494 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE 



While the local club is potent in elevating the social, moral and intel- 

 lectual conditions of its members, and thus indirectly conferring financial 

 benefit, it could never hoi)e to succeed in such an interference in pul»lic 

 allairs as would result in a direct cash saving to the taxpayers. This the- 

 State Association has attempted, and it can point even now to results 

 accomplished. While our constitution is broad enough to admit and 

 justify effort in many fields, it has been the policy of this Association 

 to determine, first, from which direction came the imperative demand 

 for our effort and then to concentrate the power of the Association for 

 the accomplishment of the desired results. Before the last annual 

 meeting there was a general complaint that taxes were almost unendur- 

 ably high. The protest was so vigorous and long continued that the 

 executive committee of this Association decided that in no way could it 

 render greater service to the people in general and farmers in particular 

 than by an effort to reduce taxation. Accordingly the call for the last 

 annual meeting was a suggestion that the Association should enter 

 upon an inquiry as to how this result could be accomplished. The action 

 of that committee was endorsed by the Association, and the work of 

 the last annual meeting was devoted largely to an inquiry into the causes 

 of our burdensome tax levy. The local clubs have, during the past year, 

 continued this investigation. That the lines pursued by the local clubs 

 have been parallel and Their conclusions so nearly a unit, is due in a 

 large measure to the elficient aid rendered the Association by our de- 

 partment in the "Michigan Farmer," which has been so ably and fear- 

 lessly conducted by our honored ex-president. Too much praise cannot 

 be bestowed upon ]Mr. ]>ird for the service he has rendered this Asso- 

 ciation. As a result we are met in annual convention with clearly de- 

 fined ideas concerning the specific changes which should be made in the- 

 conduc't of public affairs, to the end that taxation may be reduced. This 

 purpose of reducing taxation comes up as unfinished business and should 

 have precedence in our delil)erations. We shall now make public declara- 

 tion of our conclusions and desires and determine the means which we 

 shall adopt to secure a compliance with our demands. 



Your executive committee has endorsed and recommend for your adop- 

 tion eight succinct pro]»ositions relating to ])ublic affairs. They believe 

 that the practical api>li(ation of them would result in an annual saving 

 to the taxpayers of more than half a million dollars. This declaration 

 of principles is the outgiowth of the discussions of public matters which 

 have been the prominent feature of associational and local club work. 

 They are doubtless familiar to you, yet are of so great importance as to 

 demand enumeration here. They are as follows: 



First, That all county officials shall be paid in full for their respective 

 services by stated salaries fixed by the respective boards of supervisors, 

 and that it be made a criminal offense for such officials to receive any 

 fees or other perquisites in addition to their salaries. 



Further, that the fees collected in county offices be rearljusted on an 

 equitable basis, and that hereafter all such fees be turned into the county 

 treasury and become a part of the general fund. 



Second, That no new State institutions be established by the next 

 legislature, and that there be a general weeding out of the unprofitable 

 State institutions already in existence and of unbusiness-like methods of 

 management wherever thev exist. 



