Attorney-general's Salary

The legislatura of this state, with the greatest unaniinity, and without party división, have determined to ainend the OQiistitution of Michigan, by giving the attorney general a salary for the great and important services tliat he renders the state. The qnestion now is, will the voters ratify and approve of that which their representatives have done? It is safe to say that there bas not been a legislatnre assembled at the capital in the last twenty-five years that would not, with an almost unanimous vote, have given the attorney general a larger salary than that which is novv named in the proposedamendmeot, for the simple reason that they, being on the ground, ascertained the true facts of the case, and from tbose facts they are convinced that, not only does the interests of the state imperatively requhe the constant and best service of a most able attornev, but that by giving him a living salary, thousands of dollars wonld be saved to tbe state eacli year. The question now is, as to whether the voters of tliis state can see what is for tlieir nterests and vote accordingly. The single proposition that is submitted to thein ie ithis : To compel the lawyer who becomes attorney general to take up his residence, during his term of office, at the seat of govermnent and jdve all of his time and strength to the (hities of his office, and as compensation for such services tlie state agrees to pay him the Bum of $3,500, which is just one-half of that which each member of tlie supreme court receives, $2,500 less than is paid each of the six judges of Wayne county, and $1,500 less than the prosecuting attorney of Wayne county and the Corporation counsel of Detroit receive, respectively, for their services yearly. Or, if this is not done, then the voters must decide to let the matter go on as it has been for the last 40 years - the attoruey general receiving no eompensation to speak of, residing at his lioine attending, for the most part, to his own business, and making the great interests of the state subordínate thereto, or coinpelling him, without compensation to give up his entire private practice through the conscientious purpose to discharge vvell the duties of his high office. On this issue therefore, there ought not to be a dissenting vote. More and more is it absolutely necessary tliat tiie interests of the people should be protected. Constant encroachments, undoubtedly, have been made upon their rights, by those who, finding the field unprotected, have entered in and taken posession thereof. lt is time, as Gov. Rich, in one of bis inessages to the legislature, said : "By paying the attorney general the insignificant sum of $800 per year (the sanie tliat is paid janitors and messengers), tlie state is losing enough each year to pay a reasonable salary to four attorney generáis, through lack of paying a fair compensation to one." How long will the voters of Michigan "save at the spigot and waste at the bunghole?" A first prize of $300 and a number prteee hare been offerecl by The CenMiry 3o., publfehere of the Ceatury Oictionai-y and Cyclopediia, for the "best anmviers to a lmiidred and fiïty questi'oiiB ooTering a broad range if imíormaticm. A sample question, ■wliik.il Ls easier tlian somie ot them, is as iO'iloAvs : "Whab is the appioxinualte dKference ia attitude bctween 1toe loitiest Alpine summit amd the bed of 'l.he greaiteet deprassioa in the Medl'tixaïiean basin ?" An additional ;)i i ze of $300 is of f erad to aoiy one ttímo oan 90 per cent. of the questioni' froni any teil published works of reference other th.ui tlie Century Dictionary and