USA > Michigan > Official directory and legislative manual of the State of Michigan for the years 1893-4 > Part 59
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The State will be liable for no expenses incurred in the pursuit and arrest of fugitives. L
The expense incurred in this State for the return to other States of fugitives from justice will be paid by the agents of such States.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE.
THE SECRETARY OF STATE.
The Secretary of State is the custodian of the great seal of the State, and counter- signs and affixes such seal to all executive proclamations, to various commissions, to warrants, to pardons, the requisition for or extradition of fugitives from justice. He is also the custodian of the laws and records of the State. He publishes the laws and resolutions of the Legislature, and amendments to the Constitution.
He is also charged with certain annual reports relating to agriculture, vital and other statistics; the supervision of the printing of the reports of various State officers and boards, the preparation and publication of the Legislative Manual, and the compilations of various laws.
He supervises the taking of the census of the State every tenth year, and the sub- sequent arrangement, compilation and publication of the statistics collected.
He issues patents for State lands upon the certificate of the Land Commissioner, and in this connection decides whether the holders of such certificates are legally entitled to patents thereon, subject to appeal to the Governor. He approves and files the bonds of certain officers; also articles of association or incorporation and the reports authorized or required by the laws of the State.
He is required to give due notice to sheriffs of State officers to be elected at the regular or special elections ; also of the submission of amendments to the Consti- tution, and to furnish proper blanks for the returns.
He is a member of the board of State auditors, the board of state canvassers, the agricultural land grant board, board on the consolidation and crossings of railroads, board of control of state swamp lands, board of trustees to take charge of escheated property and other State assets, board of internal improve- ment, State board of equalization, and the bureau of labor and industrial statistics.
THE DEPUTY SECRETARY OF STATE.
The Deputy Secretary of State performs such duties as are prescribed by the Sec- retary or required by law, aiding in the general administration and having imme- diate charge of the affairs of the department. In the absence of the Secretary, he acts as head of the department.
THE CHIEF CLERK.
The Chief Clerk, under the immediate direction of the Secretary and Deputy Secretary, has the general supervision of the duties of the employés connected with the department : of the order of business, records, the official correspondence with
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the Secretary's office so far as to see that it is expressed in correct and official form; the enforcement of the general regulations of the department, and the charge of all business of the Secretary's office not assigned.
The routine work of the department of State is transacted in the following divisions, each in charge of a chief of division.
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY.
The custody and preservation of the laws, election returns, findings of the Board of State Canvassers, records and archives. The publication and distribution of the laws and public documents, of the Legislative Manual, of compilations of the highway, drain, game, election and various other laws. The notification of sheriffs of all special and general elections, preparation and distribution of instructions, and the proper blanks for the return of votes cast thereat. The preparation and compilation of the election returns for the board of State canvassers. The charge of and certification of accounts with the contractors for departmental printing, paper, stationery and other supplies. The examination and filing of official bonds and oaths of office of all persons from whom required. The examination of and decisions as to land certificates, and the recording and issuance of patents for State land. The examination, filing and recording of articles of association or incor- poration or reports therefrom authorized or required by the laws of the State. The making of certified copies of laws, patents, articles of association or incorporation or other records.
The account of all fees received, and the rendering of a monthly return thereof to the State Treasurer, receiving his receipt for the same, and miscellaneous busi- ness not otherwise assigned.
DIVISION OF EXECUTIVE BUSINESS.
The making out, recording, and delivery of all commissions, pardons, warrants of arrest, and requisitions for fugitives from justice upon the proper order from the Governor; the examination, filing and recording of returns from county clerks, , of justices of the peace in the several townships of the State; their names, the time of the election of such justices, their terms of office and notices of vacancies in said office; also the recording of the names, addresses, and term of office of all duly qualified notaries public or other appointed officers ; miscellaneous business con- nected with the office of the Governor.
DIVISION OF AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS.
