The true northerner., 1905-01-27
NEWS PLEASING
To TAX PAYERS
Officers of Legislature Ad-
herring to Program
of Economy.
LEGISLATIVE JUNKET CUT OUT
More important Economies in
Connection with Biennial
Appropriations.
Reforms in Connection with the Tx
penditures ol State Boards
Taxation OF Credits Bill
OF Interest TO Farmers.

Lansing, Mich, Jan. 24.-The tax
payers of the state will doubtless be
pleased to learn that Governor Warner
and the presiding officers Of the senate
and house of representatives are ten.
= aciOusly adhering to the program of
economy laid down by them at the
commencement Of the legislative ses-
sion. a number of legislative EN-
ployes have been done away with and
the expensive legislative junket re-
tired TO the rear. More important
economies in connection with the bien-
NAL appropriations are promised, and
the record thus far made warrants the
prediction that they will be realized.
Governor Warner has saved the state
a pretty penny by announcing that
all expenses incident to the participa-
tiOn of himself and staff i'm the presi-
dental inaugural ceremonies to be held
in Washington i'm March will be borne
by the individual members Of his par
ty and paid from their private purses.
upon the state which has paid the
expenses of this trip in former years.
1t is proposed by the governor and
legislative leaders TO institute reforms
in connection with The expenditures of
state boards which. under existing
statutes, are given a continuing ap
preparation which they handle without
restriction or accounting TO any other
state authority. 1t is not charged
that any Of these funds have been inn
properly expended, but the system at
present i'm vogue is not believed 90 lie
businessli5e. and il is expected that
expenditures will he scanned more
closely il they are Obliged TO pass in
review before a disinterested state
board This. it is learned, is the sole
raOtive, so far as the legislators are
concerned for the movement to amend
the laws governing the operations Of
the state board of health. Those who
favor this legislation believe that the
proposed change VIII result in the ac-
cOmplishmont Of needed reforms and
place the board on a better business
basis without i'm the least impairing its
usefulness. Senator Doherty. who has
charge Of the bill, is very active i'm the
efforts that are being made to reduce
state expenditures as much MS pos
sible without crippling any interest
He says that he Interior purpose CT
motive will be permitted to have any
bearing on the treatment of this meas
ure.
Visit 10 State Institutions.
While it has been decided by the
leaders to adjourn the legislature this
week Friday for ten days to permit
the several committees to visit the
state institutions of which they have
charge. there will be no special train
junket that has characterized these
visits in years gone by. This year the
members OF the several committees
VIII start from their homes and 60 di-
rect to the institutions over which the
committee of which they are members
have supervision. There will he no
feasting by the way, no receptions and
no hangers on. The committees will
visit their respective institutions only
and will travel on regular trains.
1t is expected that during the pres
ent week the severel bills which will
have the backing Of the grange were
here last week putting the finishing
touches on these bills preparatory to
their Introduction. When introduced
the legislative committee Of the grange
will spent considerable time in Ian
sing looking after them. Doubtless
the most important Of these bills is
the one providing n general primary
law for the entire state and covering
all offices. The grange also asks for
the creation Of a uniform text book
commission to provide the schools of
the state with uniform text books
either by purchase by having them
printed at state expense the books to
be furnished pupils at cost. Other
measures which are included in the
list provide for the registration of au-
tomobiles and the regulation OF the
speed Of these machines on the high
ways. prohibiting the practice Of rail.
road companies i'm side tracking freight
cars for days at time after such cars
are loaded by shippers requiring that
all packages containing commercial
stock foods be labeled so as to show
the chemical analysis Of the contents,
requiring tests to he made of fence
wire sold i'm the state so as to insure
against rusting. protecting for five
years quail which are considered OF
great value as insect destroyers. The
grange will confine its activity to these
bills, having learned by experience
that nothing whatever is accomplished
when it scatters its shot over the b..
tire field Of legislation.
Taxation of Credits.
The important question Of the tax
alton Of credits is likely to come In for
considerable attention this year as in
years past. The first bill on this sub