New-York tribune., 1901-01-04
PINGREE PREDICTS REVOLUTION
HIS MESSAGE AS RETIRING GOVERNOR OF
MICHIGAN COVERS NINETY-FIvE PAGES
HIS SUCCESSOR DECLARES WAR
ON CIGARETTES.

Lansing Mich Jan 3-The two houses OF the
Michigan Legislature assembled in Joint session to-
day 20 hear the retiring message of Ex-Governor
Pingree and the inaugural message OF Governor
Bliss
Mr. Pingree prefaced his message with some ex-
temporaneo(Is remarks. In which ne attacked the
courts Legislature and the press. He also urged
the Legislature 10 appropriate sufficient money to
amply pay the expenses of the Governor. saying -
had cost him $4,000 in his four years term The
reading of his message. which consisted OF ninety
five printed pages took almost four hours
Ex-Governor Pingree took up the subject of equal
taxation at the beginning or his message, and re-
viewed all the steps that have been taken to date
toward increasing the amount OF taxes paid by
railroads and other corporations. After mentioning
the failure of the Senate, which has always opposed
his taxation bills the last special session OF the
Legislature in December 10 pass the Railroad Taxa
ton bill passed by the House. the Governor said:
The lesson to be drawn from this history of the
contest for equal taxation Is that II the people
thew must centre their efforts the election of a
which shall be less suplect 20 tne
powerfui interests and more responsive to the
wishes of the people
The message urged the Legislature TO adopt the
resolution adopted by the Legislature of Pennsyl-
,ania requesting Congress to call convention for
the purpose of proposing amendment 10 the
Constitution provide for the election OF United
States Senators by popular vote Discussing the
question, the message said:
and our own discouraging and disgracefui expert
ence furnish the most powerful and convincing ar
eument i'm behalf of popular elections. IL is mat
ter of common knowledge that the office Is sought
by wealthy men not much for the alleged honor
as the opportunity which IL offers for financial
profit and Commercial advantages. not only through
stock speculation but in other and less legitimate
wavs instead of being the bulwark OF our Govern
ment as the trainers of the Constitution intended
H. the Senate is looked upon with fear and
disrust by the people of the country. There Is no
question that the people have lost confidence
in the limited States Senate and regard the House
OF Representati the more conservative and
trustworthy branch OF Congress
Municipal ownership of public utilities. such as
water gas. electric light, telephone service and the
furnishing of street railway transportation, was
discussed and advocated by Ex-Governor Pingree.
Discussing the pardons and paroles which have
been granted to prisoners in his four years in Of
fee, Ex-Governor Pingree said;
The people OF the State would be astonished II
they could know how loose and careless, and al
most criminal, have been the methods OF courts
and prosecutors in prosecuting criminal cases. lt
has become trte saying In our State, among
those familiar with the circum stances. that our
public prosecutors should be named public perse-
cutors." They to have lost sight OF the fact
that they take oath OF ofce TO protect the inno