The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1913-01-25
BIGGEST IN STATES HISTORY
Several Good Reasons Exist for
the Increase
GOV. FERRIS IS IN QUANDARy

Lansing, Jan. 25.-The biggest ap-
preparation bill in the history of
Michigan and the heaviest tax levy
this wear the state has ever had 10
what confronts Governor Ferris right
row and no man is able to see any
way out of the dilemma.
The appropriation bills already in.
troduced call for total climbing rap
idly toward the $4,000, 900 mark and
rot half the bills are yet in. Moreover
the demands Of most of the institu-
tions are urgent and in general are
considered meritorious, so tina; To cut
them means a difficult task.
Fire Losses Cause.
Several reasons are given for the
tremendous demands made. One rea
son is that Jackson prison suffered a
severe loss through fire, the school for
the deaf at Flint was DESTROYED by the
same agency. These buildings must
be replaced. The next good reason for
the heavy demand is that every one
of the institutions is crowded and the
demands for additional room for hous-
ing and caring for the inmates arc
really necessary. Another reason for
decreased appropriations is the gen
cral high cost OF securing supplies and
finally the fact that two years ago
Governor Osborn whitfield everything
down to the smallest possible amount
Ia, off ha oh f.ts dol
and some of the then needed improve
ments were forced To wait, thus
| throwing them into this year.
Two years ago the total of the ap-
| preparation bills as they passed tn,
| legislature was $9.sSl. .551.Sl. Governor
Osborn Whitfield these down unit
when he signed the bills the total wa:
| $9,l0l, 1889. OF course this was :
| small amount unusually so. This ses
sion of the legislature is almost GER
tain To pass bills agsregating from
S14,000,000 to $15,000,000. The need
for the present year alone, according
to Auditor General Fuller. will resul
in tax levy of at least $1,000, 600, th'
heaviest the state ever had.
Increase For Insane.
The care of the insane alone shows
an increase for this year of nearly ;
nalf million dollars and everythin,
else is in proportion. The two mel
who are looking at the bills roll ii
with most interest and with feelings
of dread are Representative Hinkley
chairman of the ways and means com
mittee of the House. and Governo
| Ferris.
! Il can see where ! am going to b.
the most hated man in Michigan be
fore I'm done with this job" say
| Hinkley. Whenever l go into a tow
where there is a state institution ever.
man in it will be pointing me out "a
the man who cut the appropriation
for their particular institution. or
it's a fine job this being chairman o
the ways and means committee, bu
we have got to cut those appropria
tions Just as low as we possibly cal
and not cripple the institutions. Th
total will be "A whopper anyway an
we must keep it down so far as We ar
able
Ferris breads Il.
Governor Ferris has somewhat tn
same attitude on the appropriations:
II dread looking at the total" h
SAYS II can very clearly see wher
our tax levy this next two years
going To be heavy. l cant help b
The pruning of two years ago make
this necessary, although | am not crit
iczing that pruning because it pu
; the state out of debt. But We mus
! ray for it now and the bill will be bill
; "My attitude is to cut everything a
| low as possible and yet not crippl
, the institutions. They must be kel
running effectively and sometime
! economy is not economy when apple
r too vigorously. All | want to know
what the institutions are going I
| spend their money for and whetht
those expenses are necessary and
shall take mighty good pains to fin
/ out. Then we will make the apprc