Kansas City daily journal., 1897-01-08
Mr.. PlNGREE AS A REFORMER.
NICHIGAN's NEW GOVERNOR WANTS
SOME RADICAL CHANGES.
Would Have Party Conventions AboI-
iShcd-FavorS the Referendum
Declares for 2-Cent Fares
-LicenSe for Lobbyists

Lansing. Mich, Jan. The two houses
of the legislature convened in joint session
this afternoon and listened to the addresses
of the retiring and incoming governors.
Governor Pingrees address at the outset
recommended aboliShment of party con-
ventions, which, he asserted, have become
the mediums of trickery. bribery and fraud.
He advocated instead the direct vote and
the Australian ballot system in nominating
candidates.
The governor urged that the property
of corporations be taxed in the same man
ner as other property.
Present fares in Michigan lowing to GER
tain features of the charters of certain
roads, were argued to be Il proper subject
for legislative action. Governor Pingree
deplored the fact that while, for instance.
the Chicago & Grand Trunk road is con-
fined to a local passenger charge of > cents
a mile, the Michigan Central and Lake
Shore is permitted TO charge a local fare
of cents, and he adds: 1T is also COM
monty known that passengers travelling
between Michigan stations are charged
more by the railways than those who travel
through the state from outside points,
The legislature was recommended to con-
slider the question of uniform . cent fares.
The governor urged that the referendum
practice of referring legislative acts to the
people be required in the granting of quasi
public franchises.
After denouncing the trusts and combna-
tlOnS of the present day, the governor
warned the legislators against permitting
Michigan to become the field of opera
tions through which great corpora tions
might acquire possession of the states
mineral resources and in connection there
with control the lake shipping interests.
He advised consideration of the superviS
ion of corporations by Il corporation COM
ShOnlI
available assets of every corporation before
pc Knitting il to enjoy corporate privileges.
'cS S the subject of railway taxation, Gov
= Hor Pingree, while not advising dispenS-
.IIiG with the present system of specific
taxation upon the earnings of such cor
pcrationSr urged some steps towards add
ing to that system. He advised the crea-
tion of n state board, which should deter
mine the value of all corporate property
not now taxed locally, and which should
levy taxes thereon, in the same proportion
that private property is taxed.
The present taxation of mortgages, he
asserted, is double taxation against the
borrower.
The governor came out strongly against
''the paid lobbyists who infest our halls.
and added: IF the legislators are not i'll
telligent enough to give intelligent thought
and action to public measures without the
aid of those who wine and dine, CaJole ana
fiatter and bribe. at least steps should be
taken to modify the nuisance There
should be some method of enrolment anH
Il fee demanded as condition precedent
to the right to practice before the people S
legislative jury
In regulating the granting of public
fran chiSes the governor advised as follows:
Reserve the right to fix rates of charg-
es let the construction of plants he under
supervision of the municipality.
Provide that no mortgage be executed
or bonds issued to a greater amount than
one-half of the cost of the plant.
Require the corporation to lille sworn
statements of its receipts and expenditures,
certified by a public accountant.
Provide against consolidation OF COM
panies.
Provide that no franchise he extended
during the life of the original grant. :
without being submitted to a vote of the
people"
Governor Pfngree favored establishment
of n state board of arbitration and declared
for an inheritance tax and income tax
In conclusion. he recommended annual
sessions of the legislature not exceeding
,Ig,N-G