The diamond drill., 1921-04-09
| LANSING
COUNTY HOME RULE PLAN
LOSES OUT IN SENATE
Domination OF cities over County
Governments Feared; Another
Reform Measure Passed.
(From stan correspondent.l


The county commission form OF
government struck snag in the
senate when that body took up
final consideration OF Senator Phillips
Joint resolution 70 submit constitu-
tional amendment to a state referen-
dunn at the November, 1922. election
that would allow counties to vote on
adopting a commission plan. Nineteen
votes was all that could be mustered
for the Phillips resolution and II re-
quires %, two-thirds vote OF the en-
tire senate, TO submit a constitutional
amendment. Ten votes were cast
against the resolution and three sen
ators were absent
MeNAuGHToN OPPOSES PLAN.
Senator McNaughton, OF the rural
districts OF Kent, the county In which
the idea originated, led the fight
against the resolution, declaring that
It meant counties would be dominated
entirely by the cities in all counties
like Kent which have large cities. A
call OF the senate was resorted to In
order to keep senators In their seats
for what was considered the most i'm.
portant roll call OF the session up to
that time.
The vote was: Yes, Senators Baker.
Bolt, Brewer. Condor, Eldred, Engel.
Forester. Hamilton. Hayes, Johnson.
Macarthur, McRae, Penney, Phillips,
Riopelle. Smith (2nd Dlst), Smith
u1th Dist), Wilcox and Wood-I9.
No, Senators Anon. Bryant, Clark.
Davis, Henry, McNaughton. Osborn,
Ross, Sink and Vandenboom-10 Alb.
sent, Senators Hicks. Lemire and
TUFTS
Following its failure OF adoption the
resolution was tabled after a recon.
sideration and It's sponsors will make
an effort to corral some more votes
for IL before endeavoring 10 take Il
from the table.
AGRICULTURAL BILL PASSED.
The bill to create state depart
ment OF agriculture, third OF the
series designed TO remodel the .on-
duct OF state business, went through
the house OF representatives the same
day that it was reported out from the
committee on agriculture, being
passed both in committee OF the whole
and on third reading, under suspen-
sion OF the rules.
In the new department. the bill pro
vides, there will be consolidated all
state bureaus that concern agricul.
tural. livestock and horticultural mat
ters and the state fair will be under
designed 20 bring closer relations be-
tween producer and consumer. The
bill now is before the senate commit
tee on agriculture. II Is 10 be follow
ed by two more administration mea.
sures, the conservation bill and the
labor department measure.
Along the same lines there also is
being prepared measure 10 wip out
state institutional boards and have
their duties transferred 10 the state
administrative board and the depart
ments under which their institutions
naturally come. II further is planned
10 have one master accountant 10
keep track OF the financial affairs OF
all the institutions and state farm
er" who will look after the farms and
the livestock owned by many OF the
institutions. Some OF these farms
now lose money for the state.
ADJUST BUDGET SYSTEM.
The budget system that so far has
not functioned as II was Intended 20
will be looked after by the state ad.
ministrative board as we'll and the ser
vice OF the budget director will be dis.
pensed with. II Is planned to extend
the system to include even the state
university and agricultural college.
The bill 20 cover the deficiency
budget OF the state has been com.
pleted and introduced in the senate.
cut down from S2.400.000 TO S1.62S..
600. Part OF the saving Is the result
OF the drop IN general market prices.
institutional requests for funds All be.
ing based on last years prices. Tn.
authorized salary raises helped ma.
terlalIy 70 create the deficiency. ac.
coBding 10 the statement from the ad.
ministrative board 10 the Legislature.
II is thought the present bill viii
carry the state through this year nice
~, but there may be the necessity OF
special session Of the legislature
next January to meet conditions then.
To make the state administrative
board still more like a governors cab.