The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1919-02-21
STATE SENATE NOTES
BY Senator b. G. Davis

as | see them on Legislation affect
ing the Agricultural Districts. Pos
sibly the first under consideration
will be the fifty million dollar Road
Bill, that was easy enough to secure
the passage of that bill referring it
to a referendum, of the people. The
Legislative features that will take
great deal of thought and consider
alton will come after April 7th, if
the people vote favorably for these
Bonds. 1t will possibly be of inter-
est to the readers of this paper to
know that there are about sixteen
thousand miles of main highways in
the state of Michigan. This fifty
million Bond issue will build about
two thousand five hundred miles of
concrete road AS soon as these
bonds are all sold that will mean an
added interest charge which will
come in the shape of higher taxes
of about two million five hundred
thousand dollars year
The next feature in Legislation
that | think will interest you is the
State Constabulary act, appropria
ting three hundred seventy five
thousand dollars a year. and in con-
nection with this another appropria-
ton of about six hundred thousand
dollars, recognizing the state ma
litia. Personally | do not feel that
we need both of these bodies Of
troops, as we have our state owned
armories, and we have felt very
proud of our troops at South Haven,
and my sympathy is all with the
State Malta. However, | would be
glad to get the sentiment of the
people of my district. You know
that it is easy enough to appropriate
money and create new expenses, but
it is very hard to eliminate them
when once started.
The Terminal Warehouse Bill APP
propriating five million dollars will
probably come up for action next
week. | have gotten several petit
ions favoring this legislation from
my district, and other districts
around the state, but owing to the
conflicting of this bill, with Senator
Connelly's fifty million bond issue, if
this passes the Legislature, it can't
be referred to a referendum of the
people until the first general election
in 1920. These are big questions
which representative Lewis and my
self feel that our District which we
represent should let us know what
their attitude is on this subject.
My first bill the registration of
voters, passed both houses without a
dissenting vote and was given i'm
mediate effect, and have no doubt
but what the Governor has signed
it by this time. To illustrate what
! it will do. | knew that there were
! thousands of women voters who had
not been registered and who live
some distance from the township
clerk, an example The women of
Mattawan, can make an affidavit in
Mattawan, send it to the township
clerk by mail and have him register
them, also any absent voter
| have introduced this present
week a uniform text book bill, which
| feel will save the people of tho
state of Michigan hundreds of thou
sands of dollars, and make more
efficient teachers and scholars. Fol
instance, child changing schools
takes up an entirely new set of books
with which he is unfamiliar, he loses
a month or so before he is able to
get acquainted with the new style of
books. As soon as this is printed,
shall send a copy to each one of the
publishers in my district, and |
would appreciate it, the sentiment of
that district either for or against
this bill. Some of the state papers
quoted it as one of the most impor-
tant bills yet introduced.
! shall introduce this week NV
cream test bill. / have just come
from M. A. c. where / took it up
with authorities out there. Briefly
this bill will designate the farm agent
Us an official state tester. Any dairy
man who wishes his cream or milk
tested can either mail sample or
take sample to the farm agent
This bill will specify and set aside
one day out of the week where in the
farm agent or his deputy, must give
attention to the samples that have
been sent in to him for an official
test. | feel that this will create a
better feeling between the creamery
and the cream buyers throughout the
state, as | know the farmers are
often in doubt as to whether they