Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1905-02-23
STATE STATISTICS
Continued

graves In the two years, nineteen
hundred and twenty of which were In
July, August and September.
Other diseases that ran high in tie
fatality list are typhoid fever, twelve
hundred and twenty-seven deaths in
two years, Influenza, twelve hundred
aud seven, diphtheria, nine hundred
and eighty two. Compared with
these aud the foregoing figures it is
instructive to notice the returns
from smallpox, the malady that un
dou btedly inspires more popular ter
ror than any other, and the appear
ance of which In any town precipi-
tates almost state of panic, where
people 20 about with lurking fear
that the germ goblin is waiting for
them at every corner. But what is
the record of the rayages of that par
ricular goblin? Why, one hundred
and twenty-four deaths from small
pox in the whole state in the last four
years; tfty-six in the last two years,
out of sixty-six thousand eight humid
red and twenty-five deaths from all
causes; and tweuty-seven last year
out of total of thirty-four thousand
and fifteen deaths.
The house in It's brief session We'd
nesday evening passed resolution
submitting an amendent to the con-
stitution which would permit the
state to appropriate money for i'm
provement of public roads, which
was expected to pass the senate and
be presented to the voters of the
state at the April election. This
would be in line with the governors
earnest recommendation of the sub.
ject of good roads, aud there could be
little doubt of its ratification at the
polls.
Senator Sheldon, of the Muske'
yon Ottawa district. has introduced
An anti-cigarette bill which would
prohibit the manufacture, importa
ion, sale or gift of cigarettes in any
orm, and it was appropriately, Civ
en- to the committee on public health
The anti trading stamp bill is sup
ported by the Lansing grocers' also
citation, who have passed resolutions
asking for its enactment into law.
Governor Warner, upon the con
clusion of the judicial inquiry in the
case of sheriff-elect John T. Hoffman
of Detroit, last Thursday, signed the
order formally ousting that gifted
CRATER from the Office TO which hi
had been elected, and Hoffman is nov
lust common prisoner in the county
iail, or out of II on bail, awaiting
trial for robbing the state upon per
jured proofs In coroner's cases. The
governor also signed the Wayn,
county primary election act, for use
In the approaching nominations, and
II Is hoped the new law will not favor
the success of men like Hoffman, wht
secured his nomination under the
primary election law of two year:
ago.
Senator Linsley, of Three Rivers
has bill to secure greater publicit!
concerning proposed amendments Il
the constitution, which is recogni
ton of need tn at has been realized
by every man who has voted at many
elections in this state. 1t Is fire
Iquent occurrence that large pro
portion of the voters come to the
polls to be confronted with PROPOSE
tions to vote upon proposed amend
nents TO the constitution of the state
upon which all of our laws must rest
without knowledge even of the pro
visions proposed; and it is In the ex
perience of almost every one tha
sometimes there IS no person who car
give the desired information. Mer
must vote blindly upon questions fai
more important than the selection o
any officer, or, what they very otter
do, shirk the duty and not vote al
all. Senator Linsley's bill is aimed
to meet an urgent need.
There are number of primary re
form bills of general application al
ready on the legislative calendars
and more coming. Senator Brown
of Lapeer, Is preparing one with
great care, which he expects to in
troduce this week; and Representa-.
tive Van Keuren, of Livingston, ha,
one providing for direct nomination
of state officers, and election of dele
gates TO state convention to nomin
ate in cases where no candidate has
a majority, which Is likely TO be the
more common result.