The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-02-07
GOyERNOR-MAYOR PINGREE.

The country has heard good deal from
time to time about Hon. Hazen S. Pingree.
of Michigan, and so little of what has been
said has been commendatory in character
that many people not residents of his State
must have wondered how he happened to
be elected and reelected to the same office,
and then to be given another high office.
as if there were popular anxiety to thrust
honors upon him. He was filling his third
term as mayor of Detroit when he was
elected Governor of the State last No
vember, and having refused TO resign the
first position. he is now performing the du-
ties of both places, much TO the disgust of
a certain political element which would like
a share in the management of affairs itself.
This unfriendly element has apparently
controlled the Detroit newspapers of every
party for Mr.. Pingrees course mayor
has been persistently criticised throughout
his several terms, and yet it has evidently
pleased the general public. In order to un-
derstand the peculiar condition of affairs it
is necessary to hear the Pingree version,
and this opportunity is afforded by
Municipal Study contributed by the
Governor mayor himself to current mag
azine. In this article the writer reviews the
affairs, of Detroit he found them and
his own efforts to bring about reforms.
These have been mainly in the way of
checking the encroachments of corpora
tions and began with his mediation be-
tween the factions in q street-car strike.
The feeling reused by this strike made it
possible to keep up a fight for better
service. The history of this contest is es-
pecially interesting. inasmuch the condi-
tons in that city at it's beginning were in
many respects similar to those existing in
indianapolis now. There was struggle in
the City Council over franchise. and of
this he says:
Not until the second year was the Board
of Aldermen really out of the grip of the
street car company. All this time were
lighting the company in the courts in re-
gard to its franchise. 1t was long, bitter
IlgnI the beng taken from court to
court and nnally costing the city from $780,
600 TO $4,000. While this struggle was going
on with decisions sometimes in our FAVOR
and sometimes in theirs, they were trying.
to get q new franchise, but 1 kept vetoing
their measures, and it was pretty hard To
pass anything over my veto. L used to
stir up the public by sending out notices,
and the people would pack the council
chamber and fairly terrify the aldermen
who wished to go back on their campaign
promises. We even told them that we had
plenty of rope there and would hang
them.
There was a long and complicated legal
battle which is not even yet finished, but
so many decisions of the courts have been
favorable to the city that the street car
company was forced to make overtures,
competition came in the shape of a new
company, and the result is that Detroit
now has a car system extending to nearly
all parts OF the city, with three-cent
| fare and universal transfers. Fortunate
| ly," he says. "all franchises in Michigan are
| for thirty years. the Legislature having
| long ago made that restriction.
The mayor then had fight with the gas
companies and gained his end in much
shorter time. The claim that gas could not
| be profitably furnished for 81 fell to the
ground. Il tried to get the Michigan
Legislature. he says. Ito delegate TO the
city of Detroit the right to regulate the
rates. but the bill was fought by the cor
porations and defeated. Nevertheless. We
were finally partially successful in our
| ngnt Inc OLD company accepted Il new
franchise that read like this: Gas for il
Illuminating purposes, 81; when used for fuel
| 50 cents.
The waterworks OF Detroit have been
| owned by the city since 1852. but the mayor
is urging the adoption of furnishing free
water and having the cost like the cost
of the streets and the parks. paid for by
| - In
says. when all municipal monopolies will bt
| owned by the people. The mayor is also
strongly in favor of civil service reform
| principles in the management of municipal
affairs. He was quoted not long since as
saying that ne sought the office of mayor
because he believed he could carry out GER
| tain reforms better than any else
This sounds egotistical, and there are GER
tain other indications going to show tina