The herald., 1898-11-16
GOVERNOR PINGREE
AskG President Mckinley to Help Him
Out

Governor Pingree sent the following let
ter to the president while the latter was at
Omaha and had it registered so that the
president would be sure to get it:
October 10, 1893.
My Dear Sir: As governor of Michigan
I deem it my duty to call to your attention
certain matters now before the people of
this state which are of vital Importance to
every taxpayer
During the regular session of the legisla-
ture of 1897 there was a bill introduced
in the house providing for the taxation OF
railroads in this state, placing these corpor-
ations on the same footing with every other
taxpayer. This bill was introduced with
the view of equalizng the burden OF taxa
tion, and was the first step ever taken in
this state in that direction.
Failing to secure any legislation on the
subject at the regular session, | called Il
special session of the legislature, at which
was introduced the Atkinson bill, copy of
which I have mailed you under separate
cover. This bill passed the house with but
three dissenting votes, was sent to the sem
ate and defeated in that body by vote of
Is to l6. We had before the legislature Pc
titions signed by nearly 100000 taxpayers in
the state of Michigan; 1t was also indorsed
by resolutions of farmers Clubs, labor Or
CARNATIONS and conventions, representing
all parties throughout the state, which at a
low estimate would swell the Endorsement
of this measure to ut least 250,000. Those
who took prominent part in the defeat of
equal taxation during the regular session
were rewarded with Federal positions, tie
boast being opsniy made that these posi-
tions were to be thteir compensation for
their efforts to defeat any bill introduced
for the purpose of equalizing taxes in this
state.
At the special session, as you will see
from the above figures, it required but one
vote to pass the bill. Three of the senate
who had voted against the measure at the
regular session received the Federal ap-
,pointments promised them. When il, be-
came fully apparent that only those who
would vote for the AtkinsNl bill could be
nominated to fill vacancies caused by .h.
resignation of members holding Federal po.
sitons, Senator Preston resigned his Fed
eral position, came to the senate, took his
seat and voted against. the bill, on prom
ise of reappointment, which promise was
kept after the close of the session. This
was tnC mOSC SuupenQOuS Outrage ever per
petrated upon the people of the state. His
vote alone would have passed the bill had
he not been bribed by Federal appoint
ment to vote against it.
l have no desire to antagonize the admin
istration, but all blame for thwarting the
will of the ,people of this state must be
placed where it belongs. / am still in the
fight on an equitable distribution of the bur-
den of taxation, and shall continue it until
every corporation shall be compelled topay
taxes the same as private individuals.
l am in possession of positive proof that
John L. Rich, collector of customs, and
Charles Wright, collector of revenue, have
promised federal position in their offices to
men who will go to the convention to be
held within few days in this city for the
purpose of nominating Republican candi-
dates for the senate, if they will vote against
the men who voted for the tax bill in, the
last session of the legislature, and who are
seeking denomination. Such conduct on the
part of federal appointees can but react not
only upon Republican candidates for con-
gress in Michigan this fall, but upon any
administration which allows practices Of this
kind to continue.
5 BY unanimous action the Republican state
convention pledged the party in Michigan to