried too
far. For this reason it will not be
surprising if the latest requests are not
granted. Some of the directors argue
that Michigan citizens ought to be per-
mitted to turn their eyes heavenward
or brush the festive misquito from
their noses without first arranging
with a state board for a license. au-
thOrizing them to indulge themselves
in these directions.
Farmer and the Autos.
The farmers in 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 treatme
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 automobilst shall be licensed by
the secretary OF state and the number
Of the license shall be conspicuously
displayed on the machine. The bill
limits the speed at which auto
mobiles may be driven on rural high
ways to fifteen miles per hour. on gen
eral city streets to ten miles and on
the business streets Of cities and vii
lagos to six miles. This bill also pro-
vides that each chauffeur must pro-
less than two inches i'm diameter and
must bring his machine TO a full stop
when approaching a horse or team on
the highway. The fee for machine
and drivers licenses is So each. and
the bill provides heavy penalties for
violation of its provisions.
Regulation of Freight Rates.
There are indications that the pres
emf legislature may take important ac-
tom looking to the regulation Of freight
rates. This matter was up two years
ago when the house passed the Hardy
bill, which was designed to cure the
evils complained Of by shippers i'm all
sections of the state. but the measure
died in the senate. At the recent an
nual meetings of the 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
to 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.
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