The diamond drill., 1921-01-29
LANSING
LETTER
FIRST STEPS TAKEN FOR
CREATION OF NEW BOARD
Early Enactment OF Reform LeolsIa.
tion Looked For: Would Repeal
Primary Law.

Both branches OF the legislature ad-
Journed late last week but before yot-
ing the three-day adjournment. steps
toward obtaining immediate action
on Governor Groesbeck's plan for re-
organization OF the state government
were taken. Gov. Groesbeck in con-
ference with Lieut-Gov. Thomas
Reed and Fred l.. Warner, speaker
of the house. decided TO abandon
plans for steering csmmittee made
mp OF members OF both houses, and
bills were presented providing legis-
lation 10 work out the changes as
outlined in the governors inaugural
message.
CENTRALIZED POWER
AS now proposed, the bill TO create
the administrative board would abol-
ish the budget commission. the office
OF budget slirector, the office OF state
purchasing agent and provide for
a state architect 10 supervise the
construction and repairing OF state
buildings. The bill for the auditing
Of the states accounts provides that
the auditorgeneral shall be the au-
ditor OF all accounts pertaining TO
state institutions.
Under the plan outlined. the admin
istrative board would he composed OF
the governor, who shall act as chair.
man, the secretary OF state, state
treasurer. auditor general, highway
commissioner and superintendent OF
public instruction. In this way ad-
ministration OF state affairs will be
centralized in the elective officers. IN
both houses. the bills have been re-
ferred 70 the committee on state af-
fairs. A twothirds vote is necessary
for passage OF the measures, and both
become effective upon passage and
approval
STATE CONTROL OF FAIR
The board OF directors OF the Mich
igan State Agricultural Society at
meeting held in Detroit last week.
voted unanimously in favor OF state
management and control of the State
Fair and John S. Haggerty was nam.
ed as chairman OF committee OF five
TO open negotiations with the Legis-
lature TO formulate arrangements.
The Detroit meeting OF the board OF
directors was attended by 20 OF the
"a directors. Gov. Groesbeck recon.
mended in HIS message that the state
take over the State Fair and operate
II for the best interests OF the state.
II is generally accepted that the
governors proposed department OF
agriculture, besides absorbing the
duties OF other state agencies, will
also take over the State Fair and
make IL true exhibition OF the
states standing and progress in agri-
cultural pursuits. The transfer to the
state will involve real estate assessed
at I2,000,000 and buildings valued in
the neighborhood OF $1,000 900. Many
new additions are also looked for un-
der state control
INSPECTION TRIPS MADE
Informal announcement has been
made OF the designations OF I. Roy
Waterbury and William III. Wallace
from the board OF agriculture. The
terms OF both expire next December
and should their designations be ac-
cepted, II will mean the naming OF
their successors In next springs cleo
tion. Nominees will be named at the
Republican State convention TO be
held Feb. II. I'm Detroit The upper
peninsula Ia making a bid for a place
on the board for John A. Doelle, Mar
quette. secretary-manager OF the Up
per Peninsula Development Bureau
Others mentioned are T. +. Marston,
Bay City and G. B. Cook, county
agent for Oakland.
During the adjournment period
many OF the committees were away
on inspectional trips. and with the
reconvening OF the session this week, ;
The Legislature was faced with much
legislation to provide for changes
recommended. Senator John w.
Smith, chairman OF the committee on
penal Institutions, has a plan for a
complete revision OF the system for /
handling men and women in the state
prisons. Sen. Smiths plan has the
approval OF Gov. Groesbeck.
WOULD ABOLISH PRIMARY
Senator Arthur 10. Woods. Detroit,
win introduce bill asking the repeal
OF the Michigan presidential prefer
ence primary act. Immediate aboii-
tion of the Michigan Community coun-
cil. regardless OF whether the iegis-
latare investigates its affairs, is urged
In the senate by Senator Herbert
Baker ana in the house by Represen-