Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1915-02-11
- Be EXPENSIVE
SESSION FOR STATE
LEGISLATURE HAS COST NIGH.
GAN FULLY $4,000 AND HAS
DONE NOTHING OF RECORD
EXPENSES PILE UP.
Estimates Are That il Will Cost Hall
Two Years Than in 1e13-1e14.
(By Douglas ID. MARTINI

i@duSlHS, MlCH.-k Especial 30 Tar
this year the legislature has cost the
people of Michigan about $40 900 and
II is just getting into action.
The entire $4,000, in other words,
has been spent in greasing the wheels
and oiling up the bearings Frequent
adjourments, short sessions, and con
siderable horseplay has been respons-
ible for the time which it has taken
the legislature TO get into shape for
business this year.
1t is believed that this week will see
the last of the frequent adjournmnts
which have characterized the session
thus far. Both the Republican and
Democratic state conventions being
scheduled tor this week, the legisla-
ture adjourns that its members may be
able TO attend In the case of the
Democrats the adjournment is some
thing in the nature of a joke because
there are only eight Democrats in the
entire legislature and the convention
is held right here in Lansing within
three blocks Of the capitol building
Clerks Richer Than Senators.
Figures obtained from the auditor
generals department covering the ex-
penses of the legislature for the first
month show some interesting facts.
During January members OF the senate
received in salary a total of 81. 200 and
$S77.70 for mileage. The employees OF
the senate drew more money than the
senators themselves, getting $3,760 in
salaries and Sl45l for mileage.
In the house the Representatives
drew salaries amounting 10 SO O00.
while their mileage totaled over
$4,000. Their clerks got S3937 in sal
aries and mileage amounting to S1.l35.
No More Mileage.
Senators, representatives and clerks
have exhausted their mileage allow
ances. so that there will be no more
claims of this kind during the session.
This will help to keep down the total
of expenditures from now on.
No Chance for Economy.
Three facts have developed during
the past week which are OF import
ance 10 the state. even if no important
business has been developed These
are Che dissipation of the belief that
this would be both an economical ses-
sion. a short session and that there
would be few bills presented.
Estimates which have been fur
nished the ways and means committee
of the senate and the ways and means
committee Of the house, are proof Of
the fact that there will be boost of
over half a million dollars in the
states expenses for the next two
years
IL has been estimated that the cost
Of running the state during 1915 Will
be S1,325. $50 and that the expenses for
1916. while 100000 less than 1918.
owing to the fact that there will be
no session Of the legislature and an
other deficit due TO the cost of the cam
paign against the hOof and mouth dis
ease The figures for 1916 total
$1,0S7,160, giving a total for two years
of $2.412.920
1t cost far less than this to run
Michigan financially during 1913 and
1914, the total being SITS. $40. or
sG34.350 less than for the next two
years.
Long Session Seems Sure.
All chances for a short session seem
20 have gone glimmering With five
weeks gone and nothing done. the
chances for cleaning up business rap
idly have become so small that even
the most optimistic among the mem.
bers are settling themselves for lone
stay in Lansing In part this delay is
due to the large number OF new mem
bers in the house and the difficulty
OF getting under way II has gone
so far however, that even if the legis
lature throws the lever over into high
gear and leaves it there from now or
u can never catch up with its lost
time.
Many Bills introduced.
Another hope which has been shat
tered is that few bills will be intro
duced OF the present session. Cover
nor Ferris asked the legislators. in
his inaugural message. 10 introduce a.
few new measures as possible. Ht
pointed out the fact that the need In
Michigan Is for quality and not fol
quantity in legislation. Most OF the
legislators made New Year resolution.
on the question and agreed that they
would not burden the hopper Will
measures but gradually they brok,
these resolutions and the past weel
has seen pages trotting mp to- tn,
clerks desks carrying proposed laws
Just as Of old.
Partial Suffrage Bill.
Rep. Charles Flowers OF wayn.
county, who was opposed for the sen
ate by the liquor interests, has re
taliated by introducing a partial SUI
frage bill, modelled after the on,
passed by the Illinois legislature, Civ
ing women the right to vote for OF
ncers not created by the constitution
and on measures which do not requir,
a constitutional amendment.
In other words, under Rep Flow