The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1909-05-28

the people are themselves directly re-
sponsible. The rate of state taxation
in 1907 was $2.S1 per $1,000 of as
sessed valuation. This year II will be
$685.. In 1908 the rate was $2.41,
while in 1910 it will be $3.50. The in
crease, therefore, per $1,000 assessed
valuation this year will be only 81
cents over the corresponding year of
1907, while next year the increase will
be but Is cents over the correspond
ing year 1908. / desire to ex-
press the opinion that the people Of
Michigan will find that the state has
grown to such proportions that its
needs and necessary and proper activ-
tiles along educational lines and in
respect TO the conduct of its various
governmental branches and the main
tenance of its penal, reformatory and
charitable institutions in harmony
with sound business principles and
with its dignity and Importance will
call for an annual expenditure of S.
100000. This is conclusion from
which, in my judgment, there is no
escape"
A measure OF great interest to all
of the municipalities of the state is
that which, in obedience to the man
date of the new constitution, provides
for home rule. This is an entirely
new departure in Michigan. 1t is one
which meets the desires of the people,
and the working out of the plan will
be watched with interest. The main
features of the bill are the fixing Of
the bonding limit at per cent of the
assessed valuation not including spe-
cial assessments and sinking funds.
The amount that may be used for the
requirement of public utilities Is linn
tied to per cent of the assessed val
uatiOn. If bonds in excess of A per
cent are issued for this purpose they
shall be lien as to the excess only
on the property acquired. In order to
amend a city charter there must first
be two-thirds vote of the council or
an initiative petition signed by 25 per
cent of the qualified electors who
voted for mayor at the last preceding
election, and the proposition must
thereafter be approved by a majority
of the electors. Proposition to make
general revision of the charter must
first be submitted to the electors by
the council or in response to petition.
If general revision Is so voted the
work must be done by charter pro-
vision composed Of representative
from each ward and three from the
non-partisan ticket. Public utilities
may be acquired only by the affirma-
tive vote of three-fifths of the electors.
The right to separate city from gen.
eral elections is granted as is power
to fix the salaries duties and terms
of service of all officials, it being pro.
vided that salaries cannot be either in
creased or reduced during the term for
which the incumbent was elected. 1t
is provided that the surface of a street
as well as the space above and be-
meath shall always be within the con-
troll of the city. Ample authority to
preserve the public health and the
safety of persons and property is con-
ferred, the power in this connection
being circumscribed only by the con-
stitution and general laws of the state.
The supreme court will doubtless be
called upon to pass upon the legality
of one or two of the bills which passed
almost at the last moment and after
it was generally supposed that they
had been laid away to sleep the sleep
that knows no waking. These were
the bills appropriating $4,000 in aid
of the state fair and $4,000 in aid of
the West Michigan Fair association.
Attorney General Bird ruled against
these measures on the ground that
the appropriation was unconstitution-
al, but the friends of the measure
were willing to take their chances on
this point.
One act Of the present legislature
is already on its way to the courts for
adjudication. 1t seeks to guard the
public health by fixing standard Of
purity for ice cream and provides for
the payment Of an annual license fee
by all manufacturers Of this article.
Another bit Of last minute legisla-
ton which involved the resurrection
OF supposedly dead and gone bill
was that which provides board to
examine and register nurses. The new
law is not just what the nurses de-
sired, but is reasonably satisfactory to
them.
The game laws were not as gener-
ously amended this year as at many
previous sessions. The open season
for trout was fixed from May 1 to
Sept 1, this being return to the pro-
visions of the old law.
A number of measures which many
legislators looked upon with favor
failed to nose out during the final
rush and will probably be up for fur
Their consideration two years hence,
the 'anti-lobby bill probably being the
most important in this list
The attempt to amend the law which
requires the justices of the supreme
court to reside in Lansing also failed.
It was desired to repeal the law in its
entirety, but sentiment was against
this plan, so it was changed to re-
quire five Of the eight justices to be
in Lansing at all times. In this form