Mexico Missouri message., 1901-01-10
PREDICTS A "
r. REVOLUTION

subject of Equal Taxation" at
the beginning of his farewell mes
sage this morning and reviewed
all the steps that have been taken
to date towards increasing the IA
mount of taxes paid by railroads
and other corporations.
The message urged the lcgisla-
ture to adopt the resolution adopt
ed by the legislature of Pennsyl-
vania, requesting Congress to call
a convention for the purpose of
proposing an amendment to the
constitution to provide for the
election of United States Senators
by popular vote. Discussing the
question, the message said: THE
cases of Hanna in Ohio, Clark in
Montana and our own discourage
ing and disgraccful experiences
furnish the most powerful and
convincing argument in behalf of
popular elections. 1t is Il matter
of common knowledge that the Of
flee is sought by wealthy men, not
so much for the alleged honor, as
the opportunity which it offers for
financial profit and commercial
advantage, not only thru stock
speculation, but in other and less
legitimate ways"
Municipal ownership of public
utilities, such AS water, gas, clcc-
tric light and telephone service
and the furnishing of street rail
way transportation was discussed
and advocated by former Governor
Pingrcc.
Discussing the pardons and pa
roles which have been granted to
prisoners during his four years in
office, the former governor said:
"The people of the State would be
astonished if they knew how loose,
careless and almost criminal have
been the methods of the courts
and prosecutors in prosecuting
criminal cases. 1t has become
trite saying in our State among
those familiar with the circum-
stances that our public prosccut-
ors should be named public per-
secutors.' They seem to have lost
sight of the fact that they take an
oath of Office to protect the lnno-
cent from punishment as much as
to bring the criminal to juStire
and to protect the people of the
State"
After discussing ii number of
matters of state interest only and
making recommendations in ar-
cordancc with them, Ex-Governor.
Pingrcc said, in conclusions;
"My experience during my po-
litical life, extending over peri
cd of twelve Years, has convinced
me that in order to secure tie full
communication of Those who con
slider themselves the better class
cS, the governor and other high
officials must do nothing to antag-
oul2c the great corporations and
the wealthy people, | am satisfied
that | could have had the praise
and support of our best citizens
and our best society, and of the
press of the state generally, if had
upheld those who have for years
attempted to control legislation
in their own interests, to the end
that they might he relieved from
sharing equally with the poor and
lowly the burden of taxation. |
would have been pronounced II
good fellow and a great statesman.
1.-THE memory of the treatment
of Gen. Alger by the press of the
country and his removal from the
cabinet is fresh in the minds of
all. | was informed by General
Alger that one of the main rea-
sons for the opposition to him was
because he had ignored the claims
of the government steamboat in
terests with representatives III
New York city. The matter of
sending something like 30, 900
Spaniards to Spain came up, and
the general advertised for bids for
transportation. The tenders of
different companies, submitted by
their New York representatives,
were exactly alike-so much for
officers of certain rank, so much
for other officers and SO much for
Notwithstanding n combination
and N nraamont bat wann thn .,n,