The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 18??-1882, 1882-01-20
An Interesting Document.

On Thursday, January 5th, Hon.
John u. Long was, for the 3rd time
inaugurated Governor of the Com
monwealth OF Massachusetts,, and de-
livered his message to the Legislature,
from it we clip the following extracts
which we commend to the careful al.
tention of our readers.
The first pertains to Female Suf-
frage and is as follows:-.I repeat
my conviction of the right OF woman
suffrage. If the Commonwealth is
not ready to give 1t in full by Con-
stitutional amendment, | approve of
testing it III municipal elections.
the recent judicial decision that
women cannot practice as attorneys
at-law has also raised the question
whether they can serve, as some are
now most usetully serving, upon pub.
lie statutory boards, except where ex-
pressly so provided by law. The
decision necessitates legislation"
The second relates to necessary
railroad Legislation. and though
pretty local in its character will We
think interest our readers. He says:
81 earnestly repeat my conviction
that a law which permits private
property to be taken for railroad
without the owners consent. and
without the decision first made by
some impartial tribunal that such tax
ing is a public necessity, is contrary
TO the constitution and to justice. 1t
should be amended at once unless
you hold that there are no private
rights left which corporation is
bound to respect.
1t is generally held in this country
that common carriers, including rail
road companies, are bound to render
to all persons equal service upon equal
terms, and that contracts giving to
one person lower terms than are Civ.
EN- to another for the same service
ought not to be permitted on the
part OF corporations which enjoy
their great powers only on the ground
of their public usefulness If the law
Of Massachusetts differs in this respect
from that OF other States, as | under
stand Is the decision Of our courts,
1t ought TO be amended"
The third proposition pertains to
the Liquor Legislation and is as col.
lows:--"With continued observation
of the crime. insanity and pau perism
caused by intemperance, filling our
public institutions, and making heavy
the burden Of taxation. my sympa.
lhies are still more with that great
body of men and women throughout
the Commonwealth, who. having its
best interests at heart, believe that
the remedy Of the evil mus, sooner
or later be found in the line of its
substantial prohibition, or, ill then
in the sharpest restriction OF it pos,
sib!e, and who cannot reconcile them
selves to giving it the sanction OF the
State. A healthier sentiment and
practice in this matter continue to
grow among good citizens, however
much they differ as to remedial
measures. They agree that the dram
shop must be rooted out, alike in the
interest of good morals and the ma.
terial welfare Of the people, and pub
lie opinion is ripe for the enforce
ment Of laws for its suppression.
That they are not enforced, is itself a
vice and shame. If the advocates
of the license system would put the
vigor which they now exert in secur.
ing its adoption and maintenance
into the enforcement of its restrictions
and penalties they would make bet
ter and more consistent case"
The fourth and last quotation which
we can find room for relates TO Capt.
tai punishment, question now being
agitated in our state. Gov. Long
speaks Of it in the following words;
81 renew my protest against the
barbarism, inefficiency and peril to
innocence of capital punishment.
Failing its abolition, earnestly urge