Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1915-01-14

uOuNt anu lOI OIt ltilu III llt EthaAtf
Senator Taylor, OF Kalamazoo, is
chairman of the committee on rail-
roads. Since there is a possibility
that the railroads will ask for an In
crease in passenger rates, his appoint
nent is an important one. Senator
Corliss. of Tuscola, was made chair
man of the committee on elections
and will have charge of the considera-
tion OF the primary election measures
which are certain to come up. Sena-
tor James Wood, who withdrew from
the race for president pro tenn in
favor of Walter Taylor, was rewarded
with the craftsmanship of the commit
tee on banks and corporations.
Speaker Smith, of the house, has
not yet completed his committee ar
rangements. 1t was at his request
that the legislature decided to con-
vene on Tuesday instead Of Monday.
Plenty Looking for Jobs.
Job hunters have, OF course, been
very numerous Not democratic job
hunters, for despite the fact that the
democrats hold the governors office,
the democrats in the legislature can
be counted on the fingers Of one hand.
But the republicans have found their
political pap something OF a disad-
vantage. The senate has about Al
small jobs to bestow and according to
the pap committee there were two APP
plicants for every position.
Judging from the number OF men
and women who want to serve the
state at salary of SO a day, Sum-
days included" said one of the mem
bers OF the committee, almost every
other citizen of Michigan must be out
of work" The list of stenographers
and clerks, however, has been picked
out and the senate started the second
week with full complement of as
sistants.
New Building a Necessity.
Practically the first legislative mat
ter taken up was the necessity for
new state Office building in Lansing.
When the senate prepared to hold its
caucus on Tuesday evening the mem
bers discovered that their old room
had been turned over to one of the
state departments. and that there was
no committee room capable of hold
ing them with any degree OF comfort.
They managed by much crowGing TO
gain entrance TO a little office. how
ever, and the first thing done was TO
pass a resolution asking the board
of state auditors TO place the bank
ing commission in quarters outside
the capitol during the session. At
the same time the senators agreed in
formally that Michigan must have an
Office building Immediately.
Amendment to graded Salary Bill.
Some time this week Senator Scott
viii Introduce his amendment TO the
graded salary bill which is now in
force. This bill will provide general
increase in salary for all employees in
state Offices Heads of departments.
However. will not be affected.
The average salary limit for clerks
is now $1,000, and the minimum is
$500 Senator Scott would make the
minin I'm 81 900 and the maximum
$l,40O. His bill provides for the
grouping Of employees in four classes
or grades.
Clerks in the A grade would receive
the maximum salary of 81 400; those
in class B would receive $1,000; those
in class G $1,000 and those in class d
would receive the minimum of $1,000
The bill specifies that the average
'OliiU' lReiilOll paul III fdfll Ntl lilttni
shall not exceed 81 200. and that when
clerks are transferred from one de
partment TO another they shall not
suffer a salary cut The measure is
receiving the support of the various
state officials at the heads of depart
ments.
No Action Anticipated.
1t is now known that there will be
no requests made upon the present
legislature for the submission to the
people of either a statewide prohi-
bition measure or an equal suffrage
amendment.
Lieut-Gov. Dickinson has stated
that the drys will not attempt to
swing Michigan into the prohibition
column and the state board OF equa.
equal suffrage, at a meeting held in
this city last week. decided that il
would not ask for the re-submision OF
the suffrage amendment.
Radical Legislation Needed.
The legislature will consider this
week the report of the commission up
pointed by the 1919 legislature to n
vestigate the condition of the insane
| in Michigan. The report is a most
sweeping one and radical legislation
is asked The commission declares
that during the last 10 years the in
sane of Michigan have cost the people
Of the state over $4,000, 900.
The 10 feeble minded individuals
confined in county inflrmaries are
alone said to have cost the people of
the state s1,000,000 Nearly half of
these cases were born in the county
where they are now a burden to the
| people which is proof, in the estimation
of the commission, that the counties
have not handled the problem as they
should have done An instance was
even found where county officials al
lowed two weak minded individuals
TO wed In order to relieve the county
of the burden of caring for them.
They were not farsighted enough TO
see. says the commission, that in a
| few years they will have the children
OF this couple on their hands.
| Segregation Urged.
The commission believes that the
state should segregate the weak mind
1