The Governor's Proclamation

CQMMONWEALTH OF MICHIGAN,) i . ri ulive i LQce, L'iuslug, Marcu IU, 1897. ) To tl: (ii Michigan : Tiie legislature oí thiis state, by a prac tiealiy uaanimöus vente, and tuoai party división, has voted to am.'iul hv oOBstHbution oí this s'.au-, so ubiat liesetuïter the Attorney Genera", sluall i'eaüde al the oapito] duiiiii.; ".ricial' term arad give all o; and atnengtih to the duties oi tijsB ) í ! i c e . In retuni Jor '.l work vliey have eai'd tina i he - '.e vhree thonsand save Imndred U illar.s (3,500) a ,n;r. Bastead o eighlt hundred, which was put u th.e oonstitution neaKy 50 yeare ago, wilbh. the uJiderstandmg that as there was them Vittlc ior the Attomey G-ouenal1 to do, he could gire neaiiy all of his timo to his own business I appnove oí tihllis amendmeuit, find idow tbat it has bso :isulmitted to you for "ute purpose oí Üetcrmwiing yom %v:M ratiiy aad approve Chat whith youT represent atlves have already dome, I destre to address you in advocaey of tiiis amendment, by uslng tte strongest language that I can co;rama.'nid. As y,';ii ;■[ ■vc: imv, ehosen by you to execute tJie iaws, I am ansióos to do so to vine lesfc of my abitity. liut ou a nvdment's refieotton, yau wlU t;ee that it is ateolutely necessa-ry, ii any work is io le done whioli. ha ior lts object tlue deïeiwe of yoiur rii;iit.s and tho pnotiection of your latereste, that the time o! the Attarney Generaü must bs ;akin up. His place is liere at the capdto:. But it is wrong! to ask tJnat thiis service be jierformed, u'n'.ess som pr0TisIoin is maide for his pay. Onlesa you, as vwbers of tbis sl.'vic, are vdlltag to ratify this ,i iiii'iiidmen't, then one ai th.ree things must fo'.Jwv : that no a.ttempt Bhall be mide to proitect youf interests, ov thiat the Attcwney Oenera] must work practicay few nothing, or tih.e cust'Oim be continue-d of hiring outslde attorneys and paying them liberally f ar doiiig thie work whioh jiou e'ject the Attorney General to perform. The eimp'je fact Is, as sliown by the records y.m tuave pald out for ttulis ser-vic , on as average, much ni.!)"!' per year thian tLe amount nam(-(1 iin t-hd-a am-eiidment. What -he state o'i Mi'chigan bas Iiosi 5y veason 8 refusa] bo pay a iiec8at aalary do a giood a1 tormey, no man can tel ; Ín ni.v Judgmeal ir avd-üO;! min into tlie ín'.'.. i ios. The proposed amondinent wou'.íii cosí the average tax-payer bo miicii : :s6 th ín a ■■■:!. a year that i( wouúnl Ík' diifficult to computa. ín th.? iaicrcsi thn, o! good gov(- i.:ii!nt , lm the interest oí eoonomy, and a o:i dtemüned, so far as I oan, bo protecl and detend yomor righ-ts I nsk you to vnrc "Yes" on the propos;! ion to anipinl ilhe constitution as submltited i i you. Very PespeotíuCOy.