The Yale expositor., 1909-01-15


vertisements, literature or stationery
there be prefxed the word ."private"
and that such title be followed by the
words mot under state supervision"
conspicuously printed Either plan
would inform the public as to the
character of the concerns.
Conserve the Reserves.
81 desire to direct your attention
to the desirability of taking active
measures to lessen the fire waste OF
general property which Is steadily
increasing and which, during the past
five years, in this country, has aggre'
gated a billion and a quarter of dol
lars. Michigans contribution to this
enormous total was in excess of TWEEN
ty-six million dollars. An annual loss
by fire of two hundred and fifty mil
lion dollars is a most appalling rec
ord This means the permanent elimi-
nation of this vast value from the re-
sources of the country, for while the
property destroyed by fire, may, to
some extent, be replaced, it can never
be restored. 1t is gone forever"
Dairy Interests.
"The dairy interests OF Michigan
have been greatly extended and de-
veloped during the past few years;
the value of the products of this in
dustry for the past year having in
creased several millions of dollars
during this period. Not little of this
increase is directly traceable to the
intelligent activities of the depart
ment having to do with these inter
ests. This department has also been
active in guarding the health of the
people OF Michigan by constntly war
ring against the dissemination of i'm
pure food products and in protecting
the people from imposition through
the sale of adulterated products which
although not injurious to health are
not what they purport to be-"
Good Roads.
Since the establishment OF the State
Highway Department a total OF 326
miles Of road have been built under
the supervision of the state highway
commissioner. Twenty-six counties
are now under the county road sys-
tenn and in April next more than forty
additional counties will vote on the
adoption of the system. It is the opin-
ion of the commissioner that at least
thirty Of these forty counties will vote
favorably on the proposition.
THE total amount of rewards thus
far applied for is $40S ,643. Reflections
and cancellations have aggregated
$30,642. There have been paid $22S,-
215, leaving $l49, 7S6 still pending. The
legislative appropriations for the work
have aggregated 100000. of which
$4,000 was for the current expenses
Of the department.
1T will be observed that the appro-
priations thus far made will not be
sufficient to pay the rewards applied
for in aid of work that is reasonably
sure TO be completed.
THE increase in road building dur
ing the four wears that state reward
has been constitutionally and legally
made has been marked-twenty miles
of road having been constructed in
1885, forty miles in 1906. eighty niles
in 1907, and one hundred and sixty
miles in 1908. The commissioner is of
the opinion that a great deal more
will be built in 1910 than has been
constructed in any previous year.
Under the law as It now exists no
limitation is put upon the applications
for state reward that may be accept
ed, thus placing upon succeeding legis-
latures at least a moral obligation to
appropriate money 70 pay rewards at
taching to all work covered by accept
ed applications.
ut is my Judgment that the law
should be amended so as to limit the
excess applications that may be ac
cepted to the amount of the last an
npal legislative appropriation,
Michigan Railroad Commission.
"The State Railroad Commission
created by act of the last legislature
has made a most satisfactory record
and there is no doubt that the depart
ure from the one-man commission
which so long obtained in Michigan
and the enlargement OF the scope Of
the laws and the powers of the COM
! mission were wise and timely. While
the new law is not perfect and needs
some improvement its enactment was
decidedly a forward step.
"Inasmuch as there has been raised
a grave question as to the right of
the legislature, under the old consti-
tuition to delegate certain powers con-
| ferred upon the commission, II may
| be wise. in view of the right conferred
upon the legislature by the new con-
| stitution, for this legislature to re-
enact the law and thus place its con-
stitutionality beyond question.
"The law should be amended so as
| to give the commission Jurisdiction
over water transportation lines which
are operated wholly between Michi-
gan points"
AntI-Lobby Legislation.
1.-TWO years ago took occasion to
| say to the legislature which then con-
vened that The professional lobbyist
has no proper place In legislation and
| the sooner he is eliminated therefrom
| the better not only for the public but
| for the special interests by which he
| is employed
This sentiment was again expressed
| in special messages addressed to the
same body OF lawmakers. but without
| influencing It to abolish the evil which
is condemned by every right-minded
| citizen OF the state.
THE PROFESSIONALISM lobbyist who