The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1911-04-26
The LEGISLATURE.

| The record or the Michigan leglsla
ture is practically finished. Their,
may be an extra session if occasion
larises to congressionally redistrict tn,
Estate or If the commission of taxation
experts completes report warrant
ing immediate legislative development
But the mainland perhaps the only
session is practically at an end and
the people of Michigan are entitled "a
pass their judgment.
Taking a birdseye view of what has
been accomplished, we should say that
the legislature has risen above the
handicap Of the personal and political
chickering's with which il has been be-
set and that il has put many excellent
measures on the statute books.
We should say that while it has
failed to pass number of reform
measures with which the state has
very generally sympathized it has,
nevertheless, laid a general founda-
tion for the sure passage of these
measures at a later date. And let us
remember that after all there may be
some virtue in making haste slowly
and with conservatism. on the other
hand, let us also remember that the
very failure of the legislature during
it's present session TO put certain re-
forms upon the books, will but accen-
tuate the desirabiity of the reforms in
the next campaign and the legislature
which is to follow.
We should say that cold blooded an
alysis of the 353 measures that have
been passed must impress the honest
critic with the conclusion that great
deal of serious and valuable work has
been done-much more than the av-
erage citizen has imagined from the
rumbling and the echoes of the strife
between clans and classes and between
partisans and persons which have come
out from Lansing with almost every
evening breeze.
There have been many other splen-
didly conspicuous workers among the
1872 men who since January LIST have
passed upon the 1866 measures that
were introduced. on the other hand,
there are some members of this legis-
lature who are entitled To a free ticket
on the first ferry headed up Salt Creek |
In due time they will be known and
named. In due time the responsibility
for their continuance in public life will
be up very clearly to their too guilt
bic constituents.
A number Of really notable triumphs
stand to the credit of this years law
makers. All will commend the legis-
lation which provides for the commits |
sion Of inquiry to investigate the eff
cheney of and TO report a uniform sys-
tenn Of improvements in the present |
methods Of taxation throughout the |
state. All will commend the legisla-
ton which galvanized into being the |
commission TO investigate the question |
OF workingmen's compensation laws |
and TO report comprehensively upon /
Legislation providing basic rate and |
an increased railroad commission pow |
er for the regulation Of express COM
panies is directly i'm step with public !
sentiment and the publc's rights. The !
reorganization and simplifcation of
the state military department sets up
Michigan as a model i'm it's military |
organization among all the states in |
the Union. The legislation excluding I
school districts from participating in |
the apportionment OF primary school |
money If they have sufficient funds on
hand to pay teachers wages for a per-
iod OF two years, is sane, constructive |
law making.
The legislature itself has been praise
vorthily economical in its appropria- |
lions and the Governor has joined in |
the movement for financial conservation |
with veto which hits every special |
appropriation to come from this years !
tax levy which is not an absolute ne
cessity. Here is a situation which will
appeal To every voter in the common
wealth.
II is true that a number of really |
important measures fell by the way
side. 1t is true that many of these
were unquestionably entitled TO pass.
But the world was not made in a day.
Upon these matters OF fundamental
importance which still remain for leg
islative settlement, the members of
the present house and senate have
made their individual scoring and each
will stand or fall on the retord thus
riade.-Grand Rapids Herald.