tion was a meritorious one and had the people understood the real situation they would have voted it cheerfully. The officers comprising the Board of State Auditors also hold the important positions of Secretary of State, State Treasurer, and Commissioner of the State Land Office, respectively, two of whom receive only $800 per annum, while the other, the State Treasurer, receives but $1,000. Owing to the meager salary and the impossibility of compelling a man of ordinary means to leave his business and live at the capitol, or of even attending habitually to his duties, it has made it necessary to employ deputies who are competent to do the work of the principal, and paying them a liberal salary. Then a chief clerk has been appointed who has had general supervision of the office, and who has usually done the work which the deputy would do in case the principal were present attending personally to the duties of the office. The men who have occupied the position of deputy have been good men, and have with few exceptions done their work well but there is a difference between power and responsibility and power without responsibility. It cannot be doubted that the interests of the State of Michigan would be greatly benefited by requiring all the State officers to attend personally to the duties of their offices. If this were done enough would be saved in salaries of deputies and clerks about the offices to largely compensate for the increase but even if this were not done, the important duties which devolve upon these officers, as members of the Board of Canvassers and especially as members of the Board of State Auditors, all requiring personal attention, would justify it. It is not only in the interest of economy, but in the interest of good government. It is not just to those holding these important offices that the pay should be so meager that they must turn over the most responsible duties to subordinates. I believe it would be a saving of thousands of dollars to the taxpayers of Michigan should an amendment be adopted giving fair compensation to these officers and requiring them to give personal attention to the duties of their respective offices. The Superintendent of Public Instruction is another important State official of whom very much is expected, and who is only paid $1,000 per year. There are substantially the same reasons why he should have a fair salary and be required to attend personally to the duties of his office as there are in the other cases. Important as are the officials above mentioned, the case of the Attorney General is none the less so. He is paid only the insignificant salary of $800 per annum, and he is expected to be the legal adviser of all the State officers, elective and appointive, and the legal adviser to the prosecuting attorneys of the State, and various other officials, and is expected to give legal advice in real estate, and criminal matters, also in railroad, insurance, and various other departments of law where corporations employ attorneys educated and experienced in these particular branches. It cannot help resulting in a loss to the State. I believe the State is losing enough to pay a reasonable salary to four Attorneys General through lack of paying a fair compensation to one. The same provision should be applied here, and the Attorney General given a fair salary, and be required to attend personally to the duties of his office. As an illustration of the amount lost in this way on account of the small salary paid to this officer, in the year 1890 alone the Board of State Auditors allowed for attorney fees and expenses the sum of $12,981.84. That occasions may arise when additional counsel is needed is altogether probable, but if this provision were adopted the amount saved in extra counsel would pay the additional salary of the Attorney General several times over, and I believe he would save the State much more by having the cases attended to promptly and properly. OFFICIAL BONDS. Up to the present time neither the Secretary of State nor his deputy have ever been required to give official bonds. The reason for this probably is that originally the Secretary of State was merely a record keeper, and no moneys passed through his hands, but in later years large sums of money are received by him from various sources, and as was shown in the case of the late Deputy Secretary of State, there is a chance for embezzlement. It would seem proper that both the Secretary of State and his deputy should be required to give adequate bonds for the faithful performance of their responsible duties, and for the safe payment of all moneys coming into their hands. No bond has ever been required for money received as notary public fees. It might be well to place this duty of receiving this fund and accounting for it upon either the private secretary or executive clerk to the Governor, and require bonds for the safe custody of the funds. There is another officer who is performing important duties and handling considerable money, and while he is not holding office in violation of law, yet is not recognized either by the constitution or the statutes. This is the clerk of the Board of State Auditors. It seems to me it would be wise to authorize the Board of State Auditors by statute to appoint a secretary, to be removed at will, and to require him to enter into a bond for the faithful