FEES OF OFFICERS.

It is complained that officers who are compensated wholly or partly by fees are, in many instances, paid exorbitant rates and that frequently their charges are excessive and above the limit prescribed by law.

It is also alleged that criminal proceedings for trivial offenses are sometimes instituted and carried on even to imprisonment more to enable officers to obtain fees than to subserve the ends of justice. While every official should have a fair allowance for his services, it is neither just nor proper that extravagant perquisites should be given to those whose employment is merely clerical, requiring neither extraordinary skill, learning, or ability. The subject is worthy of your careful inquiry.

ANTIETAM NATIONAL CEMETERY.

The State of Maryland now holds the title to the Antietam National Cemetery, as trustee for the several States which contributed towards its establishment. The board of trustees have incurred indebtedness, and by act of Congress of March 2, 1877, the Secretary of War is authorized to pay the same when the legal title to the property shall be transferred to and vested in the United States.

This State is one of the parties in interest, and as provision is made by the General Government for the proper care of all its cemeteries, I recommend that you assent to the transfer, and will hereafter submit a bill for that purpose, prepared by the War Department.

ST. MARY'S FALLS SHIP CANAL.

The 23rd day of June last marks a quarter of a century since ground was broken for the construction of the St. Mary's Falls Ship Canal. The tonnage passing through it has increased from 106,296 tons in 1855, to 1,439,215 tons in 1877, and 1,667,136 tons in 1878.

Its gross yearly revenues during the same time have multiplied by ten, being $44,351.43 in 1877, and $49,437.00 in 1878. More than 5,000 vessels, many of them of large tonnage, have passed its locks in the two seasons referred to, making an average passage of one boat every two hours and ten minutes during the time of navigation. The general government is now building additional locks for the purpose of enlarging and increasing the capacity of the canal, and such progress is being made that the work promises to be fully completed within the next two years. The Legislature of 1869, by joint resolution authorized the Board of Control to transfer the canal to the United States on the payment

of all outstanding indebtedness incurred by the State in the construction or management thereof. The indebtedness of the canal, which the State treasury is pledged to pay, is $16,000.00, and the amount standing to its credit on the books of the Treasurer, is $74,532.12. The canal debt is thus fully provided for, and will be extinguished as rapidly as it falls due and before, if the bonds can be purchased. Its financial condition, therefore, is such that it may be at any time transferred to the United States. A number of necessary repairs and excellent improvements have been made by the present Superintendent, John Spalding, and an additional new set of gates have been purchased and placed by direction of the Board. Further needed repairs are now being made, and the probabilities are that owing to decayed sills and damaged piers, the expenditure for this purpose will somewhat increase during the next two years.

On coming into office I found the clerk of the canal had absconded charged with the embezzlement of $1,114.77 of the canal funds. Since then he has been arrested, tried and acquitted. I further found the accounts in an unsatisfactory condition, and the Superintendent, from his own showing, a defaulter to the amount of $877.31, to recover which sum, proceedings are now pending against him and his bail. This condition of affairs led the Legislature to relieve the Superintendent of the canal from the control and management of its finances, and to create for that purpose an officer known as Collector of Tolls. The change has proved a desirable one, as the duties of the Superintendent in the immediate supervision of the canal demand his whole attention, while the accounts in the respective offices prove a check upon each other. In connection with his annual report for 1877, the Collector, William Chandler, has prepared and published an interesting and valuable history of the canal.

The projection and construction of this canal is eminently due to the sagacity and exertions of the early settlers of Michigan. They knew that the extensive coast of Lake Superior possessed mineral and other treasures of great value, and with almost prophetic vision they seemed to realize the importance of the immense commerce and trade which has since been developed in this region. Through defeats, delays and discouragements they steadily persevered in urging the enterprise until they were effective in securing its commencement and completion. It would most fittingly crown their achievement if this important channel, opening complete water communication between the greatest of inland lakes and the ocean, were made forever free to the passage of all vessels navigating these waters. If this were accomplished, and reciprocal facilities afforded us by the Dominion of Canada for transportation through the Welland Canal, the entire passage from the great lakes to the ocean would be untrammeled by tolls, and the commercial and social relations

of prosperous communities, speaking the same language and having many interests in common, improved and strengthened.

THE LIQUOR LAW.

The whole amount of taxes assessed throughout the State under the liquor tax law for the year 1877 was $420,160.18. Of this amount $387,338.89 was collected and $32,821.29 remains uncollected.

