The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1898-10-14

commission was among the first acts of
President Mckinley. This commission did
hard earnest work In Europe but met with
absolutely no encouragement except little
In France. The effort seems impossible of
success at present but the final report of the
commission Is not yet submitted.
The republican party has fulfilled its
promise of the restoration of reign of pros
perity. There has been good deal of
laughter about the much talked of word
confidence, but every business man can APP
preciate itsmeaning most emphatically for he
knows the necessity for what II stands for.
The republican party fulfilled Its promises
as far as was possible In the time already
past but 1t is just as necessary today that
republicans should be sent to Congress who
will stand by Mckinley and promote the
work already begun, men who will work
faithfully for good system Of finance. To
speak In more personal vein the democrat
ic congressman In this district has caused
the report to be circulated that II the old
soldiers wish to have any chance for getting
pensions attended to they should vote for
him becaus he has ''pull with the de-
partment." Mr.. Collingwo0d showed up
the righteousness of this statement and re-
minded them of what their own common
sense already told them that so far az any
pension favors were concerned their best
hopes lay In Mr.. Fordney's election, al
though of course they would not think OF
voting for man whose only claim was an
alleged pull with the pension department
any way.
Mr.. CollingwOOd then opened the way
for the other speakers by the statement that
this campaign is largely non-national In Its
issues in this state at least. In many re-
spects we are most directly interested In
state matters this fall and the key note to
the policy of the republican party Is the
treatment of our great corporations, and
the determination of what proportion of the
burdens of the state taxation shall be met
by them. This discussion, however, he
would leave to those present with whom
the matter had long been special study.
Mr.. Sybrant Wesselius, state commits
sioner of railroads, was then introduced.
When the giant form of the commissioner
rose to its full height and the audience heard
his remark that he didn't propose to invoke
the gods as they used to do in the begin
ming of speech but was going to get right
down to business which was what peo-
pie liked better nowadays they prepared to
hear some thing drop along the line of rail
way taxation and of course they were not
disappointed.
After paying his respect in strong terms
to the sixteen senators who baked the pas
sage of the Atkinson bill and defeated II
against the unanimous vote of the house
and the written request of thousands OF
Michigan voters he said fatty that they were
bribed to defeat the bill. Mr.. Wesselius
then gave an illustration of what was ex'
pected of the Office of the railroad com
missioner.
In 1896, the railways of Michigan earned
20 millions of dollars. The present law re-
quires reports of the amounts earned. to be
forwarded to the Office of the railway com
missioners by the middle of May, and the
commissioner has until the first of July tC
verify and prepare these reports. Now
one of these roads alone, the Chicago
Northwestern, employees 240 bOokkeeper.
In Its offices at Chicago. The M. G. rail
way employs 60, etc. 1t takes bank ex
pert from three to six weeks to examine the
affairs of a single failed bank. What kline
of a veriication can you expect then where
single small Office force has but six weeks
In which to examine the statements o.
eighty.one roads? 1t is evident that to So
cure proper results the law should bt
changed.
The expenses of the war were heavy II
this state, but an amount nearly equal t
these expenses had been added to the reve
nue. of the state by the construction which
Tue OhOO hoo pioCCs
on certain recent railroad laws. But thi'
Mr.. Wesselius regards as but drop in tn,
bucket compared with what the roads shoulC
pay. Instead of $3.50, 600 they should pay
So, 900, 900. In arriving at these figures HI
assumed the rate of taxation to be as low al
two per cent throughout the state and placed
the actual capitalization OF the roads at bu
81 so, 600, 600 instead of their sworn capital
ization OF 1881, O00 900 Thus, he says, thes,
sixteen men in the state senate robbed tht
state of two millions of taxes every year
The governor had more confidence in tn,
honesty of men when he thought that tn,
legislature would surely pass the Atkinson
bill.
The commissioner then went into detail
in regard to the Michigan Central charter
aud the various changes ruug In on it, ant
took up the subject of the choice of stat
senators and representatives. You are s,
careful of other men," he said, THAT even
horse doctor has to have license, but an!
old horse can go to the legislature" TO b.
For oouol 70 not anouub thio time