The diamond drill., 1921-02-26

LETTER
COUNTY UNIT PLAN FOR
ROAD WORK IS FAVORED
Amendment TO Highway Law Pro-
posed; Governor Gets First Bill;
Plan Censorship For Movies.

nlknNay construction, the mouse com
mttee on roads and bridges has takeI
action TO systematic the states high
way construction Methods
The first step in this direction is ir
the form o. an amendment to the
state highway act which deprivei
counties Of the right TO dissolve them
selves into township units for the pur
pose OF road building. The amend
ment has been reported out OF the
committee with the recommendation
that II be passed.
LARGER UNIT DE-lRABLE.
when the state and federal gov
ernments are spending vast sums for
highway construction, the county is
the smallest unit in the state which
can function efficiently for road build
ing purposes" said Rep. Charles
Evans, chairman OF the committee on
roads and bridges.
1T is manifestly unfair to permit
one small township TO block the work
of a road across county by refusing
TO cooperate with its neighbors. That
has been the experience, however.
when townships built their own roads.
The system has never been success.
ful and after one or two years try out
the counties which went 10 the town
ship system have returned to the
larger unit"
Michigan is now entitled TO $3,000.-
900 in federal aid for highway con-
struction and IL bill now before con-
gress goes through will receive an
additional $4,000, 900, all of which
would be available for road work for
the year beginning July 1, 1921.
The first bill passed by the 1921
Legislature was sent TO the Governor
by the senate last wsek before ad,
journment OF both houses TO allow
the Legislators to attend the Repub-
lican state convention at Detroit IL
authorizes the calling of spring
primary in Ingham county to nomin.
ate a circuit Judge.
The bill providing for a state ad-
ministrative board. recently passed
by the senate. passed the house by
unanimous vote. II carried, however.
two minor amendments and must be
returned 10 the senate sor its APP
proval The bill for centralizing all
state auditing in the auditor-generars |
department. previously passed by the |
senate, was also passed by the house. !
ASK MOVIE CENSORSHIP.
: In the senate bill proposing state
censorship OF motion picture films and |
advertising by state board at Lans-
ing, was introduced by Senator John
w. Smith. Port Huron, The board !
would be headed by the superintend-
ent OF public instruction who would /
be authorized TO employ one inspector
at 81 500 a year, and one stenographer. |
The board would net approve films
which. in its opinion, were sacrileg.
ious. obscene, indecent. immoral, or
tending to suggest false ideals or in-
cite crime. All advertising matter for
flms would also have to be submitted
TO the board for approval
A fee OF 81 for each 1000 feet OF
film would be collected by the board,
except in the case OF educational
nlms for schools or churches, when
the fee would be reduced TO 25 cents
A fine OF S25 to 800. or 80 days in
Jail, is provided for violators.
Establishment OF ono library ll
each township or city 10 proposed In
a Joint resolution introduced by Sen
ator III. A. Penny, Saginaw. which
asks for constitutional amendment
TO be voted on at the April election.
The amendment would also abolish
the practice OF diverting money re.
ceived as fines In penal cases &c
library uses.
Senator Bolts concurrent resolution
callipg upon congress TO hasten pas
rage OF a soldiers bonus measure wal I
adopted by the house under a suspen. I
sion OF the rules.
WOULD TAX SECURITIES. II
Repeal OF the tax exemption on for. :
elgn securities held In Michigan and
the imposition OF an ad valorem tax
on this class OF property will bring
the state revenue In excess OF $4,000. Z
900 annually. Rep. George Lord, chair, {
man OF the general taxation commit: {
tee. told the house members. speaking 2
FOR his bill TO repeal the exemption. q
Rep. Lord declared that the present
registration fee OF one half OF one per I
cent gives the state only $4,000 n
year and that the tax is collected but
once during the life OF such securities ,
which average rs years. II
Increase In the percentage OF its 4
assessed valuation which city rnay q
spend for the purchase, Improvement 2
and extension OF public utilities is pro. I
vided in bill introduced by Rep I
s. Ramsey. Lansing His I
amendment to the present law will
increase the limit from s TO 10 per 1
cent OF assessed valuation. s
Declaring that duty on Canadian q
l,....t.o. xvflt vork an unfoId hardahfn n