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

acted whereby all plans for school
houses should be submitted to the SUI
perintendent of Public Instruction and
Secretary of the State Board Of
Health. These officials would approve
of the heating. ventilating, lighting;
In fact, of all the sanitary ESSENTIALS
before the contracts could be entered
into for construction. In states where
this plan has been pursued satisfactory
results have been realized.
School Boards.
So far as possible, our educational
interests should be divorced entirely
from partisan politics. In Michigan, we
have not succeeded in doing this. sug-
gest the enactment of mandatory
law providing for city boards of edu-
cation OF not to exceed seven men,
bers, elected by the people at large.
Such school boards should be super
visory and legislative in their function
and should have the appointing OF
two salaried executives, superin-
tendent and a business manager, each
of whom shall be responsible for his
particular work.
Uniform System of Textbooks.
Many states in the union have en-
acted laws for securing uniform sys-
tenn of textbooks. | would suggest that
the Legislature make careful study
of the results of the Indiana plan. Bar
ring the larger cities and restricting
uniformity of the eight-grade schools,
all the advantages that we now real
lie could be secured, and besides the
state would save thereby tens of thous-
ands Of dollars.
Primary School Funds.
agree with the declaration of the
republicans in their platform in which
they declare that we should sacredly
preserve the primary school fund. I'm
der the rather extraordinary changes
il the assessment of property there
seems to be some probability of SER
iously reducing the primary school
fund. This would cripple the work of
Cur common schools. We cannot afford
under any circumstances to do less for
our seven hundred seventy thousand
school children. We can afford to do
more rather than less.
Medical Practice Laws.
From materialistic standpoint no
investment yields greater returns to
the wealth Of the state than health. A
recent estimate of the economic value
of life in England shows that human
labor capitalized, is worth five times
all other capital. The physicians of
Michigan stand ready to further all
legislation that tends to enlighten the
people along lines that conserve
health. At present, Michigan is the
camping ground for numerous medical
fakirs. | suggest the enactment of
law whereby practitioners be required
to pass examinations before the State
Board of Medical Examiners, or State
Board of Health, in Physiology, Anat-
omy, Hygiene, Chemistry, Bacterial
ogy,' Physics, Pathology and Diagnos-
is. A knowledge of these subjects is,
fundamental in any rational attempt
on the part of practitioner to serve
the best interests of his patients. This
is reasonable requirement, and the
legislation along this line ought to
command not only the approval of the
profession, but the approval of lay
men, generally.
Civil Service.
The business of the state can be
more economically and efficiently adj
ministered if merit, ability, integrity
and energy of employees rather than
political activity be made the basis of
employment. I, therefore, suggest that
the Legislature enact a Civil Service
law to this end.
Weekly Payment of Employees.
recommend the enactment of a law
whereby railorad companies, mining
companies and manufacturing con-
Germs be required to pay their en-
rloyes weekly. This is matter of sim
pie justice. ~.
Economy.
Every successful businessman is