SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND. Appropriations have been made for building and other improvements, and for the purchase of property as follows: Act 250, Laws of 1879. Joint Resolution No. 32, 1881, for purchase of property. Act No. 2, Laws of 1882: Library and apparatus.. 996 58 Furniture, and pay and expenses for board prior to Sept. 30, '81 2,441 49 For board since Sept 30, '81. 5,331 22 Cash in hands of Treasurer. 1,655 37 $51,300 00 The estimated wants for the coming two years are as follows: furnishing buildings.. removing old brick building north of main building and erecting 1,300 00 35,000 00 $100,000 00 SWAMP LANDS AND STATE ROADS AND DITCHES. The following is a general summary of the transactions of the State Swamp Land Commissioner's office during the two fiscal years ending Sept. 30, 1882: Statement of vacant and reserved swamp lands, matured road credit, work under contract, etc., September 30, 1882: LOWER PENINSULA. Vacant swamp lands Sept. 30, 1882, 221,830.83 acres. $277,288 53 Total...... $358,047 85 Work under contract Sept. 30, 1882, 208 miles 29.37 chains.... $174,556 82 Appropriations made by Board of Control for work not under contract... Balance of swamp lands unappropriated Sept. 30, 1882, 64,843 30 $295,962 10 $62,085 75 UPPER PENINSULA. Vacant swamp lands Sept. 30, 1882, 12,696.40 acres. $15,870 50 Total...... $110,068 55 Work under contract Sept. 30, 1882, 61 miles 60.37 chains.... Balance of swamp lands unappropriated Sept. 30, 1882, At a meeting of the Board of Control held Dec. 7th further appropriations of 13,980 acres were made. $11,221 47 INSURANCE POLICY COMMISSION. LANSING, Dec. 20th, 1882. Hon. DAVID H. JEROME, Governor of Michigan: SIR,-The undersigned constitute the Insurance Policy Commission of this State, under Act 149, S. L. of 1881, being an "Act to provide for the adoption and use of a standard form of fire insurance policy." We have given the matter entrusted to us very careful consideration, and have spared no effort to faithfully discharge the responsible duty imposed upon us. We are of opinion that there are grave objections in the way of the Commission putting in force a standard form of policy, in the manner prescribed by the act. It is the opinion of the Attorney General that the Legislature cannot delegate to a commission the power to enact a policy contract by which both the companies and the people shall be bound; that a standard form of policy, to be binding and constitutional, should be enacted by the Legislature, in connection with provisions for its enforcement. Another great difficulty presents itself under the act in question. Section & of the act reads as follows: "SEC. 6. After the time [for the policy to go into effect] so fixed by the Commissioner of Insurance, as aforesaid, no person or company shall, directly or indirectly, make or issue, or cause to be made or issued, any policy or contract of fire insurance on any property situated in this State containing any other or different terms or conditions than those expressed in said Michigan standard policy, or containing any word or words that will add to, take from, or vary the contract therein expressed." It will be seen from the above that the form of policy contract is inflexible. No word or words can be added to or taken from the prescribed form, however much the insured or company might desire to change it to meet the necessities of any particular business in which a person desiring insurance might be engaged. For instance, at a certain season of the year, a farmer might desire a special permit from an insurance company to run a steam thresher adjacent to his barn. Such extra hazard was not contemplated by the company or insured at the time the policy was taken out. By permission of the company this special privilege may be granted, but it would necessitate the addition to the original contract of a stipulation to that effect. This could not be done with an inflexible form of contract, such as is contemplated by the act of 1881. Again: It is not customary for companies that assume fire risks to also insure against damage by lightning without an increase of premium. If this Commission should adopt a form of fire insurance policy strictly as designed by the act, it would not be competent for the company to assume to add to the prescribed policy form another condition to the effect that such policy contract also covered loss or damage by lightning. The same may be said in relation to what is known as the "two-third clause" and the "three-quarter clause." Many companies forbid the use of "gutta-percha cement," but permit the use of "lamp-black and rubber cement" on the application of the insured. "Gasoline permits" and "electric light permits" are also granted on special application of insured parties. On this point very many other illustrations might be given going to show that it is both unwise and impracticable to adopt a form of policy contract that cannot in any way be changed to adapt its conditions to the varied interests and industries of the people of this State that seek indemnity in insurance. It would be impossible to combine these special conditions in a uniform policy, and it would be unjust to the insured to deprive him of the special protection which he asks for in such special permits, and for which he is willing to pay an increased premium. We have the honor to submit herewith a standard form of fire insurance policy which we believe approaches as near to fairness and equity between the insurers and the assured as is possible in a uniform policy. We also submit with such policy form a draft of a bill entitled "A bill to provide for the use of a standard form of fire insurance policy," as follows: to wit, A BILL providing for a standard form of fire insurance policy. SECTION 1. The People of the State of Michigan enact, That no insurance. company shall knowingly issue any fire insurance policy upon property within this State for an amount which together with any existing insurance thereon exceeds the fair value of the property. SEC. 2. In case of loss upon any property in this State insured, after this act shall take effect, within the terms of the fire insurance policies thereon, |