The true northerner., 1897-01-13
How the People of the State Are the
Victims of Unjust Taxa
tion.
Stock Corporal ons and Monopolies
Should BE Regulated by Good
Laws.
The Governor Makes Various suggestions
aud Recommendation to the State
Lawmakers Concerning Their Com
ing Work The Lobbyist-State
Institutions Tolls.

Governor Pingree, in his first message
10 the Michigan legislature, says:
desire to urge upon you as the law
making power the necessity which ex-
lists for the amendment of several laws
of the state, for the repeal of others
and for the enactment of a few which
i deem of vital importance. AS repre-
sentatives and servants of the people
let us endeavor to work harmonously,
with no object in view but the public
good. Michigan ought TO stand in the
front rank of progressive states. Her
people desire that she should Just
laws will aid her. unjust laws will re-
tard her. Whatever stumbling blocks
have heretofore been placed in her path
way should be removed. The labor OF
removing them will not be an idle pas
time. 1t will require united and per-
sistent effort on our part. 1t remains
TO be seen whether we shall be equal to
the great work 1t is within your pow
er to make the coming session OF the
legislature an ideal one. This can be
done by the enactment of a few laws
which will meet the approval of all
patriotic citizens OF this state and the
commendation OF every true member
OF our great republic.
Primary Elections.
If we would inaugurate reforms In
our state government we must COM
mence where the governing power orig
mates, in party organizations and con-
ventions. / would recommend that the
political party caucus laws already
upon our statute books be so amended
as to abolish party conventions. II
political corruption exists its origin can
here be found. The true theory of party
organization is that the best men should
be chosen for election to Office. This
theory cannot be carried out under the
present system. The caucuses and
conventions have become the means by
which the few obtain power and place.
Under a representative form of gov
ernment the people should have free
choice Of their representatives. Any
obstruction to such free choice should
be removed. Syndicates of office seek
ers are formed, corrupt combinations
are made, delegates are bought and
sold, promises of position to unworthy
men are often Of necessity made, and
the example is set before us that those
who in the ordinary walks of life pass
for honorable men enter upon the du-
ties of public office under a cloud OF
suspicion and shame. The convention
has become the medium of trickery,
bribery and fraud. The higher crimi-
nal is here developed. The direct vote
Of the ballot holder for party candi-
dates is the simplest means of express
ing preference for representatives. If
the people make mistakes they alone
are TO blame The direct vote and the
Australian ballot system is of less cost
to the people than the convention sys-
tenn.
Question of Taxation.
The question which is always present
and is never solved i'm any state or
municipal government is the question
of taxation, direct and indirect Taxes
are burdens which must be borne. The
cost of government of the state should
be lessened by the reduction of the
charges of departments and OF state
institutions, proportioned to proper
maintenance and administration, and To
the reduced cost of living incident to
recommend in order to the proper dis
tribution of the public burdens. that
all forms of wealth bear their just pro-
portion OF taxation. The policy of con-
tinuing the system OF specific taxation
OF corporations az the sole resource of
the state from such organizations which
originated when the state was new and
which favored the promoters of need
I'D fn nd
munities has long been rega rded with
disfavor by the people OF this state. who
contend that the time has arrived when
the well-known inequalities OF taxation
should be adjusted and proportioned
according TO values.
There is nothing new or novel in
this accommodation. The contention OF
the people against the system OF sole
ly specific taxation of corporations
found expression at the capital through
several of the governors of the state
regardless OF party and as early as the
seventies, and the recommends
tions were in favor of taxing the prop
erty of the corporations as other prop
erty is taxed The question, Therefore.
is one no longer for debate. but for
energetic action, since IL has been under
consideration for twenty years. While
i do not believe that the system of spe-
cific taxation and the method of its
distribution I'm support OF the common
schools should be disturbed. I recon-
mend that steps be taken i'm the form
of local or general taxation to make
corporations bear their share OF taxa
tion.
Fixing Railrosi Tolls.
The right of the legislature to fix the
maximum rate for passenger fares has
been exercised ever since the first gen.
eral enactment az to railroads, i'm 1855.
In 1870 the people OF the state amended
the constitution expressly conferring
upon the legislature the power to fix
such maximum rates.
THE legislature may from time to
time pass laws establishing reasonable
rates of charges for the transportation
of passengers and freight on different
railroads In the state" Article 19-A,
Paragraph l.
In 1873 there was a general revision
Of the railroad laws and certain rates