performance of his duties, and the safe custody of money and property intrusted to his keeping. Another office of similar tenure is the Engineer and Superintendent of Buildings and Grounds. I think this officer should also be authorized by statute, his duties and responsibilities fixed, to be appointed or removed by the Board of State Auditors, who are the proper and lawful custodians of the State property. He should also be required to give a bond for the faithful performance of his duties, and the safe custody of property intrusted to his care. POSTAGE ACCOUNTS. Under the present system of purchasing stamps for the various departments abuses are liable to creep in, and undoubtedly have existed in the past. It would seem as though this postage account had become of sufficient importance that some proper and convenient system for protecting the State and preventing unnecessary losses on this account should be provided. SUPREME COURT. During the legislative session of 1893 several plans were proposed for the relief of the supreme court. The one finally adopted required the judges to reside at Lansing, and an increase of salary was given them in consideration thereof. At the time of the adjournment of the legislature there were upwards of one hundred cases ready for hearing but which could not be reached. In the eighteen months since that time the calendar has been cleared and the court feels that under the present condition of affairs they will be able to keep up with the work. The judges have been where they could constantly consult together, and I am fully satisfied that the relief granted has been the most practicable that could have been given, and that it cannot help but improve the character of the decisions, in giving the opinions of the full court to a greater extent than ever before by being where they can at all times consult together and have access to the State library. If further relief is needed it seems to me the most practicable plan would be to limit the cases which may be appealed to the supreme court under some proper safeguard. Should an intermediate court be created, litigants would be no better satisfied when their cases are decided by this court than they are now in the circuit court, and would not be content with anything short of a decision by the highest judicial tribunal in the State. Some provision might be made creating some authority to decide whether a case raises questions that should be passed upon by a higher court. It might be urged that this would be a denial of justice in cases where the amount involved is small, but there is little doubt that poor litigants are more times deprived of justice by vexatious appeals than by a denial of the privilege of going to the supreme court, and some cases are now taken there which involve so small an amount that the court should never be compelled to devote any time to it. It tends to belitlte the court and is not conducive to the just determination of results. Within a short time a case appeared in our supreme court which involved four geese and sixteen goslings only, and it seems to me that no injustice can be done when provision is made that trivial cases of this character can not be appealed to the supreme court. FARMERS' INSTITUTES. The following resolution, which was unanimously adopted at the last meeting of the State Grange, meets the views of a very large majority of the farmers throughout the State, and is heartily recommended for your consideration: "We advocate that the State appropriate annually the sum of $5,000, or such amount as will be sufficient to hold a two day institute in every county in the State where the agricultural interests are sufficienly important to demand it. We believe the success of the institutes will be greatest where the local interest is the greatest. We therefore suggest that the law require the formation of county institute societies under whose auspices the institutes shall be held, and which shall provide local speakers to occupy about. one-half the time of the institute, and for local expenses." STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. The State Horticultural Society has been doing a good work in this State and the horticultural products of the State are becoming a very important. source of revenue. They are increasing rapidly from year to year. The State has been in the habit of bearing the expense of printing its reports. They are now called upon to meet some new insect pests which threaten destruction to some of the most valuable fruits in the State. I hope that when the needs of the society are presented they will receive the attention their importance merits. CHICKAMAUGA COMMISSION. Under the provisions of Act No. 55, Public Acts of 1893, the following commission was appointed to ascertain, fix, and mark the positions occupied by the several independent organizations of this State in the battles. of Chickamauga, Chattanooga, and Mission Ridge: Charles E. Belknap, of Grand Rapids; Lucius L. Church, of Howard City; James M. Whallon, of Fitchburg; Edgar A. Crane, of Kalamazoo; and Sylvester F. Dwight, of Hillsdale. The commission has made a partial report of its doings, but as the report was not complete it was withheld for completion. The commission has asked for an appropriation of $20,000 to mark the positions occupied by the several Michigan regiments and batteries. After