The L'Anse sentinel., 1916-02-26
Would AbolIsh Fee System.

three-year terms for all township
officers. and the placing of all county
officers on salary basis, with fees
to go into the county treasury, were
included in resolutions passed by the
State Association of Supervisors at
its closing session here.
A resolution to repeal the law pro-
viding soldiers and sailors and their
widows shall be exempted from taxa
tion and to create a state pension
fund was disapproved by the resolu-
tions committee. and the convention
lodged the issue by tabling the meas
ure without action.
officers were elected as follows:
President, Louis Blake OF Alpena;
first vice-president, A. w. Thompson
OF Dickinson county; second vice.
president, <. M. Kennedy of Kala-
mazoo; secretary, Frank l.. Dodge OF
Lansing; treasurer, A. !. Barber. Ma
son. Secretary Dodge now enters on
his eighteenth year in that position.
The report of the credentials commit
tee showed an attendance of rs super
visors, representing Al counties of the
state.
In recommending to the legislature
of 1917 an act to place all county Of
ficers on salary basis, the supervi-
sors would have the salaries of such
officers fixed by the county supervisors
In each instance. The law, they be-
lieve, should be made available
through the referendum and, like the
state highway law, be made optional
with each county as to whether or not
1t will come under the salary system
The innovation of county nurse
and regular inspection of children in
rural schools was discussed by super
visors from Kent county. The nurse,
they explain, was employed through
the cooperation of the antitubercu-
losis society and the American Red
Cross, and its adoption in other coun-
ties recommended.
The widows pension fund was also
discussed In the closing hours of the
convention. In the opinion of super
visors it rests with the discretion and
judgment of probate judges of the
state to make the widows pensions
fund success or failure. II used for
only cases where children are de-
pendents and liable to be taken away
from a mother who is unaidcd, the law
will work; but If juggled in every pos
sible instance to relieve the poor
funds, the measure is already in the
breakers. they say.
Soil Problem Is Economic.
Market Director James M. Nc
Bride has made an analysis Of the
problem Of northern Michigan soils,
which has received so much attention
In the press of the state recently. A
communication setting forth his con-
clusions, part of which follows, gives
his idea Of the situation:
Many Of the disadvantages ascribed
to northern Michigan are economic
and do not include soil conditions. The
lumber interests first predominated
and early farming was a side issue.
Light soils were planted to potatoes.
The season of 1914 produced an enor-
nous crop and the price was so low as
to make 1t loss to the farmer.
Last year the potatoes all over the
state were blighted and the northern
Michigan farmer had but few to sell,
making two seasons of crop losses in
that section. The history OF all new
countries Is that some crop must be
seized on as sort of first aid for liv-
Ing expenses. The cheapness Of land
Is offset by the dearness of capital,
which discourages initiative in buying
stock and hiring help to clear and
drain land. to build barns. silos. etc.
The need Of the settler was passed
over in the defeat of the "Crolr" con-
stitutional amendment to provide
drainage districts and bond issues
against the land benefited, similar to
the plan Of the United States govern
ment In irrigation districts. In many
counties drainage Is a problem beyond
the settlers capacity, and many other
wise fertile acres are idle. It ia prob
able that the prospective federal land
mortgage banks may be utilized for
collective drainage purposes, but there
will be need Of county initiative to put
1t before the people.
Michigan owes 1t to the settler to
see that he has the states advices in
land selection and in getting a good
start. The sale Of land suitable for
grazing, but unsuited to the needs Of
the small farmer getting started, has
worked great harm In northern Michi-
gan. For some time the state has had
q blue sky" law to protect investors
in securities, but has passed no law to
protect the homeseeker from imposi-
ton and Misrepresentation nor to aid
him in agricultural advices The sale
OF land to the homeseeker of limited
means for general farming, when its
real value Is for grazing purposes. is
an injury to the state.
1t Is crime to thwart the almost
divine asperation OF founding q farm
home by selling the homeseeker land
which takes HIS money in the first in
stance, and several years of his life, to
prove what the state knew beforehand.
II the better class of convicts were
used in the construction Of roads,