Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-01-08
GOVERNOR PINGREE
he Favors Referendum, Taxes on In
heritances and Incomes, and De-
nounceS Trusts.

LANSING, Mich, January Tho two
Houses OF the Legislature convened in
joint session this afternoon and listened
to the addresses of the retiring and in
coming Governors. Governor Pingrees
address at the outset recommended the
adjustment Of the party conventions,
which, he asserted, have become the med
iums of trickery. bribery and fraud. He
advocated instead to direct vote and the
Australian ballot sS lem in nominating
candidates.
The Governor urged that the property
of corporations be taxed in the same man.
ner as other property Present inequali-
ties of passenger fares in Michigan lowing
to certain features of the charters Of GER
tain roads, We're argued to be proper
subject for legislative action. Governor
Pingree deplored the fact that while, for
instance, the Chicago and Grand Trunk
road Is confined 10 a local passenger
charge Of two cents a mile. the Michigan
Central and Lake Shore are permitted to
charge a local fare Of three cents, and,
he added. lit is also commonly known that
passengers travelling between Michigan
stations are charged more by the rail-
roads than those who travel through the
State from outside points" The Legisla-
ture was recommended to consider the
question of uniform two-cent fares.
The Governor urged that the practice Of
referring legislative acts to the people be
required in the granting of quasi-pubiic
franchises.
After denounc!ng the trusts and COM
binations of the present day the Cover
nor warned the legislators against per-
hitting Michigan to become the field for
operations through which great corpora
tions might acquire possession of the
States mineral resource. and in connec-
ton Herewith, control the lake shipping
interests. He advised consideration OF the
supervision of corporation commissioner
who should ascertain the exact available
assets of every corporation before permit
ting it to enjoy corporate privileges
The Governor came out strongly against
the paid lobbyists who infest our halls,
and added: IF the legislators are not In
tellgent enough TO give independent
thought and action to public measures
without the aid of those who wine and
dine and cajole and flatter and bride, at
| least steps should be taken to modify the
| nuisance. There should be some method
of enrolment and fee demanded as a
| condition precedent to the right 10 prac-
tice before the peoples legislative jury.
In regulation of the granting of public
| franchises the Governor advised as fol-
| lows: Reserve the right TO fix rates OF
| charges. Letthe construction of plants be
| under the supervision of the municipali-
ty. Provide that no mortgage be execut-
ed or bonds issued to a greater amount
| than one-half the cost Of the plant. Re-
quire the corporation Of file sworn state
ments of its receipts and expenditures,
certified by a public accountant. Provide
against consolidation of companies. Pro-
vide that no franchise be granted without
| being submitted to a vote of the people.
Governor Pingree favored establishment
of a State board Of arbitration and declar-
ed for an inheritance tax and an income
4 tax