The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1905-01-20

management as should promote their
best efficiency.
In many ways it is, happily apparent
that the state government starts off
under hopeful conditions of harmony,
harmony between the executive and the
legislature, between the two branches
of the legislature, between all the de-
partments of the government, and be-
tween the people and their government.
This last condition is one of peculiar
sensitiveness, and may be easily cement
ed or alienated. Conversation with
officers and legislators cannot fail to re-
veal a sincere desire to cement it, by
deserving it. If there is anywhere a
lurking purpose to cheat the popular
expectation.for some wholesome legisla-
ton along the line Of primary reform,
as some predetermined critics insist up
on believing, it is not apparent. and it
would surely be too weak to be at AL
effective.
Primary reform has wide diversity
of meaning, as the term has been
used in 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
prominently into view, and become the
subject Of wider discussion, than per-
haps any other question in our politics
has ever done in the same time. Nearly
every state has legislated or is in process
Of legislating upon it; and we may feel
assured, that our own state will not be
behind her sisters in any advance in
that direction that gives safe promise of
lettering conditions. In Illinois q
measure is agreed upon that will un-
doubtedly pass, for compulsory primary
elections throughout the state; but it
only provides for election of delegates
to nominating conventions, and not for
nomination of any officers, quite short
of what republican pledges in Michigan
have promised.
The more important appointments
that Gov. Warner has thus far announc-
ed have been made, as the governor has
specifically stated, IN recognition of
past services well performed in the case
of reappointments, and in the case of
new appointments through expectation
that the men selected are especially
capable of giving excellent service to
the state in the line of official duty for
which they haye been named. Mr..
Barry for insurance commissioner, Mr..
Atwood for railroad commissioner, and
Gen. Kidd for quartermaster general,
are reappointments made by reason of
that long-standing republican custom
of giving denominations when official
duties throughout the first term have
been we'll rendered. The appointment
of Mr. Mcleod as labor commissioner
of Mr.. Wildey as salt inspector, of Mr..
Bird as dairy and food commissioner,
as we'll as Gov. Warmers military and
various state board appointments, have
met with approving comments from all
who personally know the men selected
and have information touching the
duties they are to perform.
1t is fair and candid Judgment
that Gov Warner asks for his appoint
ees and his administration-tha his
work as chief executive and the work
of those for whom he is responsible
shall be judged by results obtained and
by whatever evidence shall appear of
sincere effort on their part to meet the
wishes and expectations of all the
people of Michigan. 1t is very reas-
enable request from Michigan's new
executive, and Gov. Warner can be as
sured that at least those who made up
the more than sixty thousand majority
he received at last falls election will be
quite willing to extend to his admins
tration a fair and generous judgment.
The legislature adjourned from Fri
day morning to Monday night, of last
week when the real work of the session
was entered upon. A few bills have al
ready been introduced. One. by Rep
resentative Waters of Washtenaw, is tc
deduct from assessed valuations the
amount of mortgage Indebtedness upon
the property. The subject of mortgage
taxation. has seemed to be difficult one
for Michigan to deal with; but the state
Of Illinois has had in successful and un
questioned operation for thirty years
laws under which taxes upon mortgage
values are collected, and collected but
once.
A bill by Representative Towner Of
Kent would abolish the state census, a:
an unnecessary expense, occurring only
foufyear after the national census
Probably census at the middle of the
decade would be worth its cost. Ter
years is long time to go on the old
figures. But ours is not at the middle
as that of New York and some other
states are 1t would be better worth It's
cost if it were at the middle.
The repeal of the fifty day limit fol
introduction of bills, by popular vote in
November. will operate to lessen the
food of bills introduced, and doubtless
proye n salutary change