The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1907-01-04

penologists and prison men of this
country, the general tendency being
toward an enlargement in scope.
Dairy Interests.
The work of the dairy and food de-
partment has been greatly extended
during the past two years. Conform
ing TO the suggestions made in my first
inaugural message. the legislature
made provision for the new lines or
work. Chief among the extended
powers granted TO the department, In
addition TO the increased appropria-
tons for its laboratory. were the SUI
pcrvision of and the giving of police
power over the condition under which
food and drink products are produced,
the control OF dairy sanitary conditions
from the farm where the milk is pro-
duced to the time of delivery TO the
consumer in the form of either milk,
cream, butter or cheese, the control or
the sanitary conditions Of bakeries,
confectioneries and ice cream plants,
and the making it possible to appoint a
sufficient number of inspectors to en-
force the several provisions Of the
law.
l have always contended that our
farmers ought to give much attention
to dairying. 1t is an industry that is
reliable, profitable, and it provides a
reasonably uniform and continuous
cash income. all of which tends TO
make the dairyman independent and
thrifty. In my first message To the
vision and inspection of this industry
by the dairy and food department.. and
/ am gratified to state that this work,
under the dairy law passed by the last
legislature, has resulted in much good.
The success of the department in
dealing with the new questions en-
trusted to its supervision leads me TO
recommend a further extension of its
duties to include the control Of the
ingredients entering into all articles Of
food. including confectionery, not al
ready under the jurisdiction Of said
department.
During the past year, congress has
passed what is known as the national
pure food law and meat inspection
law. The application of the new regu-
lationS of the national food law will
apply so far as the United States aur
th0rities are concerned. only to food
products passing the borders Of the
state. In so far rs it is practicable,
without surrenderinG any Of the adj
vantageS of the Michigan law over
that Of the national law, | recommend
that the requirements of the Michigan
law be made to conform with those OF
the national law.
Good Roads.
The adoption in April. 1908, by a
decisive vote of the electors Of the
state, Of a constitutional amendment
permitting the state to aid in the inn
provements Of public wagon roads,
was Immediately followed by the en-
actment Of a law creating a state high
way department and making an ap-
preparation of $4,000 TO be expended
during the years 1905 and 1906 i'm pay
mcnts to townships and counties as re-
wards to encourage the building Of
good roads. The law further appro-
priated $4,000 for each Of the years
mentioned for salaries and expenses Of
the highway department and provided
that license fees paid by automobile
owners and drivers. less the cost of
collecting the same, should be credited
to the highway aid fund. This latter
revenue has amounted to SS.156.9S,
making the aggregate amounts re-
ceived by the department, since its
creation two years ago sos, 1865.
The state highway commissioner and
his assistants entered upon their tasks
enthusiastically, vigorously and intel
ligently and have prosecuted the work
i'll a commendabe manner.
The work Of improving the high
ways of the state is of vast Importance
and very satisfactory results have thus
far been obtained. One of the roads
constructed with state aid lies within
sight of this building and can be
readily inspected 10y all Of you.
1t is an unpleasant. though well es-
tablished fact, think, that some
state contiguous to Michigan can just
~ boast the possession Of roads far
superior to those of this state. Michi-
gan has been tagging in this enter
prise The need of active work in the
direction Of improving our highways
is imperative. Good roads are Of great
value to all classes of our people, and
an economically and intelligently con-
Quoted system of road building will
prove to be a paying investment. The
detailed report Of the state highway
commissioner is commended to your
careful consideration
Supervision of Private Banks.
That there is a very general demand
for the enactment Of law placing
private banks under state supervision
cannot be denied. Two years ago
when bill, making such provision,
was passed by the house Of representa-
tives and defeated in the senate by
narrow margin. apparently the only OPP
ponents of tie measure were persons
who were either directly or indirectly
interested in private banks.
I am frank to say that. in my judg-
ment, the fact that these interested
persons are so strongly opposed to
state supervision is a most potent ar