The collection of reliable information as to the condition, prospects, and results of the cereal and other crops, by the means of correspondents in the townships of the State. This information is gathered at stated periods of each month, carefully studied, tabulated, and published monthly in accordance with the provisions of act No. 33, laws of 1881.
The annual returns of the farm statistics, gathered in compliance with act No. 24, laws of 1879, by the supervisors, are arranged, compiled and published annually under the title of " Farm Statistics." The farm statistics furnish the basis for the more important of the estimates in the monthly crop reports.
The compilation of the abstracts of the annual reports of the superintendents of the poor, see act No. 154, laws of 1877; of the annual reports of the sheriffs, see act No. 167, laws of 1875.
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DEPARTMENT DUTIES.
The compilation of the statistics relative to the insane, deaf, dumb, blind, epi- leptic, and idiotic, as required by the provisions of act No. 81, laws of 1881.
DIVISION OF VITAL STATISTICS.
This division has charge of the records of births, marriages and deaths collected under the provisions of act No. 194, laws of 1867, as amended by act No. 125, laws of 1869. Blank forms are prepared and distributed to county clerks and supervisors for the collection of births and deaths in each year, and to county clerks for the quarterly return of marriages as required by act No. 128, laws of 1887, as amended by act No. 256, laws of 1889. These returns are bound and indexed and certain sta- tistical information compiled from them is published annually, constituting the "Registration Reports of Michigan." They extend from April 5, 1867, to the present time.
TREASURY DEPARTMENT.
THE STATE TREASURER.
He is the receiving officer and custodian of the State funds, State taxes collected by the county treasurers, specific taxes upon railroad, insurance, telegragh, tele- phone, express and other companies, and proceeds of sales of State lands are pay- able to him.
Payments from the treasury, except in pursuance of appropriations made by law, are prohibited by the constitution.
He is required, before entering upon the duties of his office, to give a bond to the people of the State in the sum of one hundred and fifty thousand dollars, with three or more sureties, to be approved by the Auditor General and Attorney General.
He is authorized, at his discretion, after receiving from banks security approved by the State Treasurer, Auditor General and Secretary of State, to deposit in such banks the surplus funds in the treasury at such rate of interest as he may deem best for the State. All items of interest so received belong and are paid over to the State.
He is the State sealer of weights and measures.
He is authorized and required to issue licenses to express companies, and to hawkers and peddlers upon payments to him according to law.
He is required to make an annual report to the Governor, with a summary of the receipts and payments of the treasury during the preceding year.
He is, by Art. 8, Sec. 4 of the constitution, a member of the board of State audit- ors and board of State canvassers, and by law a member of the board of fund commissioners, of equalization, of escheats, of control of State swamp lands, of St. Mary's falls ship canal, of claims growing out of sales of public lands and of review of assessment of telegraph and telephone companies.
THE DEPUTY STATE TREASURER.
The deputy State Treasurer has immediate charge and personal supervision of the routine work and employés of the department, and, in the absence of the Treasurer, is empowered by law to transact all duties appertaining to that office. He is required to give a bond to the Treasurer for a faithful performance of the duties of his office.
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DEPARTMENT DUTIES.
AUDITOR GENERAL'S DEPARTMENT.
THE AUDITOR GENERAL.
He states accounts and examines and liquidates claims against the State in cer- tain cases, drawing warrants on the State treasury therefor; examines, adjusts, and settles claims in favor of the State; examines State Treasurer's accounts monthly, and countersigns receipts of State Treasurer ; keeps a register of the number and amount of State bonds, and the rate of interest thereon, and where payable, and files all canceled bonds in his office ; audits and files accounts of State institutions, receives and files bonds of registers in chancery, plats of towns, cities and villages, reports of telegraph and mining companies, approves bonds of county treasurers, Commissioner of Insurance and medical superintendents of the asylums for the insane; prepares and furnishes blanks for the use of State institutions, county treasurers, and others; makes annual report to the Governor; is a member of the State board of equalization, the board of fund commissioners, the board of review for the assessment and taxation of telegraph and telephone lines, the board of escheats, and the board of control of State swamp lands, board of control of St. Mary's falls ship canal, agricultural land grant board, board of internal improvement.