this is done the government will take care of the monuments, and the State will be to no further expense. I think this appropriation should be made. It is less than any other State has appropriated in proportion, but from plans submitted by the commission I am satisfied the work can be well done for this amount, and recommend that the appropriation be made. ANTIETAM COMMISSION. Upon the request of the Antietam Board, appointed by the Secretary of War, to carry out the provisions of an act of congress approved August 30, 1890, appropriating money for the purpose of surveying, locating and preserving the battle lines at the battle of Antietam, Gen. W. H. Withington, W. H. Brearley, Maj. R. W. Jacklin, Col. J. D. Sumner, and A. T. Navarre, were appointed a commission to mark the positions of Michigan regiments and batteries upon the field of battle. The work of this commission has been nearly completed. There is no provision of law authorizing the payment of the actual expenses of this commission while engaged in this work, and I would recommend that an act be passed making provision for its expenses. The work is along the same line as that performed by the Chickamauga Commission, and is deserving of the same consideration. LABOR STRIKES. During the summer of 1894, Michigan, as well as her sister states, suffered from the great labor strikes, which occurred during the last days of June and early days of July. Great damage was done by the suspension of railway traffic, and the incidental damage done to all kinds of business. It is undoubtedly the fact, however, that those engaged in the strike were the greatest sufferers therefrom as in many cases they were thrown out of employment and were compelled to seek employment elsewhere. In many cases it became necessary for men who had comfortable homes either wholly or partially paid for, and who had established social and business ties which were of great value to them, found it necessary to sever all these connections, and seek employment amid strange scenes and surroundings. Others have been unable to get employment, owing to the number of men thrown out of employment, and from other causes. Fortunately but little damage was done by the wanton destruction of property. There was, however, one very serious wreck, causing the loss of two lives, and the endangering of many others, brought about by the removing of a rail from the track of the Chicago & Grand Trunk railroad west of Battle Creek, on the night of July 16, 1894, which, while not the work of the organization, was caused by the feeling engendered during the strike. Those engaged in this diabolical work have confessed their crime, and it is possible will be punished for it. Soon after midnight on the night of July 2, upon the representation of the sheriff of Calhoun county, other citizens and railroad officials of the danger of the destruction of property by the lawless element which almost always accompanies a strike, the companies composing the first regiment of the Michigan National Guard viz.: Company A, Ann Arbor, Captain, John C. Fischer. were ordered into their respective armories. All the companies responded with commendable alacrity, and practically all the members of each company who were at home and in condition for duty responded promptly, Fortunately their services were not needed, and they were relieved on the evening of July 3. On the 3d of July an urgent call was made for military aid by the sheriff of Gogebic county, on account of the striking miners. After a brief but thorough investigation as the circumstances would permit the following companies of the 5th regiment, Companies D, of Calumet, Captain Edward S. Grierson E, of Menominee, Captain Robert W. Chester; F, of Houghton, Captain George Millar; G, of Marquette, Captain James E. Ball; and H, of Ironwood, Captain William L. Winslow, under command of Colonel Frank B. Lyon, were ordered to report for duty at Ironwood at once. The companies immediately responded and while it was found necessary to keep the troops on the ground for twenty-six days, there were no excesses on the part of the troops, no blood was shed, and good order was maintained. The good behavior of the troops is the more to be commended from the fact that upon their arrival they were hooted at and stoned, and two or three of their number considerably injured, but under the command of Colonel Lyon, whose excellent judgment and soldierly qualities cannot be too highly commended, the troops behaved like veterans and showed that they felt the responsibilties of the soldier. When all do so well it seems unwise to make special mention, but I cannot refrain from mentioning the case of Company H. Captain Winslow, of the 5th regiment, located at Ironwood, who were the first to respond to the call of the sheriff, and while among the strikers were their neighbors and friends, they stood from first to last ready to do their full duty, and when the colonel, owing to lack of accommodations, intsructed them to go to their respective homes, subject to call, were reluctant to do so until assured by the commanding officer that there was no lack of confidence in their loyalty or reliability in case of need. There is an almost unanimous opinion on the part of the citizens of Ironwood that the presence of the troops alone prevented great destruction of property and possible loss of life. |