The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1897-01-09


should always be practiced. but the noces-
sIty for reducing the cost OF maintenance,
n possible. was never more kcenly felt
than at the present time. In making APP
populations for current and other cx-
penses OF the institutions Il is hoped the
legislature will not be less mindful OF the
conditions that render appropriations neces-
sary than OF the strain that every adj
ditional dollar appropriated puts on the
strongly OF the opinion that supplies Tor
the various institutions should be bought
OF Michigan producers. Considerable sums
of money are annually expended for beef
and other supplies that come TO our institu-
lions from other states. while the farm
ers or our own state, who are taxed for
the support OF the Institutions. are COM
PEELED to 30 away from home TO find n
market for their cattle and produce. l
am sure YOU Will agree with me that this
is wrong and II legislation is necessary
10 prevent IL. you may be depended on TO
Permit me to direct your special attention
10 the university. This great institution
should under no circumstances be crippled.
Its reputation as one OF the great Ameri-
has been endowed by the people and has
been maintained by them with spirit OF
pride and often at great sacrifice. It's
world, and they should be men OF independ-
ent thought, ready and willing TO meet all
great questions OF modern civilization and
advancement with an intelligent and en-
lightened public spirit
Tho Lobbyist.
/ cannot refrain from expressing my
views upon the subject OF the professional
lobbyist. At every session OF the lcgisla-
ture just measures are killed by the enc
mics OF good government and equal rights
and the means used TO compass their death
are the paid lobbyists who infest our halls.
III the members or the legislature are not
intelligent enough TO give independent
thought and action 10 great public meas
ures without the aid of those who wine and
dine and caJole and flatter and bride, at
least some steps should be taken TO modify
the nuisance. do not propose to formulate
rules FOR tho government and control OF
those whose business IL Is 10 obstruct les
islation. All attorneys who practice before
courts and Jurics must be admitted as
members of the bar and are required TO pay
certain fees and observe certain rules. IL
the lobbyist. like the poor, must be always
with us to aid In thinking and assist us In
acting and furnishing us food and drink.
there should be some method OF enrolment
and fee demanded as a condition prece-
dent TO the right 10 practice before the peo-
pies legislative jury. IL has come 10 my
knowledge that some OF these professionals
have secured large rctaincrs from indi-
viduals and corporations who are inter-
osted in obstructing honest legislation. and
i trust roll VIII be made of all such In
order that their particular purpose may be
clearly known and understood. II unfor-
tunntely happens that in the past at least
a few OF the members OF both houses have
occupied the dual capacity of legislators
and lobbyists, being paid by the people
small salary 10 serve I'm the former capacity
mics at high salaries 10 serve In the
other capacity. IL has been necessary for
these 10 be enrolled as their real employers
are generally discovered carly in the sCs-
sion OF the Legislature. j trust that there
arc no such public servants In the present
legislature and that such evil work Will not
be felt or recognized.
Public Franchises.
The question OF granting public franchises
by the state and by municipal authorities,
and the conditions under which they should
be granted and operated Is one of the
greatest problems with which we have 20
deal. A public franchise, when IL has
passed beyond state or municipal control
may become power greater than the
become an engine OF oppression and
corruption. The moment a franchise is
granted the whole people surrender to a
a public function, and the question which
should be considered is what proportion of
that right should be reserved 10 the people
control.
Combinations and cancellations by fran
chise owners In cities arc going on all over
the United States. These combinations and
consultations are for the purpose OF keep
ing up tolls. The amount of wealth that Is
being accumulated IN the hands Of a few
by these favored holders OF special priv
ilegcs is appalling. These tolls are indirect
taxes. and TO tho extent that the right 10
regulate the tolls Is abandoned by the SOW
erelgn or the local power TO the franchise
owner, to that extent the right 60 levy
taxes Is given away. The state or the
municipality appoints an agent for period
OF 20 years, more than the life OF genera
ton, and before the term has half expired
the agent becomes the master and the
master becomes the slave.
Permit mo TO give an example OF the
OF such power: A license Is
given 10 a company OF three men 10 operate
a street railway IN city Of COCO people
cents per passenger for period OF 80 years.
AT the time the license was granted the
cents. and the profit was therefore but 70
per cent. upon the money actually in
vested. In ten years the population has
increased TO 10000 and tho cost OF carry
ing the passenger is three cents, and the |
profit Is 40 per cent Rather more than |
the proht OF most merchants and manufac- |
OF the license, for that is all the franchise |
Is, had reserved the right 10 regulate |
fares, and the municipality had been able |
TO keep the proht down TO 20 per cent, |
even the most radical advocate of vested |
rights could not complain that the cor |
poration was being oppressed. II should |
be very clear, then, that the right TO regu- |
late fares should always be observed But |
the reservation OF this right Is not all that |
u necessary.
Permit me to give another illustration. |
The amount actually invested I'm plant is |
81 100000. After tho road rs completed it |
Is mortgagcd and bonded for 81, OO0. 600 This |
gage upon the license itself In other |
words. the three men who formed the COM
100 and Immediately thereafter placed a /
mortgage upon the industry and earnings /
" every inhabitant OF the city for 20 years /
10 come TO the amount OF 5000 600. and then |
when the question OF regulating the fares |
3 brought up the municipal authorities arc /
net with the bland statement that the |
original owners have transferred their /
Vested rights TO innocent purchasers, and
n order to pay the bonus OF 81 100000 and
he interest upon it for 80 years the COM
)any cannot live II the fare Is reduced.
This system OF indirect taxation Is going
IN in every city OF the United States. and
hundreds OF millions OF dollars OF fictitious
'alucs. which must represent some form
n human labor. have been created for
ew by the simple stroke OF the pen. and
n order TO pay these immense sums trih- !
tie ia laid upon every man, woman and
hid In the country. 10 simply means that
hcse hundreds OF millions OF dollars arc
o be taken from the ordinary channels Of
legitimate trade 10 the injury OF every mer-
antilc and manufacturing and farming |
Industry I'm the land, for no one interest
an suffer without a corresponding injury |
q all. Is Il not strange that IN the presence
n this insidious but constant process or
learned flnanciers. wise
tRteBmen and profound political scholars
Wonder why the few become rich and the
many become pOOr2
In order 10 rrcvcnf auch Recommendations