Estimates and charges specific tax on corporations, and issues a warrant for collection thereof if not paid.
Apportions State tax and transmits apportionments to clerks of boards of super- visors; prepares and files petitions in chancery for the sale of lands delinquent for taxes ; prepares lists of such lands and designates papers to publish the same; receives returns of sales, and executes deeds to purchasers; renders statement of accounts between the State and each county; and draws warrant in favor of county treasurer for amount due county; transmits monthly to county treasurers lists of lands on which taxes have been paid, and also lists of lands bid off to the State which have been sold during preceding month; receives statement from Commis- sioner of State Land Office of taxes collected on part-paid lands; causes tax law to . be published.
DEPUTY AUDITOR GENERAL
Has the general supervision of the clerks and employés, and of the business of the department, and in the absence of the Auditor General is empowered by law to perform the duties of the office.
STATE LAND OFFICE.
THE COMMISSIONER OF THE STATE LAND OFFICE.
Has the general charge and management of all the lands belonging to the State, or in which the State has any interest, or which are held by the State in trust for any purpose; the selling, leasing, and general disposition of all the lands of the State; the custody of the original field notes and plats of surveys of the State. He receives the principal and interest on all lands sold by the State, and collects delin- quent taxes on part-paid lands. On his certificate lands sold by the State are pat- ented by the Governor. He has the general charge of prosecuting trespasses on
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DEPARTMENT DUTIES.
State lands and the appointment of trespass agents. Issues licenses to homestead settlers and take steps to restore to market forfeited homesteads. He has the cus- tody of all books and papers relating to public lands and keeps the records of sale and disposition of all public lands. Sends list of lands sold to county treasurer for the purpose of assessment for taxation. He is a member of the board of State auditors, State board of equalization, board of State canvassers, board of control for reclamation of swamp lands, and board of review for the assessment of telegraph and telephone lines.
DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF LAND OFFICE
Has immediate and personal charge and supervision of the routine work of the department, and in the absence of the commissioner performs the duties of that office.
ATTORNEY GENERAL'S DEPARTMENT.
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.
He is required to prosecute and defend all actions in the supreme court in which the State shall be interested, and when requested by the Governor or any State officer, or the Legislature, he is required to appear for the people in any court or tribunal in any matter, civil or criminal, in which the State or any department of the government may be interested. He is required to give opinions on questions submitted to him by the Legislature, the Governor or any State officer. He is bound to consult with and advise prosecuting attorneys when requested in all mat- ters pertaining to the duties of their offices. The Attorney General is called upon to give opinions to the many State boards, prison inspectors and public institu- tions of all kinds, and is a member or advisory member of the following boards, viz .: Board of equalization, board of control of swamp Jands, and insurance policy commission. He may proceed in equity to restrain the misuse or abuse of corporate powers, and has control of quo warranto proceedings on the part of the people.
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION.
THE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION
Has general supervision of the public schools and of State educational institu- tions, collects and tabulates the school statistics of the State; apportions the pri- mary school interest fund to the counties; gives information to school officers upon construction of school law; prepares and furnishes blanks for use of school officers; organizes and visits teachers' institutes, and appoints instructors for them ; receives reports from superintendents of schools, and from all State and chartered educational institutions; makes annual reports to the Governor, and compiles and publishes the school laws; visits all State educational Institutions and meets with the governing boards of such at least once in each year ; delivers lectures on educational subjects; appoints visitors to the State University and all chartered educational institutions; is a member and Secretary of the State board of education, and is also a member of the State board of geological survey.
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DEPARTMENT DUTIES.
DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION.
The deputy Superintendent of Public Instruction is empowered by law to act in the absence of the Superintendent or in case of a vacancy in the office.
INSURANCE DEPARTMENT.
