Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1913-01-02

| scheme whereby they hOped TO get
rich quick" through these purchases.
My experience is doubtless the exper'
ience of every member OF the Legis-
lature. The sale of these stocks suns
into hundreds of thousands of dollars
annually. II is hardly fair to expect
the people of Michigan or OF any other
state to have any adequate knowledge
concerning the real value of these
stocks. l suggest the enactment OF a
| law similar to the Kansas law whereby
our people will be protected from this
kind of fraud. In other words, pro-
hibit the sale of stocks and bonds of
any company until said company has
been first investigated and approved by
the Railway Commission.
Banking Regulation.
| Experience proves that the welfare
of the people in their relation TO bank
ing institutions cannot be too carefully
guarded. State banks and national
banks are subject TO state and ma
tional supervision. In spite of this
supervision there is a feeling that
further steps should be taken to Sc
cure depositors. While l would not
recommend extreme legislation for the
! further protection of the depositor,
do believe that this subject should
receive careful consideration at the
hands of the Legislature. | can see no
reason why private banks should not
have state supervision and be required
on call, to file statements. Under no
circumstances would say legislate so
| as to imperil the progress and devel-
| opment of small banks. There are COM
munities where the needs of the peo-
pie make the small banks a necess-
| ity. The interests Of the people in
these villages, however, should be as
carefully guarded as are the interests
OF the people in the larger cities.
The Torrens System of Land Trans
fers.
The Torrens System was first in
troduced in Australia in 1858 by Sir
Robert Torrens, whose name it bears.
II worked so we'll in Australia that it
spread to all civilized countries, in
cluding Canada and Is in force every
where excepting in the United States;
however, several states have recently
adopted It, including Massachusetts,
Oregon and Ohio. 1t has been in force
in Cook County, Illinois, for about fif-
teen years and is rapidly making its
way in public favor. Its workings can
easily be examined at Windsor as it
has been in force there for many
years. / suggest that the Legislature
make the Torrens System mandatory
on the administration Of every estate
and to register the land of the estate
under the Torrens System. This would
absolutely abolish the abstract monop-
ely and prevent the unreasonable de-
lays which obtain in many cases.
Success Of the Farmer.
In this age it is unnecessary to dis
cuss the all-important function Of the
farmer Land and labor are funda-
mental to the welfare of man. In Mich
igan we have too long neglected to
rut to the best possible use our tre-
mendous natural riches that come un-
der the head of land values. We have
ample room in this state for an addi-
tional army of thousands Of farmers;
in fact, we have opportunities such
as few other states can offer. | would
hot \, &c I al Iott
the Importance Of creating a Commits
sioner of Agriculture who shall con-
serve the soil, improve farm methods.
encourage emigration to the wild
lands OF Northern Michigan; further.
more, that the state should extend the
same help to the settler OF this new
land that the Canandian government
does to similar settlers in the North
west
Good Roads.
If 1 ever lacked enthusiasm in ap
.pealing for good roads, had an abund.
ant opportunity to reinforce my en-.
thusiasm by riding over thousands OF
miles of poor roads in Michigan dur.
ing the months of September and Oc.
tober l believe it is the duty Of the
state to study the problem Of good
roads with reference to immediate leg.
islation whereby this fundamental
feature of transportation can be sub
stantially encouraged. l think that all
will agree with me that the fees aris.
ing from automobile licenses should
be turned into the highway fund.
Inspection of Mines, Etc.
Governor Osborn in his first Inaug
Ural urged the legislature to enact
further laws to perfect and extend the
system of regulation and inspection
already existing so as to reduce to the
minimum the number of injuries and
deaths from industrial accidents. This
inspection should be taken out of pol.
itics and placed in the hands of ex.
perienced and competent men. Under
the existing laws no provision exists
for state inspection of all mines. A
stringent law shOuId he Dassed for the |