Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1899-01-12
OUR LIBERTY IS IN DANGER.
Gov. Pingree Fears the Trusts and
Monopolies Will Make Us
A MERE NATION OF SLAVES.
He Also Sees Disaster In the Annexation
of the Philippines, but Favors Taking
All OF the American Continent We
Can Get-Equal Taxation Exhaust
lively Treated-Income Tax, Etc.


lively Treated-Income Tax, Etc.
Gov. Pingree's message 10 the Michigan
state legislature was a vouninous docu-
ment, completely covering state affairs
and dealing at length with national af-
fairs. The substance OF the message Is
as follows:
To the Honorable the Senate and House
Of Representatives:
1t Is my duty and privilege to address
you, by message. as the Chief Executive
Of this state, upon such matters or state
policy and state goNernment as aHect the
general welfare The needs OF great
commonwealth like ours are many. Its
necessities are varied. It's interests are
the interests of over two and one-half
millions OF people. We live in an age OF
rapid changes, and more rapid develop
ment. Our state may be justly proud OF
it's position in the union. None has great
er possibilities. our agricultural resources
are constantly growing In magnitude; the
wealth Of our forests is fast disappearing,
but vet a source of pride; our n nerals in
extent and quality stand first in the union.
Michigan is i'm better position TO take adj
vantage of the great inland merchant ma
rine than any other state. II possesses
and educ ational system unsurpassed by
that of any other state or country which
is fully designed to develop the highest
type Of American cit 2enship. It's univer-
sty the pride of its ovn citizens is also
the pride of the country at large, ana COLI
stitutes a lasting monument to the state
devotion to learning, to art, ana the sell
encos. It's citizons are intelligent ana
patriotic. Peace and good order mas pre-
vailed within it's borders. Every sign now
now indicates that under the blessings OF
Providence, and a wise administration OF
the law. Michigan Is about to enter upon
a new and yet greater era or prosper
ity and development. To this END invite
careful attention to the recommendations
herein contained.
state Institutions.
In proportion with the increase OF pop
ulation there Is an increase in the needs
and requirements Of the state institutions,
especially of those devoted to educauonal
and charitable objects. Our asylums, de-
voted TO the care of the most unfortunate
wards Of the state. are constantly crowd
ed Not having at hand the means or pre-
venting the increase of insanity we can
only continue TO provide more room and
additional facilities for the care and treat
ment of it's victims.
The state has created at large expense
five institutions for the care or children
and persons of tender age. The home for
abandoned and neglected children, at
Coldwater l deem one Of its most excel
lent charities. The law regulating the
adoption of children from this institution
should be exceedingly stringent in pro-
tecting the rights of the natural parent,
and this, too, before the rights OF foster
parents may interv me.
THE school FOR the Deaf, located at FL mt.
IS enc of the state institutions that is per-
haps better known without the borders or
Michigan than any other except the uni
versity Because Of its excellent manage
ment and most perfect system OF instruc-
ton, and OF the high character and abil-
ity Of its faculty. IL Is recognized as
model institution. not only throughout the
United States, but also in foreign coun-
tries II can be truthfully said OF this
school that every graduate is self-support-
ing, statement which perhaps cannot pc
made concerning any similar school haV-
ing an attendance equally as large.
The institution for the care or juvenile
offenders, located at Lansing, Is under exE
cellent management. Its hundreds OF Wiz
tie inmates are given the best substitute
for a good home and parental care that
the state can furnish Many boys OF very
tender years. so young that. in my opin-
ion, they could have but little apprecia-
tion of the fact that they had transgressed
the law find their way TO it, | arvise the
adoption Of such reasonable measures as
will make it impossible for parents 10
have children sent to this school, either
because they wish to be rid of the obliga-
tion and expense Of caring for them. or
because they think tho school presents
better facilities for training them. l also
recommend that every inducement for
county agents and others to bring chill
dren 10 the home. such as the payment
of mileage for bringing them here, be re-
moved. This system is an outrage on
youth and places a premium on decision
against them. 1t seems unreasonable 10
punish boy 10 or IL years old for having
committed an offence even though he may
the parent, who has neglected his child
not only to go unpublished, but to be re-
warded for his carelessness and indiner-
ence by having the state clcShe, feed and
educate his offspring, 1t every case pos
sible the state should holl the parent r..
sponsible for the maintenance and educa
tion Of the son sent to his school. Both
this institution and the School for the
Blind are located in this city. and you
will have ample opportunity during the
present session of the legislature TO be-
ACQUAINTED with the work done DX
them
The Home for the Feeble Minded and
newer institutions of the State. To it's
management and methods L invite your
careful attention.
I will dispense with specific recon-
mendations as to the several institutions,
except i'm the case of the State House or
Correction and Reformatory at Ionia.
This institution is legally termed a re-
formatory, but its province as such has
been lost by the confinement within II of
some Of the most hardened criminals: as
well as young and first offenders. The
law permitting the sentencing OF old and
hardened criminals TO II should be
amended so as to prevent this objection
able practice, and only first offenders,
and the younger class Of convists should
be confined there. The intermingling of
youths with those who have become
hardened and habitua criminals, works
great harm to the former.
Central Hoard Of Control.
Il Submit IOT your consideration Ine
recommendation that there be created n
central board OF control Of all the in
stitutions OF the State, and that the sys-
tenn OF separate boards now in vogue be
abolished as a step in the direction OF
economy.
Insurance.
More than one billion dollars OF insur-
ance Is carried upon the lives and prop
erty OF Michigan citizens. Twelve mil
lions of dollars are paid annually i'm
premiums. SO universal has become in
surance protection, that few persons are
now without II in some form. The work
OF the Insurance Department OF the state
during the last two years Is so well
known as to require no comment here
The annual saving TO the people of the
pate OF more than three hundred thou
land dollars in the premiums alone Is a
record TO be proud Of
Building and Loan Associations.
There are about eighty building and
toan associations doing business in this
state and all but two or three OF them
are organized under the laws OF Michi-
gan. While these associations have been
Instrumental in doing much good and
have furnished to many persons OF mod