The true northerner., 1897-01-13


measures without the aid of those who
wine and dine and cajole and fiatter
and bribe, at least some steps should
be taken TO modify the nuisance. 1t
has come To my knowledge that some OF
these professionals have secured large
rctainers from individuals and corpora
tions who are interested I'm obstructing
honest legislation, and / trust a roll
Will be made OF all such In order that
their particular purpose may be clearly
known and understood.
Public Franchises.
The governor deals at length with the
granting of franchises and how they
may become engines Of oppression and
corruption, and says:
! would suggest the following amend
ments to the laws permitting the grant
ing OF franchises 10 public corporations
/ such as street cars, electric light, tele-
phone and gas companies:
l. Reserve the right 10 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.
3. Provide that no mortgage shall be
executed and no bonds issued 10
greater amount than one-half of the
actual cost OF the plant.
4. Require the corporation each year
to file sworn statement OF its re-
Ceipts and expenditures. certified by
public accountant who shall have ac-
cess TO its books.
5. Provide that there shall be no con-
solidation of one company with an
other and that no individual stockhold-
er of one company Shall own. either
directly or indirectly any stock in an
other company operating in the same
city.
6. Provide that no franchise or IL
cense now existing or 10 be granted in
the future shall be renewed or eXtnd
ed beyond the terms of the original
grant during the life OF the original
grant
Z. Provide that no franchise of the
character above enumerated shall be
granted by any municipal authority
without being submitted TO vote OF
the people
I apprecite the fact that the passage
OF such law, by which the people can
be protected from extortion and fraud
will be opposed by every friend OF spe-
cial privileges not only in this state.
but that they will be reinforced by
agents from the other states who rep
resent like interests. / cannot empha-
size In too great a degree the necessity
for some action in the line here indi-
Gated. Unless some such course is pur-
sued IL will lie necessary 10 provide
for state or municipal ownership OF
street car lines, telephones and other
means of transporta tion and transmits
sion, and | believe that such plan
should only he adopted as last resort;
for in my opinion II would be blow
struck at individual enterprise and ex-
ertiOn. and when these are lost the vri!
ity OF nation will be destroyed.
The governor here calls attention 20
the practice of fraud and corruption in
securing public franchises and in the
awarding of public contracts.
Telephones.
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 alb
solute monopoly. The rates charged
have been eXtortionate. IL has been ar
gued by some that the telephone busi-
ness is a natural monopoly. There is
no such thing as a natural monopoly
in telephone any more than In railroad
or telegraph service. In addition to
what | have already said under the
head OF public franchises / make the
following suggestions as to telephones
/. The law should permit the fixing
of telephone rates by the local authori-
ties in each municipality or town.
2. All companies should be required
TO charge the same price for the same
service and no one should be permitted
to give free service upon any consid-
alton. A company which for years has
chargd double rates could for number
OF years give free service, and the re-
suit might be To wreck a younger COM
pany, destroy capital and enterprise
and leave the community in the hands
of the old monopoly.
3. All telephone companies i'm a city
should be compelled to exchange tele-
phone service, upon terms to be fixed
by the municipal authorities. The pres
ent law contains a provision looking 10
that end, but I am satisfied that it is
too i'm definite to be made available.
g. The law against consolidation OF
telephone companies should be made so
positive and emphatic and contain such
penalties and forfeitures that II would
be impossible to evade It,
Prisons.
The governor discusses the treatment
of the states prisoners and says in their
employment they should not compete
with the great industries. He says IL
might be a very good thing TO attempt
10 inaugurate the system of raising
such vegetables as beets for the manu-
facture OF sugar or other food plants
which will not come into competition
with the farming interests OF the state.
In order to make Hrison farms secure,
temporary stockades might be erected,
but they should be replaced by perma-
nent stone OF brick walls which can be
built by the convicts. thus utilizing
their labor to the fullest extent, even
to the manufacture of the brick them
selves. No argument is necessary to
emphasize the necessity OF work for
prisoners, both as an aid to their phys
ical and moral training. At the pres
ent time there is a large number OF
convicts lying idle in two OF the Mich
igan prisons.
Insurance.
Another matter that may we'll de-
Of hat of fro In