The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1911-01-06

Inauguration OF the merit system IN
Michigan has been delayed too long,
Under this system there will be
grading of the salaries of state EN-.
ployes. The advantages of civil
service system that will continue to be
perfected as time indicates needful
attention cannot be successfully dis
puted.
Four-Year Term For Governor.
Permit me to suggest an amendment
to the constitution providing for one
term Of four years for the governor.
| The extension of this idea to make 1t
| apply to all state officers is worthy OF
| your consideration. The adoption OF a
direct recall law should be considered
In connection with any proposed
frightening of the term Of Office.
| Michigan National Guard.
No state in the Union, in it's rank
and file, has a better or Drawer nation
al guard than Michigan In my opin-
ion, the guard is top-heavy with gold
lace and brigadier generals, furnish
ing a source of ridicule and tending to
develop a lack of deserved public re-
spect and confidence. The state has
one brigade and four brigadier gen.
erals.
l wish to suggest the passage of a
general military law recognizing the
guard and placing it, as far as pos
sible, upon the basis Of the regular
army Of the United States, or even
making the guard more simple and
effective.
AS governor, shall appoint no per-
sonal staff. If occasion requires,
shall designate from the line the nec-
essary officers to pei form service for
the time being.
/ earnestly recommend that the sug.
gested law will abolish the positions
of adjutant general quartermaster
general and inspector general, all OF
which carry the title OF brigadier gen.
eral. Their duties can be better per-
formed and departments conducted by
the one necessary brigadier general
and his star. The state military arm
is necessary and important. Ii is ex-
pensive and should be organized and
conducted with sole reference to ef-
fciency. There are many places where
useless frills and positions should be
removed, both in the interest of eff
cheney and economy. A thorough prac.
should be done.
Executive Home.
The attention of many past legisla.
lures has been called to the need of
governors home in Lansing. The
length of the governors term of Office
does not warrant personal establish
ment at the capital The chief execu-
tive should be required to reside at
Lansing, and it would be fair and
proper to provide home for him, as
is done by many other states. The
reasons for this suggestion are Oh.
vious.
Would Abolish Some Offices.
The usefulness and warrant for the
commissioner of mineral statistics of.
flee have been a matter of doubt in
the public mind for long time. y
there ever was reason for the eX.
istence Of the Office it has disappeared
] recommend the adjustment of this
office.
recommend that the Office of salt
Inspector be abolished. Any necessary
salt inspection can be assigned to the
dairy and food department
l recommend that the department. OF
oil inspection be abolished Food, salt
and oil inspection can easily be done
by the same man.
Game, Fish and Forestry Warden.
The game, fish and forestry war
denis department comprehends an i'm
portant work. The Republican plat
form endorses a game commission. /
would advise the establishment of a
non-partisan commission that would
take over all of the activities of game
protection, fire protection, forest con
servation and all of the work entailcd
by such a general and complete policy
Of conservation as the people seem
eager to undertake. Here can be IF
fected intelligent and practical concen
tration, insuring greater efficiency al
lessened cost for the work done II
would involve the adjustment of the
game, fish and forestry department a
at present constituted.
Good Roads.
Michigan has already made good
start in road legislation. II would seem
wise to inaugurate a policy that would
in the end result in the connection OF
every county seat in Michigan with 8
well-built. permanent state road. Coco
) roads inure to the benefit OF the entire
| Stdtt. mere are iV.UOU miles Vi pun
lie highway in Michigan. The proper
lion of state aid which may be giver
will always be q question until the
state assumes entirely tie work oil
) road building, which. in my opinion
would. in the end. bring about the best
results and be most satisfactory.
Multiplication of Useless Boards.
Michigan seems to have a weakness
for state boards. All board member:
draw something from the state. ana
unnecessary boards are cumbrous ant
entangling. There are eight boards
whose titles, at least. relate to the
public health. Most Of them could be
wisely incorporated In the state board
Of health.
The board of mediation and a"bitra
ton is useless board, and should be
abolished.
The state livestock sanitary com
mission and the state veterinary board
should be consolidated The board tC
regulate the practice Of horseshoeine
should be abolished and its work (,
u has any, should be done by the
'eterinarv board.
The board OF examiners Of barNer.
should be abolished ard its work done
Nv the board Of health.
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