The Detroit times., 1911-01-05


tnral societies. the popular instruction
along simple, practical lines by CORES
ponde nee ana travelling schools ana IN
stitut"s and other means OF all the
farmers In the state. the enforcement
Of noNious weed and snraying laws the
diffusion OF agricultural knowledge
among all classes Of farmers. the study
OF the special soil and climate adapta-
bility OF different and differing see
lions OF the state. and all other WORK
that would tend To interest. improve,
protect and develop those who follow
the pprsuit of~agriculture.
The Primary Election Law.
I recommend further consideration OF
the primary election law with "A view
Ia It's perfection. The present law rs
good, but not perfect. IL should Ice sup
plemcntcd 10y an adequate corrupt prac-
tice act The amount OF money a can-
didate may eNpend should be desis-
mated.
/ have In mind in this connection the
provisions OF the Oregon primary law,
To which ann pleased TO call your at
tention The time OF holding the prl-
mary election should Ice set with ref
crcnce 10 the peoples convenience and
accommOda ton
The present law is too vague as 10
what "a candidate may and may not do
and seems TO lend itself To several
reasonable interpretations, making for
confusion and impotency.
I inform Accounting Laws
Uniform accounting laws and laws
FOR the state Inspection OF the accounts
Of counties. cities. towns ard villages
should he perfected state and local
one hundred million dollars annually,
or quite $40 per capita. Comprehensive
laws looking 10 the perfection of s. I'M
pie uniform systems and perfect
economy as cficiecN Will permit should
nave careful consideration ~ your
hands.
state Purchasing Bureau.
AT present the state money seems TO
be expended by too many persons.
Large private corporations watch
closely the expenditure OF money. From
them the state can learn something.
There could be created in some of the
existent state departments "A suicide
partmcnt whose work should be the
purchase OF at least staple supplies for
all OF the institutions OF the state. In
any event changes for the better can
be made In the methods now III vogue.
state Fire NnrshaI.
I beSpeak your consideration OF a law
creating state fire marshal To be UNI
der the direction and a part OF the de-
partment OF the state inSuranccGeom-
missioner. In other states the active
ferreting out and punishment Of those
guilty OF arson has reduced the IRE
loss. fire risk. and fire insurance rates.
masking Tor great saving Of money
and lessening of tirc crimes
Separation at Grades.
CONSISTENT ana persistent pohcY or
electric railroads. and street crossings.
II inaugurated under wise laws, would
result III great SAVING OF life and
pursued. would not innict Impossible
hardship upon either the railroad COM
panies or the public In my opinion.
legislation In this direction shols!d-iake
more definite and compulsory form
other states and counties appreciate
their public duty in this direction.
Michigan should not be recreant
Stronger Railroad Cars.
Great good could be accompli shed by
a reasonable law defining the nature
and strength Of railroad carriages. AS
fast as himsy rolling stock now in use
Is worn out and condemned il should
he replaced by steel carriages COM
plying with safe standard fixed by
the state. on freight trains the dan
gerous little "dinky' four wheeled ca
booses, outlawed in ncighboring states,
are stili In use in Michigan, dumped
into this state from divisions where
sanitary laws condemn their use. They
should be outlawed.
One-Board system.
IL IL true that Tor a snort period
Michigan tried a one board system FOR
passed by a Democratic legislature ana
hastily repealed by a Republican legis-
lature before its adequacy had been
given anything like a fair trial. sug-
Eest your consideration of laws that
VIII place all of the prisons under one
board and, in fact. all institutions suf-
nclent!y similar IN character under the
same board wherever possible The
board system at best. while IL has
worked as Well in ichiEan as else
where largely leaves the management
tCndcutS
Duplication OF Educational Work.
All OF our educational institutions
are in good condition. There. is how
ever. much duplication O-work ana
especially ny the university. the agri-
cultural college and the college OF
mines. Ideally. all of these institutions
should be- Incorporated into one. great
\ 81 u 4r.f
lhSs OF the boards controlling the uni
VeTSity. agricultural college and col
lege of mines ana the state Normal
schools should have your consideration.
such Joint meeting at least once "A
year ought TO result in better correla- =
ton ana collaboration and the eiimin-
alton OF much duplication. Excellent
hs II ~ as an institution | fear that the
Michigan Agricultural College is grad
ually becoming more OF technical
than an agricultural college and that
the agricultural department of the col
leSe Is already too much OF an incl
dent rather than the chief feature. This
Is not communicated to You in any
spirit Of adverse criticism. hut rather
with the hope that steps may be taker,
to preserve 10 this college higher agrr-
cultural training as its principal work.
making everything else incidental.
Convict Labor.
| desire to especially can YOUR at
tention TO tho profitable achievements
Of the Detroit House Of Correction as
an Illustration OF what may he done IN
the way of prison labor. The problem
Of convict employment is one most diff
ncult to solve. In several states con-
Wet labor on The public highways Is
employed 10 advantage. The Colorado
honor system seems 10 he especially
good. | hope convict Iabo& on roads
viii be given Il fun and fair trial in
Michigan. The contract system seems
To have been abused i'm Michigan. Con-
tractors have rcaped profits at the ex-
pense Of Michigan taxpayers. I hope
that out OF the especial study ur this
matter. directed by and arranged for by
the last legislature much good shall
come.
The states Finances.
No concealmcnt from the people
should be made OF the exact financial
condition of the state. BY rigorous
economy reasonable budget and care
tul ANALYSIS OF proposed appropriations
the state should bc again placed on an
even financial keel at once / shall in
sist that my appointive heads OF de-
partnents cut down expenses To bed
rock ana ! trust that all elective off,
GERS VIII Sympathize ana aid in the
same direction. We are confronted at
this moment with a large deficit. the
exact amount Of which | have not
learned. but PROBABLY amounting to at
least a million dollars.
There should De perfect harmony OF
action 10 correct the present dcplOrable
conditions.
Reservation at Mineral Rights.
There is still some state land that
values apart from their agricultural
ana timber value. In all sales by the
state hereafter there should be such
a reservation or right TO the people as
viii enablc them to partiv pate ia hid
den values IL ever discovered and de-
= a. 4 4 my mo l.