The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-11-12
How He Made Detroit a Modern City
After II Had Been Wrested frOm
Control of Democratic Rings.
HIS WAR ON MoNoP0LISTS
AND HOW HE LOST THE SUPPORT OF
INFLUENTIAL CLASSES.
Why the Potato Patch RefOrner Now
Leans on the Common People
His Warning to Republicans.


NEW YORK Nov. I1.-Governor Hazen S.
Fingree, of Michigan, delivered an address
tonight before the Nineteenth Century
Club at Sherry's. His subject was THE
Results of Ten Years of Municipal
Progress" There was very large at
tendance at the meeting, Sherrys ballroom
being nlled with men and women in even
ing dress. Herbert Welsh, of Philadelphia,
had also been invited to talk on a similar
subject. He spoke of reform in his
tive city, and the abuses of ring rule there.
President Taylor introduced the speaker of
the evening at $3.50 o'clock, and Governor
Pingree at once began to deliver his ad-
dress, reading from manuscript Governor
Pingree said, in part:
Il am a little ashamed to say that ten
years ago / knew but little about municipal
affairs. L was like thousands of others of
plain business men who imagine they are
good citizens, but Who not only allow, but
expect those on whom they look down with
contempt to furnish them with good gov
eminent They grumble at the results of
caueuses which they do not attend, and
complain of the management of those whom
they take no part in selecting. l have come
to believe ii will be a wise law that would
prohibit men from voting who have volun-
tarily abstained from taking part in NOM
nations"
The Governor reviewed his connection
with municipal affairs mayor during the
past seven years. Detroit, he asserted, had
long been safely Democratic; It's streets
were mostly unpaved, but had been given
away to street-car and gas companies, ETC..
One could not drive out of the city on any
prominent street without paying tolls; the
city was less than half lighted, but at ex-
orbltant cost; an apparently all-powertul
paving ring existed; large tracts in the
heart of the city were paying farm taxes,
the street cars we're wreJched, uncom-
fortabie and drawn by horses; the original
stIeet-raiIWay charter, grained Tor thirty
years and authorizing hve-cent fares with
cut transfers, was renewed for thirty years
after it had run but thirteen; the municipal
boards were conducted independently of
eacn other and OF the people; the pave
ments were of the worst character; most
OF the park grounds had been given away,
and all electric wires were stretched on
WHAT HE DID.
II take some PRIDE" continued the Gov
ernor, Gin saying that at the end of nearly
eight years as mayor of Detroit is conceded
to be one Of the most beautiful cities in the
United States. 1t has It's own electric light
ing plant, and is magnificently Illuminated
at less than half the old rate; gas has been
reduced at least one-third in price; there
are no toll gates left within the city; the
boards are compelled to do their legal bust
ness through the corporation counsel and
their financial business through the city
treasurer; conduits have been provided for
wires; the Old paving rings have been
broken up; the horse cars have disappeared
ana a splendid electric system established;
the old companies have been forced TO sell
tickets at six for a quarter, with transfers;
q new company, carrying 40 per cent OF the
passengers, is selling eight tickets for
quarter, with transfers; All the companies
have been compelled to sell working mems
tickets during certain hours at cents; an
opposition telephone company has been es-
tabliShed by which rates have been reduced
more than 20 per cent; more than 235 miles
of modern pavement has been laid; the
parks have all been improved. found that
M ha nj 11n
attend school on account of no buildings to
accommodate them; we built thirty-three
schoolhQuses With all this the rate of
taxation has not materially increased.
This period has been to me more like one
of war than peace. / was e.ected as
candidate by the most influential people.
discovered after election that the railroads
were paying less than their share of taxes;
/ said so, and the railroad support imme-
diately left me. l discovered that the gas
companies were charging exorbitant rates:
said so, and the owners of gas stock
turned their backs me. / found the
bankers specializing with city funds; de-
nounced the practice and they denounced
me as unsafe. 1 attacked the turnpike
roads, and their owners called me an An
archist Every time l attempted to correct
an abuse l lost large and influential class
of supporters. l was four times elected
mayor, but in each campaign was made
painfully aware of the loss of old friends.
although my majorities crept up from iif-
teen hundred to more than ten thousand.
When the influential classes turned their
backs on me the common people always
STOOD by me. \ on Will not be surprised
that | have come to lean upon the common
people as the real foundation upon which
good government must rest.
REMEDY FOR MUNICIPAL EVIL.
LAS to the remedy for these evils, my ex-
perience has brought me to the conclusion
that the streets of a city belong to the peo-
pie and that no mayor or Common Council
has right to barter them away. The rem
edy against many of these evils is munich
raol oVcl,f, -
monopolies, for. if monopolies must exist
which depend upon public favor. their abso-
lutte control must be vested in the people.
This remedy win not only solve many
municipal problems but will bring other
agencies of commerce under proper subjec-
ton. We are jobbing out the sovereign
power of the people TO spectators. My eX-
perience is that those who stand foremost
in the synagogue of a Sunday, and are en-
gagged the rest of the week in bribng alder
men, or getting up stock -johbing schemes to
defraud the widows and orphans are the
most dangerous members of society.
Last winter in the Michigan Legislature
tried to have some legislation passed
which would tax railroads as other property
is taxed, and to have uniform fares estab
lished for rich and poor alike; | rallied. The
railroads were too much for me. The lobby
list was there with boocle and others with
promise of federal offices to kill the bills.
But am going to try>again
How long can a government last which
Increases const antly the burdens of the in
dustrlal classes ana gives III 10 those VINO
prey upon the bone and sinew of the ma
ton? Here in New York, fear that my re-
marks may not be well received, but hope
and believe that sef-government by the
people and for the people has not reached
that state which all men who love liberty
hope il will eventually reach.
1T is the duty of government to protect
the weak against the strong, the poor
against the selfishness of wealth. say
right here that unless the Republican party
comes out a champion of the average
man and his welfare, and unless 1t ceases
to cater to syndicates. trusts and monopo-
lies il will be buried in oblivion. We must
begin by advocating a municipal ownership
of natural monopolies and take away from
them the item of profit and relieve the
Nage-earners to that extent"
New York Citizens Union.
NEW YORK, Nov u.-Richard Watson