The true northerner., 1897-01-13

shS ioiin VI DbiitF III use anu dutnOI-
lied by the statutes OF this state be ex-
amined with view To making the same
more liberal for the insured.
Good Roads.
The success of the agitation for good
roads depends entirely upon a more
equitable system OF taxation. IL Is
plainly apparent that one class of our
citizens. the farmers. Is bearing a great
er share of the taxation OF the state
proportiored To values than another
class, the organizations receiving cor
porate privileges from the state gov
ernment. So long as this inequality
exists just so long will the farming
communities have manifestly just cause
10 oppose appropriate from which at
the best they can draw no more ben
eft than the rest OF the people of the
state. and from which, as a matter OF
fact they draw less. Good wagon roads
are a direct benefit to villages and cit
les and To transportation companies.
Each should pay proportionate share
of such benefit. Under the prevailing
method of taxation whatever of benefit
is derived by producers is in brief
time absorbed by the classes privileged
by the legislature to levy indirect tax
alton in the form of rates Of toll; large
~ those levied for transportation
There is no kind or class of taxes lev
led i'm the state of Michigan from which
the incorporated bodies do not derive
greater benefit than do the unincorpor
ated and IL Is because they pay less
for such benefits. There is absolutely
no question as to the necessity Of good
roads for Michigan: but the state, rem
dered poor by unequal taxation and
exorbitant indirect taxation. cannot af-
ford at the present time TO enter into
the great work of constructing public
roads at an outlay that will assure sub
stantial highways which will endure
for some time TO come. The state gov
ernment must first satisfy the people
with a measure OF equal taxation be-
fore the question OF good roads can be
entered upon: indeed, before any meas
ure involving an appropriation OF public
money is seriously approached
Arbitration.
In the experience of the state OF
Michigan, IL not in that OF the United
States, it is found that the military arm
is called into requisition TO suppress
riots, chiefly on account OF disagree
ments between corporations and their
employees. Recourse to the military
should be the final extreme resort. II is
the duty OF corporations to live at
peace with their neighbors. And en-
ployes have a like duty to perform.
Neither has a right superior TO the 9TH
er In the eye O: the people. II is the
duty Of the state to preserve the peace
and defend the rights Of all But IL is
also the duty Of the state to prevent
that which tends TO disturb the peace
or which irfringes such rights and To
that end laws have been passed and
courts have been instituted To further
promote that end | would recommend
that no body of men be allowed the
privilege of incorporation without their
free consent. expressed in the articles
Of Incorporation. as in part considera-
tion for such privilege. that all disputes
found impossible Of adjustment between
employer and employee, shall be re-
ferred to arbitrators. in accordance with
the latest platform declaration of the
Republicans OF Michigan that OF the
state convention for 1896 held at Grand
Rapids.
Statistics Relating to Corporations.
The value Of statistics to the state
relating to corporations is incalculable.
But they are valueess if they do not ex
tend far enough To afford the legisla-
ture absolutely safe material from
which 10 gather the correct deductions
upon which the regulation OF corpora
tons is based. The day Of absolute re-
lance upon competition, especially be-
tween transportation lines is passed
and the day of the trust and combine
is here and the legislature must stand
between the rights of the people of the
state and the enCroachments of the
trusts and combines To hide success
fully is to swindle successfully. The
people are entitled to all the facts in
relation to the creations OF their rep
resentatiVes and all of the facts relat-
ing thereto should be gathered by the
state and placed in the hands of each
and every elector OF the state free OF
technicalities. Information is educa-
ton, and private publications. like pri-
vate schools. have private purposes. II
It is the duty Of the state to educate
children, IL is likewise the duty Of the
state TO inform the people. If. for an
example OF the Importance OF such sta
tistics, IL is required to know today the
earning capacity OF any given railroad
in Michigan upon which TO base a max
imum rate of fare il cannot be obtained
from the public reports Of the state.
surprising as ii is. because the number
Of passengers other than employees.
hauled on passes Is not shown In such
reports. Yet passes are being regularly
written by railroad attorneys for Uni
ted States senators. United States rep
resentaiives. and for other public serv-
ants whose good will Is valuable to the
roads. Certain classes OF shippers, as
also certain classes OF so-called infiu-
entiai people, inclusive or certain news
paper publishers obtain passes. 500.
too, the public statistics do not show
the amount of money expended by rail-
roads for maintenance OF lobbyists at
this capital
Coercion of Electors.
AS a guard a gainst coercion OF vot-
ers; provision for the safeguard of
the ballot: an additional assurance of
the independence of the voter and the
purity of elections, l would recon-
mend that a penalty be provided by an
act of the legislature severe enough
TO prevent corporations of public
character exerting undue influence in
elections.
Tho innportanca of the work az the