The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1913-02-07

superintendent or schools; the prcSl'
dent of a state normal college, the
head of the department OF English,
Mt. Pleasant normal college and state
superintendent CT public instruction,
The commission shall have the power
to make such selections of books as
the needs of the schools demand and
maximum prices are to be named II
the bill which the commission shall
not exceed, and no change shall be
made under period of five years.
There comes from many sections
strong opposition from county teach
ers' organizations, and this bids fair
to give the proposition a body blow.
Meanwhile these same associations
are almost universally favoring free
text boks. The measures already in
troduced providing for this plan arc
receiving favorable consideration
among the solons.
Secretary Nisbett.
From printers apprentice in Lon
don, England, when II years of age,
to secretary of Governor Ferris OF
Michigan, spans the career of William
+. NlsBett, one of the old school OF
printers and Publishers, who has been
identified with Michigan journalism
for 40 years.
Mr.. Nisbett has been closely identi-
fed with the newspaper publishing
business so many years that his name
is familiar in the offices of almost
every newspaper in the state. lie
founded the Big Rapids Evening Bal
letin in 1888. For many years he has
been one Of the most prominent mem.
bers of the Michigan Press assoco-
ton, was president of that organiza
tion for time, has been many years
a member Of its executive committee
Is still historian editor of the Mich
gan Bulletin, official paper of the as.
ISOLATION.
He has been mayor of Big Rapids
and for years was secretary of the
board of trade of that city. In 1865
he enlisted in the Sixteenth Michigan
Volunteer infantry in response to Lin.
coins call for 100000 more"
Farmer Commission Bill.
One of the measures which will
doubtless become law and which has
kicked up strong OPPOSITION in limit
ed circle is the bill by Representa-.
tive Skeels authorizing counties to en-
ploy farmer commissioner at a sal
airy Of not more than $4,000 annually
to aid in the development of farming
lands and to instruct the farmers in
improved methods.
There was hot debate upon the
measure in committee of the whole
but as the measure was supported by
members of the house from all parts
Of the state, the opposition led by Rep
resentative Farmer was completely
overshadowed.
The bill makes the plan optional
with each county.
Superintendents of Poor.
Michigan's superintendent of the
poor will ask radical legislation of
this session.
At the meeting of the State asso-
citation 1t was decided to ask the leg
islature to enact law providing for
one superintendent in each county
instead of three, with sufficient salary
to ensure more effective work than is
possible under the present plan; the
establishment Of county instead of
township system law making it
misdemeanor punishable by fine and
Imprisonment for any found guilty of
furnishing inmates Of county infirm.
aries with intoxicating liquors.
A bill with these yor similar pro.
visions will be introduced in short
time.
Investigate Pere Marquette.
Michigan is to be brought into the
limelight by probable action to in
vestigate railroad system The Pere
Marquette is the object of consider
alton by the legislature. The move
ment was first given shape in the sen
ate.
Speaker Currie of the house and
Lieutenant Governor Ross are in sym
pathy with the movement and there is
likely to be something doing.
Removal Of Health Officers.
Representative Lee has introduced
a bill designed to amend the law regu-
'lating the authority of the state board
of health Under the proposed law II
would be in the power of the state
board to recommend the removal of
municipal health officers where such
officials are found to have negected
their duty.
The bill also provides that the gov
ernor shall have the power to remove
such offending officials.
Pure Marriage Bill Assailed.
Representative Glasner's pure mar
riage bill has run against a snag
Many physicians throughout the state
ARE opposing the measure and it is
stated that the plan to compel mental
and physicnl examinations opens n
way for bribery. The opposition comes
from the theory that physicians
CHI hn do he