The Detroit times., 1913-01-02


merits. H. Tor example. anything koes
wrong In the state treasurer's ofnce
the blame IL promptly laid on the gov
ernor. although he has noNcontroi over 4,
In the Interest OF batter governments
and a shorter ballot, why would ~ NOT
tional amendment providing for the
election OF governor ana Heutenhnt-
governor and that the remainder OF Inc
elective state officials be appointed oy
the governor and 10 act ns his cabinet
and advisors In state Affairs. The bal
lot could also be shortened by upuffsff-
ing the Offices OF circuit court coinmis-
sloners and coroners and providing that
Justices OF the peace may perform tho
duties OF these officials.
.5PubIicity for Candidates.
II IL necessary fhet each candidate
should get his name and Ideas on pub
| lie questions before the public. News
paper ADVERTISING II very expensive. In
this form OF publicity the rich man has
small fortunes are frequently spent 10
gain a single office that doesn't pay
I dne-haif OF the amount In return sal
ary 4 suggest that the Oregon sys-
tenn OF publicity lac carefully consid-
cred In that state an election PAM
phlet Is published by the state. Each
InaI aun can have a certain amount OF
space. give his biography and views
OF public questions and ~ some propo-
sition or enactment Is submitted. VI IL
printed I'm full I'm this pamphlet and an
argument for or against by It's most
active advocate or enemy Is also
printed This pamphlet y mailed at the
voter ninety days before election. AS
n result of thts publicity pamphlet Ore
gon, mas become q great school for the
Election OF United states senators.
Congress has submitted 10 the vari-
Gus state LEGISLATURES for their APP;
constitution providing for the election c
of senator's by popular vote Would IL
not be an honor 90 Michigan to be the
first TO ratify this amendmentY Ia
Home Rule. IL
The present Home Rule law should )
be amended so az To give 10 all cities .
home rule TO the fullest extent permits !
sible under the constitution. Particu- .
larry should the law be amended so
as TO provide for the recall OF all
municipal officials and direct legisla-
ton by initiative petitions signed by =
not less than 10 per cent OF the cleo !
tors; also for the separation OF munich
pal elections from the general Novem-
The people at the last election
amended the constitution TO provide I
for piece charter legislation. Be-
fore this amendment can become enec-
tive. tho Legislature must by law pro- y
vide the necessary machinery would
urge this be passed and made effective
at the earliest possible moment so that
our municipalities may have the advan-
tage OF the amendment.
Taxation.
The more one surveys the hit and I
MISS" taxation system in Michigan the II
more one Is convinced that radical n
changes are needed In the system Itself I
ns one tntns faa' wGStd wouIS
be n separation OF state ana local taxes.
Scarcely any one Will deny that this y
change Is needed, but the question Is I
how to bring II about. How TO raise y
the specific taxes necessary To run the I
state Is the most serious problem. G
! would suggest three sources OF $
revenue. Our present inheritance tax o
brings us I'm a comparatively small a
amount / would suggest that this tax >
should be largely Increased. especially I
on extremely large fortunes aRd the q
proceeds be placed In the general fund n
for state purposes. second source or c
revenue might come from graduated =
Income tax like our sister state OF Wis =
consin is now trying, The corporate-i
excess tax plan OF Massachusetts as y
recommended by the committee OF In C
OF the legislature Is still another v
method OF raising the NECESSARY state Z
revenue. I
While I do not recommend any OF D
these plans specifically. ! do recon- n
mend the separation of state and local a
taxes and ask your honorable body to Z
carefully examine all the methods {
above suggested and such others as a
may occur to you and hope that by 4
some OF. these methods or combina- G
tion OF them. the legislature can find p
some way OF raising the necessary | o
revenue so that separation of state o
and local taxes may be brought about. Il
Public Utilities Commission. r.
We now have railroad commission
which Is given the power to hx rates
and regulate the practices OF railroads, q
telephones and power companies. | Il
would recommend the enlargement OF n
the powers OF this commission to cover "a
all public utility corporations OF the RI
intelligent fixing OF charges without a a
knowledge OF the real value OF tho Il
properties, would recommend that h
the commission be authorized to make b
physical valuation OF all such prop 3,
critics that they may deem advisable, d
that the rates fixed may return reason b
able dividends on actual cash invest Il
Licensing the sale Of stocks and r,
bonds. n
During the past rs years have re- q
ceived numerous letters from men and II
women who have accumulated a little Ia
money. asking my advice In relation -
to an investment in stocks and bonds a
utilities corporations. They had be- ~
come enthusiastic over scheme M
whereby they hoped Ito get rich IN
experience Is doubtless the experience a
OF every member OF the legislature. n
The sale OF these stocks runs into hun $,
dreds Of thousands OF dollars annually .
IL Is hardly fair TO expect the people 81
OF Michigan or OF any other state 10 s
have any adequate knowledge concern r,
lnE the real Nalue or THESE STOCKS.
suggest the enactment OF law similar
10 the Kansas law whereby our peo- a
pie Will be protected from this kind II
OF fraud. In other words prohibit the "
sale OF stocks and bonds OF any com 4
pany until said company has been first I,
invrstigated and approved by the rail- q
road commission
Ranking Regulation. $
Experience proves that the welfare y
OF the people In their relation to bank n
Ing institutions cannot be too ca refully I,
guarded state banks and national a
banks are subject to state and national v
supervision. Ia spite OF this super- +
steps should I've taken to secure De.
positors While I would not recon =
mend extreme legislation for the firth :
or protection OF the depcsitor, i IN no !,
love that this subject should receive :
careful consideration ut the hands Of !,
the legislature. | can see no reason !.
why private banks should NOT have :
state supervision and be required or :
calt 10 file statements Under no cir. y
cumstances would I say leuislafe so /.
as 10 imperil the progress and deyelon- '
ment OF small banks There are com
munities where the needs 81 the ,aoniol !,
rSke the small banks a peressity The
interests OF the people In these VII :,
lagos. however. should be as care,,It,.
guarded as are the intereate 20 a.
peCple In the larger cities
The Torrens Systews 90 IaDd pr.o.s.-- =
The Torrens svstem was nrst Irtro' !.
duceA In Australia In 1883 by Sir Ron :
ert Torrens whose name Al baa., r. 9
worked so well IN Australia en-. n.