Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1911-01-12

nical errors or defects or exception.
! which do not affect the substantial
| rights Of the parties.
Civil Service.
recommend the pass age of law
that will establish state civil civil
service system The civil service laws
| of the United States are good model
..Is.u, s.Tas7on "a the merit sys1o... -.
Michigan has been delayed too long,
! . Under this system there will be a
grading of the salaries Of state en-
! ployes. The advantages OF a civil
service system that will continue to be
perfected as time indicates needful
attention cannot be successfully dis
puted.
FourYear 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 il
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
lengthening of the term of office.
Michigan National Guard.
No state in the Union, in its rank
and file, has better or drawer nation
al guard than Michigan. In my op!n-
ion, the guard is top-heavy with gold
lace and brigadier generals, furnish
inc 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 gem
erals
| wish to suggest the passage of -
general military law re-organizing the
guard and placing il, as far as pc e.
sible, upon the basis of the regula'
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 nee
essary officers to perform service for
the time being
/ earnestly recommend that the sue
gested law will abolish the positions
of adjutant general, quartermaste"
general and inspector general. all o.
which carry the title Of brigadier gen
eral Their duties can be better PEI.
formed and departments conducted rY
the one necessary brigadier general
and his staff. The state military arm
Is necessary and important. II is eN.
pensive and should be organized and
conducted with sole reference 10 OF
fciency. There are many places where
useless frills and positions should Ne
removed both in the interest of el.
cheney and economy. A thorough prar.
tical scaling down is needed and
should be done
Executive Home.
The attention of many past legisla-
lures has been called 10 the need OF
a governors home in Lansing. The
length Of the governors term of Office
does not warrant a personal establish
ment at the capital. The chief eXecu-
tive should be required to reside at
Lansing, and ii would be fair and
proper to provide a 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
commission Il of mineral statistics Of
flee have been a matter Of doubt in
the public mind for a long time. II
there ever was reason for the eX
istence of the Office il 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.
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
den's department comprehends an inn
portant work The Republican plat
form endorses a game commission
would advise the establishment Of q
non-partisan commission that would
take over all of the activities of game
protection, fire protection, forest con.
servation and all OF the work entailed
by such a general and complete policy
OF conservation as the people seem
eager to undertake Here can be eff
fected intelligent and practical concen.
tration, fnsuring greater efficiency al
a lessened cost for the work done 1t
would involve the adjustment OF the
game, fish and forestry department as
at present constituted.
Good Roads.
Michigan has already made a good
start in road legislation. 1t would seem
wise to fnauguratei a policy that would
In the end result In the connection of
every county seat in Michigan with
well-built, permanent state road. Good
roads inure to the benefit OF the entire
state. There are 10000 miles of pub
lie highway in Michigan. The proper
ton Of state aid which may be given
will always be a question until the
state assumes entirely the work of
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 members
draw something from the state, and