The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-11-12
MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT.
pinQrce Tells What he Did for De-
troit While Mayor.
NE BROKE UP THE CORRUPT RINGS
Made Gas, Electricity and street Chr
service Cheaper Nnd Paved
the City Well.

-.
gree Of, Michigan delivered an address to-
night before the Nineteenth Century club
at Sherry's. His subject was. The Results
OF Ten Years Municipal Progress. There |
was very large attcndancs at the meet
ing. Sherry's hall room being filled with
men and women In evening dress.
President Taylor introduced the speaker
OF the evening a, half past 5 O'Clock and
Governor Pingrce at once began 10 deliver
his address. reading from manuscript
Governor Pingrcc said IN part;
II am little ashamed 10 say that ten
years ago knew but little about municl-
pal affairs. was like thousaa Is OF others
Of plain business men who imagine that
they are good citizens, bu, who not only
an sut expect those upon wnom they
look down with contempt 10 Furnish them
with good government They grumble at
the results OF caucuscs Which they do not
attend and complain of The nismanaycmcnt
Of those whom they take part IN seieelinS,
have come TO believe I, would bc wise
law that would prohibit men from voting
who have voluntarily ahstained f-om TAX
ing part in nominations"
The governor reviewed his connection
with municipal affairs as mayor during
the past seven years. Detroit, he assert
ed. had long been safely democratic; Its
streets were mostly unpavea, but had been
given away to street cars and Saa COM
panics. etc One could not drive ort OF the
| oitg on any prominent street Without
paying tolls; the city vas less than half
| lighted but at an excrbitant cost; an ap-
parently all powerful )aving ring existed
large tracts in the heart OF the city were
paving little taxes the str9ct cats were
wrctch,d uncomfortable and drawn by
horses; the original street IN way charter
| granted for thirty years All hutho'l1hs
8 cents fare without tt1rsIers, WAS re
Moved for thirty years aftef y haa run
hut thirteen, the municipal loa1G~ we're
conducted independently o. each otht aud
the people; the pavemsnts Neir OF the
worst character, mos of tne park grounds
had boen given away and all electric WIGS
were stretched on poles.
"I teke some pride" continued the gov
ernor. in saying that nj the cnd OF near
ly eight years as mayor petrot IS con- con-
cedt TO be one of the most beautitui cities
In tho United States II has lie own cleo
,rIc lighting plant and Is msgnincently IL
Illuminated at less than half the old rates;
gas has been reduced at least one-th RI
in price; there are no toll gates lett with
In the city: the boards are conlpeIieu W
do their legal business through the cor
roration counsel and their financial bus'-
ness through the city treasurer; condnits
have been provided for wires; the old paw
ing rings have been broken up, the horst
, cars have disappeared and splsnd d elec'
trio system established; the old compnni
have bten forced to sell tickets at SIX TO
quarter with transfers; new company
carving 40 per cent OF the passengers' u
selling eight tickets for a quarter will
; tranBfers; all tho companies have Dee'
compelled to sell workingmcns ticket
/ during certain hours at cents; an oprpsl
: ton telephone company has been estap
I lished by which rates have been reduoe'
more than 70 per cent; more than 23o m'le
: OF modern pavement have been iaio IN
I parks have all been improved,
81 found that over 25 per cent OF IN
' school children could not attend school Of
1 account OF no buildings to nccommoint
1 them. We built thiry-three school houses
4 with all this the rate OF taxation has no
G materially increased.
: tr1ed 10 have some legislation passe
d which would tax railroads as other prop
erty is taxed and to have uniform fares es
tablished for rich and poor alike. faile'
The railroads were 100 much for me. IN
t lobbyist was there with Doodle and other
: with promises of Federal office TO XIII VI
> bill. But am going to try again.
'tHow long can a government last whic
$ increases constantly the burdens OF the n
n dustrlal classes and gives II 10 thosa WI
4 prey upon the bone and sinew OF the M
- tIony Here in New York | fear my r.
marks may not be well received, bat hol
= and believe that self government by ~
people and for the people has not reaehe
;, that stage which all men who love hber'
a hope II viii roach.
), '.Ir is the duty OF government to prote
:, the weak against the strong. the poo
y against the selfehncse Of wealth. ga
h right here that unless the republican par'
: comes out as a champion OF the aycra'
:, man and his welfare and unless II ceas'
y To cater 10 syndicates, trusts and monop
: lioe, IL will be buried In oblivion. We mu
:. begin by Advocating a municipal owntrsh
y OF natural monopolies and take away fro
i, them the item OF profit ana relieve Il
:, wage Garner 10 that extent