Charlevoix county herald., 1921-02-04
Plans Grouping
of Departments
Governors Bills For Three New
Departments Sent to Legislators.

departments Sent to Legislators.
Lansing.-Definite indication of a
busy session Of the fifty-first legis.
lature Is shown by the number of bills
going into the legislative hopper
Governor Groesbeck last week sent
to the house and the senate, bills pro.
viding for the reorganization Of three
branches Of the state government by
creating a department Of agriculture,
department of conservation and anoth.
er to be known as the Industrial and
labor department.
Departments Grouped.
Much interest is centered on the
agricultural bill. 1t provides for a
department OF agriculture, in charge
of commissioner to be appointed by
the Governor with the advise and con.
sent OF the senate. This department
would take over the powerf and carry
out the duties of the present depart.
ment Of animal husbandry. the state
food and drug commission, the state
veterinary board, the immigration
commission and the board of geologi.
cal survey.
II would also take over the work of
inspecting and regulating orchards,
vineyards, nurseries. apiaries, seed
testing analysis of commercial fertili.
zers and stock foods.
Appointments of the heads of the
different bureaus would be left to the
commissioner of the department, sub
ject to the approval OF the administra
tive board which is created by the pro
visions of the first reform measure
sent to the legislature by the Gov.
ernor. All departments whose duties
are absorbed by the proposed depart
ment of agriculture would cease to
function by the end of next June.
State to Run Fair.
A very important provision of the
Governors plan for the creation OF
the department Of agriculture, is the
taking over of all lands and property
for the holding of the state fair.
Arrangements for the holding OF
the annual fair would be placed in
charge OF a board Of managers, con-
sisting of 20 members appointed by
the Governor upon the recommends.
tion OF the commissioner, who would
serve as chairman of the board. Funds
acquired from the proceeds of the
fair would be turned over to revolv.
ing fund to be used for the mainten.
apce Of the project. 1t Is provided
that after exceeding a certain amount
to be set later, the excess would be
turned over TO the states general
fund.
Conservation Plan Revealed.
The measure creating the depart
ment OF conservation transfers to the
new body the work of the present
public domain commission with the
additional duties of the game, fish and
forest fire departments, board OF fish
commissioners and the state park
commission. all of which are abolished
by the bill.
A commission OF six members. ap.
pointed by the Governor, would con-
troll this department. The commits
sion will name It's director from its
members.
No salaries are fixed in either the
agriculture or conservation depart.
ment plans. this detail Of the bills be.
ing left to the legislative committees
which will be asked to study and re-
port on the measures. The former
bill was introduced by Representative
Atwood, Newaygo and the conserva
ton bill was brought before the house
by Representative Charles Brown,
Flint.
Labor Bill Submitted.
Reorganization of the several de.
partments and boards now functioning
In the interests Of labor and industry,
is provided for in department to be
known as the Industrial and labor de-
partment consisting OF three members
to be appointed by the Governor with
the advise and consent Of the senate.
This bill would consolidate the in
dustrial accident board. the state la
Dor bureau and the Industrial rela-
tions commission. Each member would
devote his entire time TO the depart
ment and receive q salary of $4,000 a
year. At least one Of the members
must be an attorney. The chairman
of the department would be named by
the Governor.
It is proposed that the measure
when approved becomes effective i'm
mediately and that II take over all the
business, law suits and other matter
pending before any of the depart.
ments abolished.
Would Observe Birthday.
January 2s was the sixty.fourth an.
niversary of the admission of Micht
gan into statehood and Representa-,
a.. uyarran N pvrum In0hap, ooup