The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1908-06-26

the lieutenant governor for the residue
or the term or until the disability
ceases. When the governor shall be out
OF the state AT the head OF "a
military force thereof. he shall con-
tinue commander-ln-chef OF all the
military force OF the state.
This section eliminates the words "in time
OF war from Sec. IL, Art. OF the present
constitution.
Sec. II. During n vacancy i'm the of.
fice OF governor, VI the lieutenant gov
ernor die. resign. or be impeached. dis
placed. be incapable OF performing the
duties OF his ONCE. or absent from the
state. the SECRETARY OF STATE
shall act as governor until the vacancy
be filled or the disability cease.
No change Is made from Sec. l3. Art. v Of
tie present constitution except to substitute
The secretary OF state for the president pro
tempore or the senate. The obvious purpose
Is TO make the secretary OF state. who is
elected at large, acting governor. instead Of
the president pro tempore OF the senate. who
Is elected from a single senatorial district
further reason for this substitution is to
avoid depriving the senate of one of its
members In the event OF such contingency.
Sec. Is. The lieutenant governor or
SECRETARY OF STATE, while per-
forming the duties of governor shall
receive the same compensation as the
governor.
No change Is made from Sec. H. Art. v
OF the present constitution except to har-
monize II with the substitution of ''secre-
tary of state" by the revision of the preced-
ing section.
Sec. 10. The lieutenant governor shall
be president of the senate, but shall
have no vote.
This revision of Sec. IA. Art. v OF the
present constitution limits the duties of the
lieutenant governor to acting as president of
the senate. 1t was apparent to the conven-
ton that the presiding officer OF delibsTatiye
body who participates in its debates and con-
tentions upon the floor does so at the expense
of his authority and usefulness presid-
Ing officer His control over such a body is
thereby greatly impaired. The right to vote
In committee of the whole is taken away by
the revision, as such vote is without effect on
legislation, as the final vote in the senate
determines the passage of measure and
not the vote in committee of the whole. 1t
should be stated, however, that the privilege
OF voting by the lieutenant governor in COM
mittee of the whole has become practically
obsolete, as the right has not been exercised
Tor generation or more. By this section
the vesting of executive and legislative power
In one person is obviated, and this consd-
Grafton was potent factor with the conven-
ton in combining the lieutenant governor
strictly TO the duties Of presiding officer.
Sec. 20. The secretary of state, state
treasurer and commissioner Of the state
land office shall constitute a board of
state auditors. They shall examine and
adjust all claims against the state not
otherwise provided for by general law.
d
canvasserS 10 determine the result of
all elections for governor, lieutenant
governor, state officers and such other
officers as shall by law be referred to
them. They shall act as state board
of escheats and a board Of fund COM
missioners. They shall perform such
other duties as may be prescribed by
law. In case the office Of commissioner
OF the state land office IS abolished an
other state officer shah Se designated
by law as member - ire several
boards mentioned in this section.
This is revision Of Sec. OF Art VIII
OF the present constitution. BY adding to
the duties OF this board the requirement that
they shall act state board OF escheats
and fund commissioners the creation of
boards for such purpose is avoided it being
the judgment OF the convention that new
boards should be created only when the ne
cessities Of the public service demand it.
Sec. 81. The governor and attorney
general shall each receive an annual
salary OF five thousand dollars. The
secretary of state, state treasurer, COM
missioner Of the state land office and
auditor general shall each receive an
annual salary Of twenty-five hundred
dollars. They shall It ceive 10 fees or
perquisites whatever for the perform
ance of any duties connected with the
offices. II shall not be competent for
the legislature to increase the salaries
herein provided.
This section supersedes all provision in
the present constitution relating to the sal
aries OF the officers named (See Sec. l. Art
IXD 1t is generally conceded that the pres
ent salaries Of the above named officers are
grossly inadequate. After mature delibera-
ton the convention felt that IL was called
upon by the inherent Importance of the sub
Ject as well as what was deemed TO be ex-
listing public opinion. TO definitely fix the
salaries of hese officials.
The moderate amount of twenty fve hun
drEh AA1la 4. 4 .
state, state treasurer, commissioner Of tie
state land Office and auditor general will Ger
tainly meet the appreciation of the most con
servatve in view OF the provisiCn In See |
of this article that each of the officers named
is required to superintend such Office in per
son.
The salary OF the governor and that OF the
attorney general is fixed at five thousand
dollars. There was a strong sentiment for
a further Increase In the salary Of the GOV
ernCr i'm view of the fact that his entire time
is devoted 10 the duties Of the office and
under this revision additional responsible
tiles are placed upon him, requiring Of him
even a closer application TO official duties
than heretofore. The amount designated as
the salary OF the governor is deemed to be
For many years the salary Of the attorney
general has been eight hundred dollars Ii
has been necessary for the attorney general
to engage I'm private practice in order 20 sup
port himself During recent years the state
has been called Upon 20 eXpCad large suns
of money in the retention or private counsel
to assist in the conduct of important state
The growing Importance Of the
duties Of this office requires the selection Of
an experienced and competent lawyer 10
meet its responsibilities. man of such
training and standing is called upon to fore
go a private business Of a value, at least,
equal 20 the salary named. The justice OF
the situation affecting this official appealed
strongly TO the convention well as the
business consideration that the attorney gen
eral being required by Sec. l OF this article
to superintend the duties Of this office in
person, will certainly render value received
for the compensation named.
There very strong sentiment in the
invention to turn over to the Legislature
the matter of fixing all salaries for state
officers. And this position is sustained by
strong reasons. In order, however, that the
people might know precisely what the adop-
ton OF the revised constitution will mean in
the manner of salaries for these officials
the convention concluded to take the definite
action contained in the foregoing section.
ARTICLE VII