THE COMMISSIONER OF INSURANCE.
This, officer is required to perform the duties in regard to insurance companies and the formation thereof, which, previous to 1871, were conferred by law upon the Secretary of State. These duties involve examinations to ascertain, on the forma- tion of a new company, if all the requirements of the act under which it seeks to become a corporation have been complied with, and it is his duty to make frequent examinations into their condition, and in case of an insolvent concern to apply to the proper court for the appointment of a receiver, and the winding up of its affairs.
Insurance companies of other States and countries desiring to do business in this State, must first file in the Commissioner's office due proof of corporate exist- ence, and in the form prescribed under the law of 1873, appoint an attorney resi- dent in the State, to receive service of process, and also stipulate for the sufficiency of the service of process, if made on the Commissioner or his deputy, and then make the showing of such financial condition as the law of this State requires. Compa- nies of this and other states and countries doing business here are required to make annual statements preliminary to the renewal of the yearly license, and from the statements so made, are compiled the tables and made up the abstracts, which com- pose the chief part of the annual reports issued by the Commissioner. The large powers which a State must necessarily exercise in the case of corporations coming from without the State to do an insurance business within it, are entrusted to the Commissioner, who may demand information, access to books, and the correction of papers, and may deny a renewal of or revoke a certificate of authority, subject, however to a review of his action by the supreme court in case it shall be arbi- trary or unauthorized by law.
Co-operative societies of this State were first required to report to the Comis- sioner in the year 1883, and to obtain a license, which the officer has the power to revoke whenever he finds an association insolvent or fraudulently conducting its business. He has similar duties in regard to such societies from other states, which can, however, only be licensed upon making a showing, to the satisfaction of the Commissioner, of their ability to pay their certificates to the full limit named therein.
The office force of the bureau is limited by law to the Commissioner, a deputy and one clerk, except during the first three months of the year, when more clerks may be employed, if necessary. It is the business of this officer to make valuations yearly of the policies of life insurance companies, and to investigate and prosecute offenders who act within the State for outside corporations not duly admitted and authorized to do business here.
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DEPARTMENT DUTIES.
RAILROAD DEPARTMENT.
THE COMMISSIONER OF RAILROADS.
The Commissionr of Railroads is appointed under the provisions of act No. 79, session laws of 1873. He holds his office for the term of two years, upon appoint- ment of the Governor by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, and until his successor is appointed and qualified.
It is the duty of the Commissioner of Railroads generally to examine into the condition and management of the business of the railroads in the State, so far as the same affects or relates to the interests of the public, and to ascertain whether such railroad companies and their officers and employés comply with the laws of the State in force concerning them.
It is also his duty to require annual reports from all railroad companies doing business in the State on the first day of April of each year, showing their condition and traffic operations for the year ending on the 31st of December preceding.
At least once each year to visit every county in the State having a railroad station within its limits, and to inspect and examine the tracks, bridges, buildings, and other structures so as to know that they are in safe and effective condition, and managed in accordance with the police regulations of the State.
To order safety gates or flagman at highway and street crossings; to prescribe a uniform code of signals at all crossings and junctions of railroads within the State; to inspect and determine upon the sufficiency of all fences, and to prescribe the manner of constructing the same; to require and receive reports of all accidents resulting in a loss of life or otherwise, and to investigate the causes of the same; to direct the erection of safety guards at overhead obstructions; to provide uniform system of accounts for all the railroad corporations of the State; to regulate the speed of trains upon defective tracks, and to stop them entirely if in his judgment the public safety requires. To direct prosecutions for infractions of the railroad laws, to compute and report to the Auditor General, on the first of July of each year, the taxes due and payable from each railroad company, and from all palace car com- panies, fast freight lines, etc., doing business in the State, upon their gross receipts for the preceding year; to make an annual report to the Governor, on or before the first day of January of each year, of his doings for the preceding year, or for the time intervening since his last report, containing such facts, statements and explanations as will disclose the actual workings of the system of railroad trans- portation of freight and passengers, and its bearings upon the business prosperity, personal convenience, and safety of the people of the State, with such suggestions in relation thereto as to him may seem appropriate.
