The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1912-03-26
Aims Economy Ak
Ar Neil and Bard
From a staff Correspondent.

lature last night, asking for the cut
ting out OF the Offices of oil inspector
and salt inspector, and having these
departments merged with the food and
dairy departments, has precipltated
considerable interest in gentleman
by the name of John Baird. who makes
his home in Saginaw and Is at the
present time holding down the $2,5OO
year job as state salt inspector as
an appointee of the present governor.
Baird has been state senator, a
member OF the con con- and sort
OF all-around conspicuous element in
Michigan Republicanism. He has
been an ardent supporter OF Gov. Os-
| born, was in the Governors Deer Foot
lodge hunting haunt last fall, and
came out boldly for Michigan's chief
on the occasion OF the Knox-ShieldS
recent unpleasantness.
hat is TO become of the governors
Saginaw friend II the legislature
acquiesces in the governors expense
pruning proposal?
| 1t has been reported from source
antagonistic to the governor that Mr..
Osborn Is mad because Inspector
| Baird did not move Senator John
| Leidlein into line for the imm sdiate
presidential primary. but when the
people get anything from an anti
quarter, IL is invited to help itself to
| the salt.
Another man suggested the possibil-
! ity that Inspector Baird might appear
OF the scene here II the situation
called for his presence and put up q
| fight against the measure.
| Not so much interest seems to he
attached to the oil inspectorship, as
Frank Neil, of Worthwhile, was a Gov.
Warner product.
The plan seems to have the food
inspectors also act in the capacity OF
salt inspectors and oil inspectors.
While the various commodities them
selves do not mix very palatably, II
looks as though the business OF in
speeding them might be conglomer-
atcd with safety and advantageous
economy.
| When an inspector is out looking into
food. boxes, packages and cans, why
can't he on the same trip sample the
salt and peek itno kerosene barrel?
Why have three men running around
piling up eating and sleeping and
/ travelling expenses, If one man can 60
! the business?
Anyway. il is argued that with The
elimination of Office expenses, doing
away with inspectors, stenographcrs,
ETC., this proposition from the gov
ernor, II carried out by the legisla-
ture, would result in a saving OF $685.
600 a year TO the state.
II some of these fellows who nave
been making disturbance about the
expense of the extra session have a
feeling for the taxpayers, here Is
their chance TO try and put something
across that will spell relief.
| Senator James II. Lee appeared on
| the scene at the capitol and he wasn't
I In need OF a neck scarf, either, which
7 is supposed to be equivalent to say
/ ing that there was warmth under his
collar
! The senator from the fourth, &c
cares as absolutely false, the story
recently told and published TO the eff
1 feet that the so-called Lee presidential
! primary bill introduced by Senator
! Lee at the last regular session was
! handed TO the said senator by Mr..
| Oates, then secretary to the gov
| ernor.
Senator Lee claims that he became
very much interested in the presiden-
! tial primary idea as a result of read
| ing "a speech made In the United
I States senate by U. s. Senator jon
athan Bourne of Oregon, in answer 81
another speech by Standpatter Sena-
| tor Sutherland OF Utah. The title OF
that speech was The Composite Citl-
zen"
The youthful statesman also al
leges that after determining to put In
presidential primary bill he went 10
the attorney-generals Office and asked
! tile assistance of the assistant attor-
lney-general. He said 1t was customary
! for a legislator to do this.
! He said he didn't know that Rep.
Dunn had bill, and said he had
nothing TO do with Oates.
7 However, Senator Lee admitted that
j the governor advocated In his mes.
sage. the passing of a presidential
/ primary bill.
But. after all. It is really too bad
that the potent influence of that
Bourne speech so speedily leaked out
OF Senator Lees Democratic and pro-
gressive mentality. He should have
read Il few more times before com
ing to the extra session TO join with
reactionaries In throwing the haT-
poon into the presidential primary
reform measure.
Every man is entitled to a square
deal. and IL Senator Lee did inspire
the bill he introduced at the regular
session, be should have the credit Cor
doing so.
Gov Osborn has been getting tcle-
grams from the mayors OF Michigan
cities asking for legislative steps 10
iand the constitution IS 10 PCT
NIT of cities themselves amending
: their charters. Some time ago Deficit
attempted 10 amend her charter IN
/ the piecemeal manner. as II was leg
ally advised that II could do. but the
matter was carried to the supreme
court which ruled TO the contrary.
/ II Is not known at this time whai
action the governor will take IN re-
Spouse to these messages. but Il Ia
easy enough TO see that-if the present
[ session is to come to close this
/ week. and " these extra sessions arc
20 leave any excuse for the reconven.
ing Of subsequent regular sessions,