The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1913-01-03

IL ever idChtu tuluuoidSLu III dp'
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 or
tober. / believe it is the duty of thu
state to study the problem of gcH
roads with reference to immediate leg
islation whereby this fundamental
feature of transportation can be sub
stantially encouraged. 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 should be passed for the
protection of all workmen engaged in
the business of mining, and the en-
ployment of the most expert and COM
petent inspectors to enforce the pro-
visions of this law.
Weights and Measures Law.
The present weights and measures
law was enacted in 1887. 1t provides
that every town clerk shall keep a set
Of weights and measures and annually
each year seal all the weights and
measures of the township receiving
therefor four cents for each one sea-
ed. For seventy-fve years town clerks
have failed to perform this function.
modern weights and measures law
should be enacted. AS the food inspect.
Crs Of the Dairy and Food Department
daily visit the stores of the state, the
law could be enforced by this depart
ment in very economic and efficient
manner.
Useless Boards: Obsolete Offices.
Vicious tendencies seem to have
sprung up not only In Michigan, but in
ether states whereby numberless
boards and unnecessary Offices have
been created. In not a few instances
this tendency has been encouraged
In order to further partisan political
interests. Whenever party has
achieved victory, participants have
never failed to clamor for jobs as a
kind Of reward for their recognized
enthusiasm. This tends to arouse sus-
picion in the minds of the people. No
longer can any political party afford
to. encourage the old doctrine that
ITO the victor belong the spoils." l,
therefore, suggest that every possible
effort be made by this legislature to
abolish all useless boards and dispense
with all Offices that are not essential
to efficient government.
w., State Salt Inspection. 49,
- According to the State Inspectors
report for 1910 (the most recent re-
port could get) over $4,000 was col
lected from the salt manufacturers of
the state for inspecting" salt that
never was inspected. For this $4,000
no service was rendered the manu-
facturer nor the consumer BY all
means abolish the State Salt Inspec-
ton farce.
Inspection of Oil.
Advocates of oil inspection say that
IL costs the state nothing and returns
tc the state an income. In 1911, 60 per
cent of all fees collected was used to
pay salaries of inspectors and their
expenses; 40%o went into the State
treasury. This is not an economical
system for raising revenue. In abolish
ing the present oil inspection system
provisions might be made for the re-
tention of one inspector to be directed
by the Dairy and Food Department
His duty would be to make occasional
tests and investigate complaints re-
lating to poor oil.
State Live Stock Sanitary Commission.
We have now a State Live Stock
Sanitary Commission consisting of
three commissioners and the state vet
erinarian whose duties are to investi-
gate, when called on, infectious and
contagious diseases of various ami
mails. The commission has no Office at
any place or even a directing head.
It's members are scattered over the
state and not always readily accessa-
BILE in time of need. 1t would seem
as If this commission might be Nabol-
ished and it's duties transferred to the
Dairy and Food Department or to the
Agricultural College and the Veteri-
nary Department Of the college take
charge of the same, thus saving
duplication of Offices and at the same
time making the work of the commits.
sion more effective.
Sanitary School Houses.
For more than a quarter of cen.
fury have made a careful study of
the school houses in Michigan. The
majority of them are unsanitary and