He is empowered to appoint a deputy, with the approval of the Governor, whose powers are defined by law, and in case of the death, resignation or removal of the Commissioner, the deputy performs the duties of the Commissioner until a suc- cessor shall be appointed. (See §§ 3285 and 3312a inclusive, Howell's Annotated Statutes.) Shall also appoint a Mechanical Engineer. (See Act 247, Laws of 1887.)
LABOR STATISTICS DEPARTMENT. COMMISSIONER OF LABOR.
The Commissioner of Labor is appointed under the provisions of Act No. 156, Public Acts of 1883. He holds his office for a term of two years by appointment of
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the Governor, and by and with the advice and consent of the senate, until his suc- cessor is appointed or qualified.
The Commissioner shall appoint a deputy and may appoint such other assistants from time to time as shall be necessary for the transaction of the business of his office. Said Commissioner, with his deputy, and the Secretary of State, who shall be ex officio member thereof, shall constitute a bureau of statistics of labor.
The duties of such bureau shall be to collect, systematize, print, and present in an annual report to the Governor all such statistical details relating to all depart- ments of labor in the State, as such bureau may be able to gather, accompanied by such recommendations relating thereto, as shall be deemed proper.
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STATE BANKING DEPARTMENT.
COMMISSIONER OF STATE BANKING DEPARTMENT.
The Commissioner is appointed under the provisions of Act No. 205, Public Acts of 1887. He is appointed by the Governor, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, and holds his office for the term of four years. He may appoint a deputy who shall possess the powers and perform the duties attached by law to the office of the Commissioner during a vacancy in such office and during the absence or inability of his principal. He may also employ from time to time such clerks to assist him and his deputy in the discharge of the several duties imposed upon him as he shall deem necessary.
It is the duty of the Commissioner to examine annually the cash, bills, collaterals or securities, books of account, condition and affairs of each bank, under the law, and also when requested by the board of directors of any bank. He shall also ascer- tain whether the bank transacts its business in a place designated in the articles of incorporation, and whether its business is conducted in the manner prescribed by law.
LIBRARY DEPARTMENT.
STATE LIBRARIAN.
The Librarian has the custody and charge of the library and the affairs pertain- ing thereto; makes a biennial report to the Legislature at the commencement of each regular session thereof as to the condition, the number and description of the volumes contained in the library; enforces the rules and regulations; prepares and publishes a biennial supplement to the catalogue of books in the library; is required to prepare or cause to be prepared, a manuscript card catalogue of all the books and pamphlets in the library; has charge of the exchanging with other libraries, societies, and institutions, the judicial decisions, statutes, journals, and other books placed in the library for that purpose; may sell or exchange duplicate volumes or sets of works not needed for use in the library, and apply the proceeds to the purchase of other books for the library.
M.ZEESE KG. 5 ...
HON. ADOLPHUS A. ELLIS, ATTORNEY GENERAL.
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DEPARTMENT DUTIES.
The Librarian is authorized to expend the money appropriated by the Legislature for the purchase of books for the library with the advice and consent of the Gov- ernor; has charge of all collections of documents, books, pictures, curiosities, etc., which may be made by the Michigan State Pioneer Society ; and also has the sale and distribution of the publications of the society since volume two. Upon the receipt of the statutes of the United States, furnished to this State by act of Con- gress, distributes the same to the State officers, judges, county clerks, etc., in this State; has the sale, exchange and distribution of Michigan supreme court reports ; is also required to give a bond in the sum of five thousand dollars to the State, conditioned for the faithful performance of the duties imposed by law relative to these reports. Before entering upon the duties of the office the Librarian is required to give a bond of ten thousand dollars, with sureties to be approved by the Secretary of State, and file the same with receipt for all property entrusted to the care of the Librarian, in the office of the Secretary of State.
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