Complete returns have not yet been made to the Auditor General for the past year, and consequently I am not able to present the showing therefor. It will be seen that quite a large percentage of the tax is unpaid and lost. This is in some respects due to officers neglecting to promptly press collection, as well as to the fact that some parties have been enabled to escape payment through the local courts by reason of some technical defects in the assessments. If this law is to remain it should be so amended as to provide that payment of the tax shall be a condition precedent to the right to sell at all, with a penalty imposed for any sale in violation of such provision. It is unequal and unjust, among the parties selling, to permit one to escape a tax that the other is obliged to pay. I am advised that the law has had the effect to somewhat reduce the number of places where liquor is sold.

EXECUTIVE MANSION.

My experience as executive of the State satisfies me that the governor ought to reside at the capital. His presence upon many occasions would facilitate business. Now that the State offices, civil and military, are removed here, the necessity is greater than ever.

With the small salary affixed to the office the governor should not be expected to come here and provide himself with a home. The State should furnish a residence comporting with the character of the capitol, in which the executive should live during his term of office. I recommend that the block of lots upon which the old capitol stands be subdivided and with the buildings thereon be sold by the Commissioner of the Land Office, upon terms to be fixed by the Governor, State Treasurer, and himself, and that a portion of the proceeds sufficient for the purpose be applied to the erection of a residence for the governor. I bespeak this not for myself but for my successors.

CONCLUSION.

In concluding this communication, let me say the responsibilities resting upon you are of no light character. For a limited time, subject

only to the restrictions of the Federal and State constitutions, with you rests the sole power of legislating for the people of this commonwealth. The rights of person and property, the most important interests affecting society, as well as the honor and welfare of the State, are in a great measure committed to you. While the State has had a remarkable growth, and is strong in population and productions, it is yet but in the early periods of its development. We have forests untouched, mines undisturbed, and thousands upon thousands of acres waiting only for the tiller to transform them into harvest-bearing fields. If your legislation shall contribute to foster and further unfold these interests; if it shall promote morality, cherish virtue, encourage education, check disorganizing tendencies, and maintain the blessings of peace and union, you will have accomplished the work delegated to you in a manner worthy of the gratitude of your constituents.

CHARLES M. CROSWELL.

TO THE SENATE:

May 27, 1879

From Journal of the Senate, pp. 1251-1252

I transmit herewith to the Honorable Senate, for the use of the Legislature, the final report of the Board of State Building Commissioners, appointed under an act of the Legislature providing for the erection of a new State Capitol and a building for the temporary use of the State officers, approved March 31, 1871. In transmitting this communication, I deem it proper to say that in my judgment the commissioners have performed the duties enjoined upon them with exemplary care, faithfulness, and ability, and I respectfully suggest, in view of the fact that the official duties of the board have terminated, that such action to be taken by the Legislature as shall cause the maps, records, papers, and files in their office to be transferred to and deposited in the office of the Secretary of State, there to be permanently preserved. These records have been admirably kept, and contain a full and minute history of all proceedings, expenditures, and important transactions relating to the construction of the Capitol building, and they should be deposited, as aforesaid, in the custody of the Secretary of State, that they may be properly cared for as a part of the archives of the State, to be referred to whenever occasion may require.

CHARLES M. CROSWELL.

1881

January 6, 1881

From Journal of the Senate, pp. 15-34

GENTLEMEN OF THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

The retiring Governor is required to communicate to the Legislature at the close of his official term the condition of the State, and to recommend such measures as to him shall seem expedient. In the discharge of this duty I shall confine myself to a summary of the situation of our public affairs during my administration, with suggestions for such changes as may have appeared to me in the course of my experience to be beneficial or necessary. I shall leave it to my successor, who will directly share with you in the responsibilities of legislation, to indicate measures of future policy.

CENSUS.

The census of 1880 shows Michigan to have a population of 1,634,096 inhabitants. Less than half a century has transpired since the State was admitted into the Federal Union. Within that time it has increased in numbers more than nine fold, and in population now outranks all its sister States save eight, while the productions of its fertile soil, the treasures of its mines, the avails of its forests and fisheries, and the immense commerce tributary to it from the great lakes, and from its numerous lines of railway traversing it in every direction, have given it comparatively a still higher position in the scale of material wealth. The State is strong-strong in numbers, strong in resources, strong in its educational and humane institutions, strong in its respect for public virtue, in its devotion to liberty and union, and strong in the hold it has upon the affections of the people.

It is expected that the new census will give us increased representation in Congress, and upon you will undoubtedly devolve the duty of making a re-arrangement of the Congressional and Legislative districts conforming to the new enumeration, and so adjusted that the territory in each shall be contiguous and contain as near as may be an equal number of inhabitants. This duty is an important one, and should be so discharged that the people of all parts of the State may have just repre sentation.