The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1897-01-09

VIII DC reintorced by agents from other
cannot emphasize IN too great a degree
| the necessity for some action In the line here
s nmaS !, Mess seine such course y ppr-
state or municipal ownership OF street
car lines. telephones and other means OF
| transportation and transmission, and be-
iieve that such a plan should only be adopts ed
| as last resort for In my opinion IL would
be a blow struck At individual enterprise
virility of the nation will be destroyed
In this connection desire 10 cali atten-
ton in securing pubic franch ne e ana n
the awarding or public contracts. IL has
always been a principle OF law that fraud
| held that the right TO operate n public
FRANCHISE - such divine right that fraud
Seehnot 9msct Y: This matter has been
case OF Jake Sharp and the Broadway street
car franchise Briber and bribed were
ruption was held by the courts TO be too
/ sacred 10 be touched. Before the courts
| or Michigan give their sanction TO such
code or morals j would suggest that a
| law be passed making all public contracts.
ike private contracts, absolutely void for
5s"d b or eorsHpton The manner OF rSIs
within which and by whom Il can be taken
advantage Of must be wisely considered by
you.
Tel ophonoH
Great interest within the past year has
been manifested In the construction OF
telephone plants. Previous 10 that time
the Bell company has had the absolute
monopoly The rates charged have been
cxtortionate IL has been argued by some
that the telephone business Is a natural
natural monopoly in telephone any more
than In railroad or telegraph service. In
addition TO what ! have already said under
tho head OF public franchises make the
following suggestions as TO telephones.
]. Tho law should permit the fixing OF
telephone rates by the local authorities In
an oh MN IN ri mn mr.
q All companies should be required 10
charge the same price for the same scrv-
Ice and no one should be permitted TO give
free service upon any consideration.
company which fer years has charged
double rates could FOR number OF wears
give free service, and the result might be
TO wreck younger company. destroy cap
ital and enterprise and leave the commune
~ in the hands OF the old monopoly.
3. All telephone companies In city
should be compelled TO exchange telephone
service upon terms 10 be fixed by the
municipal authorities. The present law
contains a provision looking 10 that end,
but | am satisfied that II ls too indefinite
TO be made available.
4. Tho law against consolidation OF teie-
phone companies should he made so posi-
two and emphatic, and contain such pen
altics and forfeitures that IL would be Inn
possible TO eyade a..
Prisons.
The treatment OF criminals is one OF the
VcXcd questions OF the age. Criminals are
OF two classes, corrigiblc and incorrgible,
These should be kept separate IN all 1aiis,
prisons and reformatory institutions. The
original purpose OF the establishment OF
tho prison at Ionia was 10 provide "A place
Tor those who were not deemed 20 be hard
encd criminals / fear that this purpose
has not always been kept I'm view | rec
ommend that some discretion be LODGED In
the prison boards for transferring from
Ionia prison those who have been found
TO be incorrlgiblc. and also for transfer
ring from prisons 10 Ionla such inmates
as may be deemed 30 be corrlgible There
can be no greater nursery for crime than n
prison which permits the association Of the
vicious with those who are merely unfor-
tunate
The care OF criminals ~ another question
which becomes every year "A subject for
more serious and thoughtful consideration
The employment Of machinery and the
manufacture OF articles which compete
with the products OF our great industries
10 IN my opinion fundamentally and radi-
cally wrong. Hundreds OF great prisona in
the United States have become immense
manufacturing establishments. WIN Il not
be proper 70 make an effort 10 secure n
change from the present systcm2 | cam
not outline at lenght plan forsuch change
but would respectfully offer "A few sug-
gestions as q basis for legislation. Would
II not be well TO investigate the question OF
utilizing and enlarcing the present system
or prison farms to the greatest possible
extent for tho production OF such articles
or food as may be necessary 10 feed pfis- |
oncrsY III hand labor only were employed |
both upon the farms and within the walls, |
e seems TO me that the. prisoners could be
for their own support without creating n |
surplus and thus crowdng the market with |
promenade goods. The sale OF prison |
made goods In competition with tho prod |
ucts OF free labor has tendncy TO reduce |
prices for such goods and hence reduce |
wages. The minRling OF priaon- made goods |
with others enables those handling the |
same TO cut the prices below n fair profit |
and In order 20 obvate this I am OF the |
be labeled and no label should he removed |
until the tnai purchase from the retailer. |
Such law is I'm force In the state OF New |
York. and have been Informed with good |
results.
Insurance.
Gov Pingree discusses ut some length |
the methods Of fixing rates adopted by in |
surance companies I'm Michigan, and de- |
clares that by these methods rates OF In
surance no longer become matter OF con-
tract between the insurer and the insured.
out escape on tho part OF the person APP
plying. for Insurance. He continues;
/ believe you can find some way by which
tho field Of insurance may be open 10 fair
and without injustice being
done 20 the companies. IL Is also suggested
that the form OF policy I'm use and author
lied by the statutes OF this state be ex-
amined, with a view 10 making the same
more liberal for the insured.
lions are supplied with Michigan coal. As
the state IL Interested IN the development
prioty OF the more extended use OF this fuel
by these institutions. all things being equal.
Good Roads.
There Is absolutely no question as 10 the
necessity or good roads for Michigan. but
the state, rendered poor by unequal direct
taxation and cxorbitant Indirect taxation,
cannot AFFORD at the present time 10 enter
into the great work OF constructing public |
roads at an outlay that Will assure SUBJ
stantial highways which will endure for
some time 90 come. The state govern
mcnt must first satisfy the people with
measure OF equal taxation before th0qucs-
ion or GOOD roads can be entcrfu upon
indeed. before any measure involving an
appropriation OF public money is seriously
approached. We have before ua the lcs-
son or the spectacle OF the administration
preceding the present. con-
5ciously or unconsciously In aid Of those
who successfully shift taxation from their
own 70 the shoulders or others, cutting
away from tho appropriation for tho chief
Institution OF the state. And
his in obedience TO the wishes OF the
argest body OF taxpayers IN the state
who Ia their distrcss and perhaps aware
N the possible hopelessness OF enforcing
,qual taxation We're willing TO sacrifice
along the tines OF education 20 retain the
proper support OF the home. I would there
orr. lfrrp lrnn tho iarfolnf pra 4 fha frrtt- |