The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-11-12

NEW YORK, Nov. 11.-Gov. Hazen
S. Pingree, of Michigan, delivered an
address tonight before the Nineteenth
Century club at Sherrys. There was
very large attendance at the meeting,
Sherry's ball room being filed with
men and women in evening dress. Her
bert Welch, of Philadelphia, had also
been invited to talk on a similar sub
ject. He spoke of reform in his native
city and the abuses of ring rule there
President Taylor then introduced the
speaker of the evening.
Gov. Plngree spoke to the topic "The
Results of Ten Years of Municipal
Progress" He said in part: "I 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 that
they are good citizens, but not only
allow, but expect, those upon whom
they look down with contempt to fur
nish them with good government. They
grumble at the results of caucusses,
which they do not attend, and COM
plain of the mismanagement of those
they take no part in selecting I have
come to believe it would be a wise law
that would prohibit men from voting
who have voluntarily abstained from
taking part in nominations"
The governor reviewed his connection
with municipal affairs as mayor during
the past seven years. Detroit, he as
serted, had long been safely Democrat
ic; 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 paving tolls; the city
was less than half lighted, but at eX-
orbitant cost; an apparently powerful
paving ring existed; large tracts in the
city were paying farm taxes the street
cars were Wretched, uncomfortable,
drawn by horses; the original railway
charter granted for thirty years and
authorizing scent fares without trans
fers, was renewed for thirty years aft
er it had run but thirteen years; the
municipal boards were conducted indie
pendently of each other, and of the
people; the paVements were of the
worst character: most of the park
grounds had been given away, and all
electric wires were stretched on poles
II take some PRIDE" continued the
governor, ''in saying at the end OF
| nearly eight years as mayor, Detroit
| is conceded to be ono of the most beau
| tiful cities in the United States II
has it's own electric lighting plant and
Is magnificently Illuminated at less
than half the old rate; gas has been
reduced one-third in price; there are
no toll gates left within the city; the
boards are compelled to do their legal
business 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 and q
splendid electric system established;
the old companies have been forced to
sell tickets at six for a quarter, with
| transfers; a new company, carrying
40 per cent of the passengers, is selling
eight tickets for a quarte:' with trans
fers; all the companies have been COM
! PEELED to sell wOrkingmen's tickets dur
| ing certain hours at three cents: an
| opposition telephone company has
been established by which rates have
| been reduced more than 70 per cent;
more than two hundred miles Of mod
ern pavement has been laid; the parks
| have all been improved. 1 found that
| over 25 per cent of the children could