Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1897-01-14

exists it's origin can here be found. The
convention has become the medium Of
trickery, bribery, and fraud. The higher
criminal is here developed. The direct
vote of the ballot-holder for party candi-
dates is the simplest means of expressing
preference for Representatives. If the
people make mistakes they alone are to
blame. The direct vote and the Austria
liam ballot system is of less cost to the
people than the convention system"
Concerning the taxes imposed on cor
porations the message says:
"The policy of continuing the system
of specific taxation of corporations as the
sole resource of the State from such
organizations, which originated when the
State was new and which favored the
promoters of needed works for smallSa
scattered communities, has long been re-
garded with disfavor by the people of this
State, who contend that the time has ar
rived when the well-known inequalities
of taxation should be adjusted and pro-
portioned according to values"
The message recommends laws which
will make railroad fares uniform through
out the State. Referring to a rumor that
a syndicate purposes to get control of all
the mineral resources of the State, it
says:
Hits the Trusts.
"There is growing up in this country a
system of trusts and combinations which
is becoming more and more impudent and
extortionate. Its influence is felt in the
home of every citizen. The necessities OF
life are made instruments of oppression
in the hands of those who reap rich re-
ward from the weak and helpless. Such
trusts and combinations destroy compete
ton and throw thousands of worthy peo-
pie out of employment. For this reason
the consuming power of the people is de-
stroyed and the producing power to just
that extent is affected"
The message points out that the COM
munity is a great sufferer from the con-
solidation of corporations, and asks for a
law providing that the capital of a cor
poration should exist in good faith for the
security of creditors. 1t shows how the
practice of forming corporations instead
of partnerships for the transaction of
mercantile business results in fraud, and
asks for law making the members of
such corporation personally responsible
to creditors just as if it were copartner-
ship. 1t condemns the taxing of mort
cages on land as double taxation, and
asks for legislation that will make tax
titles revert to the State, instead of being
a prey for spectators.
The message denounces the professional
lobbyist, and says: IF the lobbyist, like
the poor, must be always with us to aid in
thinking and assist us in acting and fur
nishing us food and drink, there should
be some method of enrolment and fee
demanded as a condition precedent TO the
right to practice before the peoples leg
islative jury"
After complaining of the oppression Of
the public by large corporations and by
the consolidation of corporations. it rec
ommends that incorporation be permitted
only on the following terms:
Il. Reserve the right to fix rates Of
tolls or charges.
''2. Let the construction of the plant
of every such corporation be under the
supervision of the municipality, so that
the actual cost shall be known
SO. Provide that no mortgage shall be
executed and no bonds issued to greater
amount than one-half of the actual cost
of the plant.
"4. Require the corporation each year
to file sworn statement of its receipts
aid expenditures, certified by public
accountant, who shall have access to its
books.
-. Provide that there shall be no con-
solidation of one company with another
and that no indivi,Sial stakeholder of one
company shall own, either directly or in
directly, any stock in another company
operating in the same city.
rs. Provide that no franchise or liz
cense now existing or to be granted in the
future shall be renewed or extended be-
yond the terms of the original grant dur
ing the life of the original grant.
~. Provide that no franchise of the
character above enumerated shall be-
granted by any municipal authority with
out being submitted to a vote of the peo-
pie.
The message recommends special con-
ditions. similar to these, for all telephone
franchises. At condemns the carrying on
of any industry in the State prisons
which completes with honest laobr, and
recommends the manufacture of beet SUI
gar. Great stress Is laid on the necessity
of good wagon roads.
The message commends an inheritance
tax and an income tax, and asks for leg
islation which will adopt them.
,. His Proepocts.