The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-01-04
PINGREE MAKES
BITTER SPEECH
Farewell Address Consists
Largely of Denunciation.
SCORES COURTS. PRESS
AND CORPORATIONS
Points to Hanna and Carter as
Doodle Senators.


Of the Michigan legislature assembled
in joint session today to hear the ex-
inaugural message of former Governor
Pingree and the inaugural message Of
Governor Bliss.
Mr. Pingree prefaced his message
with some extenlporaneous remarks, in
which he attacked the courts, legisla-
ture and press. He also urged the
legislature to appropriate sufficient
money to pay the expenses of the gov
ernor, saying it had cost him $4,000
during his four years term. The read
ing of his message, which consisted of
ninety-five printed pages, took almost
sosss hours
After mentioning the failure Of the
senate TO pass the railroad taxation
Dill, the former governor said.
II the people wish this great prob
lem to be satisfactorily settled they
must center their efforts on the cleo
ton of senate which shall be less
subject to the seductive arguments of
the railroads and other wealthy and
powerful interests and more responsive
TO the wishes Of the people"
Cites Hanna as BoodIer.
The message urged the legislature to
adopt resolution requiring congress
10 call convention for the purpose of
proposing an amendment TO the cOnsti-
tuition 10 provide for the election of
United States senators by popular vote.
The message saws.
The cases of Hanna in Ohio. Carter
IN Montana, and our own discouraging
ana disgraceful experiences, furnish the
most powerful and convincing argu-
ment IN behalf Of popular elections. 1t
IS d matter of common knowledge that
the office IS sought by wealthy men,
not so much for the alleged honor. as
the opportunity which it offers for the
financial profit and commercial adVan-
tage, not only through stock specula-
ton, but in other and less legitimate
ways Instead of being the bulwark
OF our own government, as the trainers
or the constitution intended it, the SEN
ate is now looked upon with fear and
distTUst by the people Of the coun-
try"
Municipal ownership of public utili-
ties was advocated.
Scores Public Prosecutors.
Discussing the pardons and paroles
which have been granted TO prisoners
during his former term in office, the
former governor saiG.
The people Of the state would be
aSJOniShed If they could know how
loose and careless and almost criminal
have been the methods of courts and
prosecutors in prosecuting criminal
cases. 1t has become a trite saying in
our state among those familiar with
me circumstances, that our public
prosecutors should be named public
prosecutors. They seem to have lost
sight OF the fact that they take an oath
Of office TO protect the innocent from
punishment Is much as to bring the
criminal TO justice and to protect the
people of the state"
Mr.. Pingree said, in conclusion:
My experience during my political
life extending over a period Of twelve
years, has convinced me that in order
to secure the communication of those
who consider themselves the better
classes the governor and other high
I officials must do nothing 10 antagOniZe
the great corporations and the wealthy
people. / am satisfied that I 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
Nigh be relieved from sharing equally
with the poor and lOwly the burden
of taxation. 7 would have been pro-
nounced a good fellow and great
statesman.
Stands by Alger.
The memory of the treatment of
General AIgeT by the press of the
country and his removal from the cab
met is fresh in the minds Of all l was
informed by General AIgeT that one of
the main reasons for the opposition to
him was because he had ignored the
claims of the great steamboat corpora
tiOns with representatives in New York
/ city The bids which the general re-
CeiVed from spain for transporting
/ $4,000 SDaniards were less than half
those offered by the New York Syndi-
cate and the contracts were therefore
awarded to the Spanish vessels. The
/ press directed its venomOus attacks Ut
me because / defended General Alger,
Every large interest that I have an
/ tagOniZed during my fight for equal
taxation has been arrayed against me
and the allies of those interests, news
/ papers of the state, have lost no oppor-
tunity to attempt 10 draw he minds of
/ he people from the real issue by making
/ personal attacks on me and publishing
malicious and wilful libels, and to be
I little my efforts and bring me into dis
repute in order that the present system
of unjust inequitabie and Ubiquitous
/ laws might still remain in force, to
! the detriment of the great masses OF
/ Iaboring classes and farmers and those
/ of small properties who are unable to
} speak and act for themselves.
Predicts a Revolution.
L make the prediction that, unless
( those in charge and in whose hands
/ legislation is reposed, change the pres
/ ent system of inequality, in less than
/ a quarter Of a century there viii be a
! bloody revolution in this great country
of ours.
/ At the conclusion of Mr.. Pingree S
/ message, Governor Bliss message was
/ read.
( Governor Bliss urged economy in all
} appropriations and suggested a short
/ session. on the subject Of taxation he
/ said
! Believing that the people desire that
all property now paying specific taxes
/ shall be assessed in like manner with
/ other property [ recommend that the
/ legislature provide the necessary money
/ for tire assessment and collection Of
/ taxes on these property upon an al
! vaIorem basis. There should be no has
! " consideration Of this question, how
ever. for the interest of hundreds of
! millions Of property is no slight one.
/ Governor bliss advised the most
stringent legislation possible" against
. the sale of cigarettes.