The Yale expositor., 1915-09-23
FUNDS IN TREASURY ARE Low
AND STATE MAY HAVE
TO BORROW.
GARNlSHEE LAW NOT LIKED
In An Appeal of GansIey Case First
Test of Corrupt Practices Act
VIII Be Made Before SUI
preme Court.
[By Gurd M. Hayes.1

/
government within the next two
months. That is the word passed out
among state officers Saturday.
Auditor General Fuller calls atten-
ton TO the states finances and makes
comparison of the general fund fl
nances as compared with previous
years. September balances in 1910
showed a balance in the general fund
of $697,052; 1911. $624,558; 1912, 81
266,142; 1913, $1503,117; 1914, sS.-
OOS,6S1 and 1915, $1,O27,735. At the
close of business Friday night. there
was a balance in the general fund OF
! $S67, 900.
State board of auditors is authorized
| to borrow an amount not in excess of
] $4,000 on direction of the governor
and this amount, with the balance
now on hand, will have to run the
states business until January taxes
are paid.
Advices from Detroit are to the ef-
feet that much fault is found in the
workings of the garnishee law in
! Wayne county by justices of the peace.
After dismissing a case brought be-
fore him Saturday, Justice Theodore J.
Richter took occasion to vigorously
denounce the law and announced that
he would endeavor TO secure it's
amendment.
A few weeks ago, Justice Adolph
| Marschner also expressed himself as
displeased with the methods of loan
sharks and instalment houses and
| summarily dismissed a case which
was brought before him for trial. JUS
| tice DeGaw is also said to be in ac-
cord with his colleagues and the three
will confer for the purpose of formu-
lating amendments to be submitted to
the legislature.
| Under the present law, all that one
has to do to start garnishee proceed
| ings is to go before one of the justices
clerks and fill out printed blank
! after paying the fee of $3.50 In many
cases the name of John Smith" may
| appear and the banks served with the
process must hold up all deposits un-
der this name until order from the
| court.
| In several instances, men have been
bounded by loan sharks, who would
| repeatedly start suits and then fail
to appear for trial. Justice Richter
that 1t was the first time suit had been
started against the man and that they
would appear.
An addition to the Capital National
Bank building in Lansing will be COM
| pleted some time during the next few
months and the board of auditors has
engaged considerable space for state
! Offices in the new building. It is plan
ned to move the banking commits
sioner's Office and the Office of the
securities commission from the capi-
tol and place them in the bank build.
ing. The state highway department
and geological survey will probably
be moved to the bank building from
the old state block and the various
Offices of the state board Of health
scattered through several office build
ings will be consolidated in the old
state building
1t is believed that the new legisla-
ture will recognize the need of new
Office building or an addition to the
capitol and will provide an appropria-
tion. However, it will be three or
four years before such a building will
be ready for occupancy in case the
next legislature acts favorably, and
in the meantime it is necessary for
the state to pay out large sums an
nually for rented quarters.
Two heavy leather straps said to
have been used on unruly lads at the
Industrial School for Boys in Lans-
ing, are locked in Governor Ferris
desk and at the next meeting of the
board of control of the institution,
Governor Ferris will introduce these
instruments of torture as evidence
that 1t is time for a radical change in
the administration of affairs.
The governor has been informed
that some of the boys at the school
have been cruelty whipped by two
men at the institution who are known
TO the chief executive and he will de-
mand they be discharged by the board
OF control at the next meeting.
From time to time complaints have
been received at the executive office
from parents that their boys have
been severely punished, but until
Governor Ferris undertook a thorough
investigation a few weeks ago these
complaints DID not receive serious at
tention. It Is seid that complaints
may be made against these men and
1t is expected that prosecutions will
follow.
Il is said that officials of the insti-
tuition are required TO keep a complete
record OF each case of punishment,
but according to information received
by the governor, this has not been
done and before he has flushed the