FARMERS' INSTITUTES. 165 



Teach hoys and girls to wait until conditions are favorable and a 

 home in course of construction if possible, before they are married. 

 The waiting a few years longer may save them many heartaches. A 

 young man has not much business ability or forethought who has not 

 attempted to make a home first, and secured the bride afterwards. 

 Paying off debts for all in the home is uphill work; many grow old and 

 die in the attempt. Saving and building can usually be done much bet- 

 ter in early life. Think for yourself and teach your children to do so. 

 Many a man and woman have been complete failures because they al- 

 lowed father and mother to do all the thinking and planning, and when 

 They came to stand alone, they fall, so to speak. Be proud to be able 

 to work, glad you are able to earn money to buy necessary things. Idle 

 men and women are the world's worst enemies and the devil's best 

 friends. The Lord helps those who help themselves. 



PRACTICAL LAW POINTS. 



BY DAVID ANDERSON^ PROSECUTING ATTORNEY;, PAW PAW. 



(Read at the Shelby and Coopersville Institutes.) 



' DRAINAGE. 



In dealing with this subject I shall not give much of the law that 

 applies to the officers constructing the drain but shall aim to call 

 attention to matters that the taxpayers need to keep track of on their 

 part. The legal theory of a public drain is that the proposed drain 

 shall be conducive to the public health, convenience and welfare. The 

 Constitution of Michigan in the 9th section of the 14th Article provides : 

 "The State shall not be a party to or interested in any work in inter- 

 nal improvement nor engage in carrying on such work." Under this the 

 Supreme Court has held that the legislature can not levy a tax on any 

 particular locality for any internal improvement. Under this also, 

 railroad aid bond and other similar enterprises have been declared void 

 by our courts and the court has been very strict in reference to State 

 aid to any such enterijrise. The court has also held :with reference^to 

 the drain law that no drain can be laid for the benefit to private citi- 

 zens and that the man benefited can not be taxed unless the drain is 

 a benefit to the public. 



All drains are under the charge of the county drain commissioner. 

 He is appointed by the board of supervisors of the county for a term of 

 two years. His compensation is |.3.00 per day for the time actually and 

 necessarily employed. He may appoint one deputy from each township 

 and the compensation of the deputy is .fl'.OO per day. The bills of the 

 commissioner and deputies are audited by a board composed of the judge 

 of probate, county treasurer and county clerk. The pay of the commis- 

 sioner comes from the drain funds, not from the county treasury. The 

 commissioner has no power to issue an order in favor of himself or his 

 deputies until the bills are audited as required by law. 



