Alma record., 1915-01-07
measure of compensation.

to furnish the injured employe with
medical and hospital service and medi-
cine for period OF three weeks fol-
lowing the injury is wholly inadequate.
The first and greatest need of the
workman in case of injury is medical
attention and care, and the amount of
medical attention and care furnished
should in all cases be proportionate
to the injury, the same as the money
compensation provided for.
Fourth The provision of Section
IL part of the compensation law
fixing the rate of compensation in
seasonable occupations, should be
amended so that the earnings of the
injured workman in other like en-
ployments may be taken into consid-
GRAFTON in computing the rate of com
pensation. The real test should be the
earning capacity of the man in the
general class Of work in which he was
employed al the time oi the injury.
Beyond a reasonable doubt other
amendments will occur 10 members of
the legislature My attention has
been called to several other minor
points, but | have not deemed them of
sufficient Importance 20 make special
Banking Regulation.
Experience proves that the welfare
of the people in their relation TO bank
ing institutions cannot be too care
fully guarded. State banks and ma
tional banks are subject TO state and
national supervision. In spite of this
supervision there is a feeling that
| uh no a
cure depositors While | would not
recommend extreme legislation for the
| further protection OF the depositor, !
do believe that this subject should re-
ceive careful consideration at the
hands of the Legislature. | can see
no reason why private banks should
not have the state supervision and be
required on call to file statements.
Under no circumstances would legis-
! late so as to imperil the progress and
, development of small banks There
are communities where the needs of
| the people make the small banks a
necessity. The interests of the people
! I'm these villages, however, should be
as carefully guarded as are the inter-
ests of the people in the largr cities.
Good Roads.
During the past two years public
enthusiasm for good roads has rap
| idly increased throughout the United
| States. This enthusiasm will continue
to grow. Michigan has kept pace with
most of the States in the Union. |
believe that our system is excellent
BY this | do not mean that we have
solved all the problems connected
with this work. The problem of prob
lens is how to proceed in the building
Of good roads so as to bestow the
greatest benefit upon the whole state.
Trunk lines are Of tremendous i'm
portance, but we must not forget that
the great majority OF people are natnr-
ally most interested in good roads that
lead TO markets. The fact that our
present good roads constitute a sort of
patchwork in the State, does not
argue that our plans are wholly un-
wise and unsatisfactory. The farmer
who draws his produce over a mile of
good road, and then over a mile OF
poor road, gets an object lesson that
he cannot get from periodicals and
lectures. II is the duty OF this Legis-
lature to study the problems of good
roads with reference to immediate
legislation whereby these fundamental
features can be substantially encour-
aged One month ago | appointed a
! Good Roads Commission" to investi-
gate conditions, devise plans and make
recommendations to this legislature.
Two years ago | suggested that the
fees arising from automobile licenses
should be turned into the highway
fund. | still believe that this was a
wise suggestion.
Market Commission.
The State of Michigan, through its
Agricultural College. the Farmers In
stitutes and various private organiza-
tions, is engaged in the great educa-
tional work of teaching the farmer
how to double his productions. AL
ready the effects of this teaching are
manifested Michigan ranks first in
the production of potatoes and our
producers are offered 20 cents bush
el for their potatoes, which is below
the cost of production. While pro
ducers are receiving 20 cents a bushel
for potatoes consumers of these pota-
toes in southern Michigan are paying
as high as 20 cents bushel.
Michigan is the second State in the
Union in the production of apples. 1t
is reported that our production was
so great last fall that thousands OF
bushels of apples rotted on the ground
under the trees Fancy apples, which
brought % cents a bushel in northern
Michigan, sold for % cents peck and
upwards in southern Michigan.
If II is the business of the State 10
educate the farmer 10 double his pro
duction, it is also the business of the
state 10 see that increased produc-
tion is properly marketed and that II
does not become disaster instead OF
a blessing There is no sense in rails
ing two blades of grass where one
crew before. If no one else gets the
extra blade " the State is to con
tinue encouraging an increasing pro
duction il should likewise by means
of q Market Commission take part in
disposing of that increased production
Early in 1914 New oYrk established
a Department of Foods and Markets.
which is worthy of your careful study
Either a Spparate commission might