Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1911-01-05

II is true thai for short period
Michigan tried a one board system for
similar institutions. The law was
passed by a Democratic legislature
and hastily repealed by q Republican
legislature before it's adequacy had been
given anything like fair trial | sug-
gest your consideration of laws that
will place all OF the prisons under
one board, all OF the insane asylums
under one board, and, in fact. all in
situations sufficiently similar In char
acter under the same board wherever
possible. The board system at best,
while 1t has worked as we'll in Mich
igan as elsewhere largely leaves the
management Of state institutions 10
their superintendent.
Duplication OF Educational Work.
All OF our educational institutions
are in good condition. There Is, how
ever much duplication Of work, and
especially by the university. the agri-
cultural college and the college Of
mines. Ideally, all OF these institu-
lions should be incorporated into one
great university. A law requiring joint
meetings of the boards controlling the
university, agricultural college and col
lege OF mines and the state normal
schools should have your considera-
ton. Such a joint meeting at least
once year ought to result in better
correlation and collaboration and the
elimination of much duplication. Elk.
cellent as it is as an institution, I fear
| that the Michigan Agricultural college
| is gradually becC ming more of tech
meal than an agricultural and that the
agricultural depa rtment OF the college
| is already too much of an incident
| rather than the chief feature. This
| is not communicated to you in any
| spirit of adverse criticism, but rather
with the hope that steps may be taken
| to preserve 10 this college higher agri-
cultural training as its principal work,
| making everything else incidental
| Convi;t Labor.
| I desire to es ecially call your at
| tention to the pi ofitable achievements
of the Detroit house Of correction as
an illustration of what may be done in
the way of prison labor. The problem
Of convict employment is one most
difficult to solve. In several states
convict labor on the public highways
is employed to advantage. The Colo
RADIO honor system seems to be espe-
/ Chilly SOOu. tolC CohNttt idDOi Oh
roads will be given full and fair
trial in Michigan. The contract sys-
TEN seems to have been abused in
Michigan Contractors have reaped
profits at the expense of Michigan
taxpayers. hope that out OF the
especial study of this matter, directed
by and arranged for by the last legis-
lature. much good shall come.
The sts ties Finances.
| No concenlmelt from the people
should be made of the exact financial
condition of the state. Bv rigorous
economy. a reasonable budget and
careful ANALYSIS of proposed appro-
priations, the state should he again
placed on IN even financial keel at
once | shall Insist that my appointive
heads of departments cut down ex.
penses to bed rock, and I trust that
all elective officers will sympathize
and aid in the same direction. We are
confronted at this moment with large
deficit. the exact amount of which
have not learned, but probably amount
ing to at least a million dollars.
There should be perfect harmony OF
action to correct the present deplor
able conditions.
Reservation of Mineral Rights.
There is still some state land that
may have stone, oil. gas or mineral
values apart from their agricultural an,
timber value. In all sales by the stat
herefter there should be such a resel
walton OF right TO the people as vii
enable them to participate in hiddel
values If ever discovered and devel
oped. In very many instances privat
owners during all Of the years of tn
states history, have reserved the mir
eral rights In lands transferred b.
them. 1t is often the case that thi
reservation, while representing a valu
that 1t is considered wise to retain. 1
untaxed. The tax follows the land
and the holder of the reservation pay
nothing. The reserved values are a
ways uncertain and intangible, bu
. are nevertheless considered to exis
and should be made to pay a tax. Al
this may be comprehended by the ger
eral tax law, but the law has been II
operative so far as reaching these va
ues Is concerned, and especial legisls
| ton Is needed to correct the omission
III these private reservations wer
taxed justly they would In some II
stances be surrendered to the state
which would eventually lead to 20.
sessions for the people that might d,
, velop into considerable proportions.
Water Powers Of the State.
The water powers Of the state hav
almost entirely passed into the hand
, OF private owners. A policy that ha
for its purpose the securing to tn
> state OF a special income from tn
: operation of water powers should b
, persisted in. Care will be taken, {
, course, to do nothing that will rende
over difhcult the general and success
full development OF the valuable W,
ter powers in the state. Such develol
ment can only result in great II
, crease in the taxable tangible value
| of the state.
Wild Cat Mining Stocks.
( Lotteries are forbidden by law |
e Michigan. The sale of wild cat mil
e ing stock is a glaring form of lotter.
Thousands of dollars annually are PAL
for worthless stocks nv Michigan cit