Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-01-03
Message to Michigan Legislature as
He Quits Office.
Is SENSATIONAL ATTACKS
Charges Public Men and the Press
With Corruption.
WHY GEN. ALGER RESIGNED

LANSING, Mich, January 3.-Both houses
Of the Michigan legislature assembled In
joint session today to hear the farewell
message of Ex-Governor Pingree and the
inaugural message of Governor Bliss.
Mr.. Pingree prefaced his message with
some extemporaneous remarks, in which he
attacked the courts, legislature and the
press He also urged the legislature TO
appropriate sufficient money to amply pay
the expenses of the governor, saying it had
cost him $4,000 during his four years
term. The reading Of his message, which
consisted of nnety-five printed pages, took
almost four hours. 1t was, in part, as fol-
lows:
Equal Taxation His Theme.
Ex-Governor Pingree took up the subject
of 'eaual taxation at the beginning of his
message, and reviewed 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 OPP
posed his taxation bills, at the last special
session of the legislature in December to
pass the railroad taxation bill passed by the
house. the governor said:
1.-The lesson to be drawn from this his
tory of the contest for equal taxation is
that If the people wish this great problem
to be satisfactorily settled they must CEN
ter their efforts on the election 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.
The message urged the legislature to
adopt the resolution adopted by the legisla
ture Of Pennsylvania, requesting Congress
to call a convention for the purpose of pro-
posing an amendment to the Constitution
to provide for the election Of United States
senators by popular vote.
Election of United States Senator's.
Discussing the question, the massage
said: THE cases of Hanna in Ohio, Carter
In Montana and own discouraging and
disgraceful experience furnish the most
powerful and convincing argument in be-
half of popular elections. 1t is matter Of
common knowledge that the office is sought
by wealthy men. not so much for the al
legged honor. as the opportunity which it
offers for financial profit and commercial
advantage, not only through stock specu-
lation, but in other and less legitimate
ways. Instead of being the bulwark of our
government as the trainers of the ConStitu-
ton intended it the Senate is now looked
upon with fear and distrust by the people
Of the country. There is no question that
the people have lost confidence in the
United States Senate and regard the House
of Representatives as the more conserVa-
tive and trustworthy branch of Congress-
Municipal ownership Of public utilities.
such as water. gas. electric light, telephone
service and the furnishing Of street rail-
way transportation, was discussed and adj
vocated by ex-Gov. Pingree
Discussing the pardons and paroles which
have been granted to prisoners during his
four years in Office, ex-Gov Pingree said:
1.-THE people Of the state would be as
tonished If they could know how loose and
careless and almost criminal have been the
methods Of courts and prosecutors in pros
ecuting criminal cases. 1t has become
trite saying in our state, among those ia.
miliar with the circumstances that our
public prosecutors should be named pub
lie prosecutors They seem to have lost
sight of the fact that they take an oath of
ment as much as to bring the criminal to
justice and to protect the people of the
state"
Lessons He Had Learned.
After discussing number of matters Of
state interest only, and making recon-
mendations in regard to them, Ex-Governor
Pingree said, in conclusions:
my experience during my political life.
extending over a period of twelve years,
has convinced me that in order to secure
| the full commentator of those who con-
slider themselves the better classes the
| governor and other high officials must do
nothing to antagoniZe the great corpora
| lions and the wealthy people. l am salts
| fled that l could have had the praise and
support OF our best citizens and our best
| society and CT the press of the state gen.
years attempted to control legislation in
| their own interests to the end that they
| might be relieved from sharing equally
with the poor and lowly the burden Of
| taxation. l would have been pronounced a
| good fellow and great statesman.
| 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. l was informed by Gen. Alger
| himself that one Of the main reasons for
| the opposition to him was because he had
| ignored the claims of the great steamboat
| interests with representatives in New York
| city. The matter of sending something like
| $4,000 Spaniards to Spain came up. and the
| general advertised for bids for transporta-
| ton The tenders Of the different COM
| panies, submitted by their New York rep
| resentatives, were exactly alike-so much
for officers Of certain rank, so much for
| other officers and SO much for privates-
showing combination and agreement be-
| tween the companies.
| 'The bids which the general received
| from Spain were less than half Of those of
fered by the New York syndicate. and the
Spanish vessels. That was the turning
| point in the assault against the general.
| because he would not tOady to the COM
panies represented in New York and show
| them special favors. The press directed it's
| venomous attacks at me because 1 de-
| Tended Gen. Alger.
Policy of Rule or Ruin.
Il use this as an illustration to show how
powerful is the influence Of those who have
| resolved on the policy of rule or ruin. This
has been my experience while holding the
office of governor. Every large interest
that I have antsgonized during my fight
! for equal taxation has been arrayed
| against me, and the allies of those inter-
| ests. the newspapers of the state, have lost
| no opportunity to attempt to draw the
minds Of the people from the real issue by
making personal attacks on me and pub
| fishing malicious and willful libels, and to
belittle my efforts and bring me into dis
| repute in order that the present system of
| unjust, inequitable and Ubiquitous laws
| might still remain In force, to the detriment
| Of the great masses of the laboring classes
and farmers and those of small properties
| who are unable to speak and act for them
| selves.
Il make the prediction that unless those
| in charge and in whose hands legislation
Is reposed do not change the present sys-
tenn of inequality in less than quarter OF
| a century there will be bloody revolution
| in this great country Of ours"
| At the conclusion Of Pingrees message
| Governor Bliss message was read.
Gov. Bliss Urges Economy.
Governor Bliss. in his message, urged on
the legislators the advisability Of economy
| in all appropriations, and suggested a short