The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1899-01-07

new debt. and without involving this coun-
/ try In an adventurous and dangerous poll
/ Icy OF expansion by conquests over terri
| tories and peoples with which. and with
whom. We have properly nothing TO do.
Government Ownership OF Railroads.
| l would hesitate before making any
recommendations on the subject OF govern
mental ownership OF railroads. were not
| thoroughly convinced that there is no other
equitable and permanent solution OF the
/ great questions arising out OF railway
/ transportation. This proposition Is just In
| principle, and the experience OF all coun-
| tries where the railroads are operated by
the state proves that Il IL practical
1 most earnestly recommend that this
| legislature inaugurate a policy looking TO
the ultimate purchase by the state OF all
the railroads within its limits. Laws equal
izing taxation and regulating rates OF fare
only reach the symptoms. They do not
| reach the root OF the disease. which Is
private ownership OF public franchises
| The only way TO permanently cure such
evils Is to eradicate the cause by the state
assuming the ownership and control OF all
| franchises OF public nature.
Fish Propagation.
This IL one OF the subjects TO which l
desire TO call special attention and which |
| Invite every member OF the legislature 10
| investigate for himself. The fishing inter
csts OF Michigan are OF proportions little
realized by the people as "A whole. but even
/ limited research will show how important
they have become. Legislation is needed
In several directions. Az present there ex-
| ist abuses which work great in
| jury TO large numbers OF people directly
/ interested. and which are indirectly an I'm
Jury TO every citizen OF the state.
The fishing interests may be divided into
! ;wo classes the commercial fishing OF the
Great Lakes and the less extensive fishing
| OF the inland lakes and streams Each
class demands attention at your hands
| recommend the abolition OF the closed
season entirely and the substitution OF
provisions by which fishing To the fullest
| extent during the fall season be encour-
/ aged. with the added provision that ar
| rangements be made whereby agents OF
the state and United States fish commits
/ sions shall accompany the fishing tugs in
order TO take the oVa from spawning fish,
so that they may be preserved and propa-
! gated Ia this manner | believe the sup
| ply OF fish In the great lakes Will not only
be rapidly and greatly increased. hut the
general public will be greatly benefited by
the reduction of prices. Agents of the fish
commission have always been welcomed
| on the fishing tugs and can easily have
access 10 all catches OF fish.
I also recommend the enactment OF
provision prohibiting the taking OF spawn
from Michigan waters by agents OF other
states, except az arranged for with the fish
commission or this state.
I also recommend that sufficient appro-
prlation be made for increasing the out
put OF the state hatcheres In proportion
with the increasing demands
Criminal Law.
In the main the laws OF this state have
been passed with the object In view OF ac-
cordlng 10 all-the lowliest as well aS the
highest the weakest as well as the strong
est the poorest as well as the richest
-.
each TO the same punishment, under Ike
circumstances and conditions
While II is the theory OF the law that all
men stand equally before II, yet there has
been made no provision by means OF which
Justice can be done man who has been
convicted of crime and Is afterwards
shown to be innocent. or those who are
sometimes wrongiuly tried for an Offences
against the state and their innocence es-
tablishsd.
/ would recommend the enactment OF
laws giving those charged with crime, and
whose Innocence has been stabished. the
same costs against the respective counties
I'm which they were prosecuted as are
given to the successful party in civil
suit.
| would also recommend that some pro-
vision be made for compensatlng those
VINO shall be sentenced 10 "a term OF Inn
prisonment and whose innocence shall aft
erward be shown. IL they are wrongfully
deprived OF their liberty by the state, IL
a hut right the state should compensate
them for the time forcbly taken from
them. Such claims might perhaps be heard
ana allowed by the board OF state auditors.
circuit judges. or commission created for
the purpose
Eigbt-Hour LAW.
The two years which have passed since
my first message 10 the legislature have
not altered in the slightest degree my firm
/ baf to "A
to require a man TO work for his living.
In the business establishment In which ]
am interested the employees work but nine
hours day, this custom having prevailed
for seven years IL would not be TO our adj
vantage TO return to ten-hour Gay. ana
W, would not do so. The limiting OF the
days labor to eight hours VIII be well
cCmcd By us when other business establish
ments are compelled by law TO give work
| ingmen two additional hours OF freedom
| from toll. The inestimable benefits of our
| public school and OF our free educational
institutions Of all kinds have made OF our
| clerks, artisans and mechanics thinking
men. and II is doing only simple justice 10
liberate them from the factories ana work
shops these two additional hours. In order
that they and their families may enjoy
some OF the advantages and real pleasures
| OF life. liz is your especial privilege and
duty to bring the so-called merchant
princes" ana captains OF industry I'm this
|
our laboring men are something more than
| tools TO be used In the senseless chase after
| wealth. The shortening OF the hours Of
] labor will also make II necessary To give
work to the large number OF unemployed.
Primary Election.
Under our constitution and laws Il Is both
| the duty and privilege OF every citizen 70
vote and to participate I'm the election OF
| honest and capable men TO MI the various
| Offices within the gift OF the people. and
| any legislation which Will encourage or
aid them In the performance OF that duty
should receive your undivided support.
| The present system OF nominating by con-
vontions is wrong In both theory and pras-
ticc for many reasons. therefore recom-
mend that law he passed providing that
all candidates for each office. from governor
down TO township and ward officers. bc
nominated by direct vote OF the electors
also recommend that provision be male
| for the nomination az such primary by
direct vote OF the electors OF the state OF
a candidate OF each party for United States
/ 4 So 1ofuU "a +.