The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-01-08
GOVERNORS OF VARIOUS STATES
GIVE THEIR PET IDEAS AN
AIRING,
PICTURESQUE Mr.. PINGREE
DEVOTES A CONSIDERABLE PART
OF HIS MESSAGE TO CHEAP
FARES.
TRUST COMPANIES TOUCHED UP.
His Respects to Them In His
inaugural Address.

LANSING, Mich, Jan. THE two
houses Of the legislature convened in
joint session this afternoon. and lis
tened to the addresses Of the retiring
and incoming governors. Gov. Pin
gree's address at the outset recon-
mended adjustment of party conven-
lions, which he asserted have become
the mediums Of trickery, bribery and
fraud. He advocated instead the di-
rect vote and the Australian ballot
system in nominating candidates. The
governor urged that the property of
corporations be taxed in the same
manner as other property.
Present railroad fares in Michigan
lowing to certain features Of the char
tiers of certain roads, were argued to
be a proper object for legislative act
ion. Gov. Pingree deplored the fact
that while, for instance the Chicago &
Grand Trunk road is confined to a To-
cal passenger charge Of two cents a
mile, the Michigan Central and Lake
Shore are permitted to charge a local
fare Of three cents, and, he added, ut
is also commonly known that passen-
gers travelling between Michigan sta
tons are charged more by the rail-
ways than those who travel through
the state from outside points," The
legislature was recommended to con-
slider the question Of uniform two-cent
fares.
On the subject Of railway taxation,
Gov. Pingree, while not advising dis
pensing with the present system Of
specific taxation upon the earnings Of
such corporations, urged some steps
towards adding to that, system. He
advised the creation Of a state board
which should determine the value of
all corporate property not now taxed
locally and which should place taxes
thereon in the same proportion that
private property is taxed. The pres
ent taxation of mortgages, he asserted
is double taxation, against the bor-
rover.
The governor came out strongly
against 1.-The paid lobbyists who infest
cur halls and added:
If the legislators are not intelligent
enough to give thought and action to
public measures. without the aid of
those who wine and dine, cajole and
fiatter and bride, at least steps should
be taken to modify the nuisance
There should be some method of en-
rollment and a fee demanded as a con-
dition precedent to the right to prac-
tice before the peoples legislative
jury.
In regulation Of the granting Of
public franchises the governor advised
as follows:
Reserve the right TO nix rates VI
charges; let the construction of plants
be under supervision of the municipal
ity. Provide that no mortgage be exc
cuted or bonds issued to greater
amount than one-half Of the cost OF
the plant; require the corporation to
file sworn statements of its receipts
and expenditures certified by public
accountant
Provide against consolidation OF com
panies.
Provide that no franchise be ex-
tended during the life of the original
grant
Provide that no franchise be granted
without submitting to vote or the
people.
Gov. Pingree favored establishment
of a state board of~arbitrat1on ana de-
ciared for an inheritance tax anu al
income tax.
In conclusion, he recommended an,
nual sessions of the legislature, anu
not exceeding sixty days.