The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1907-01-05
trrmlnnl facilities to properly care for
AZ. l....l........ - ~. H..

In which Michigan Is Included IL being
Disseminated against IN the distribu-
ton OF ears and IN the return OF cars
for further service.
Third-W neither any section or sec
tons OF this state have been specially
Disseminated against In the matter OF
car supply
Fourth-lf any OF these complaints
are found TO be based upon reasonable
gicrnds, that they mako a definite re-
port rs 10 the lines or systems OF rail
road which are falling 10 furnish prop
CT service.
Fifth-rhat this report be accom-
panied by recommendations OF proper
and Just legislation 20 remedy the diff.
flculty.
Railroad Passenger Rates.
An important matter which. in my
judgment. should have attention at this
session of the legislature Is the subject
OF railroad passenger fares.
am OF the opinion that tho law OF
this state should be amended so as 20
make the maximum passenger fare
that may be charged In tho upper pen
insula three cents per mile, and tho
maximum rate In the lower peninsula.
with the possible exception OF that
charged by three or four small tnde-
pendent companies whose passenger
earnings arc less than $1,000 per mile,
two cents per mile. The legislature
can. think, be depended upon 10 deal
Justly with tho smaller independent
roads.
Two years ago / called attention 20
the fact that several railroad com
panies whose passenger earnings had
passed the limit hxed by law for .
decrease In passenger rates had. after
demand for such decrease had been
made by proper state authority, been
enabled 10 continue TO collect the high
er ratio for several years pending tho
final disposal OF an appeal 70 the
courts. In that message, while rocog-
nizing the right Of tho companies 20
such appeal, suggested that much or
the litigation could doubtless be avert
ca IL there wns enacted law proyid-
ing that whenever the courts did not
sustain the appeal OF the company in
such cases said companies be required
10 pay into the state treasury an
amount equal 10 twice the excess OF
passenger fares collected during tho
tendency of tho cases IN court. The
case which was the cause for the
recommendation Of two years ago Is
still undecided and the company In
question ~ stlll collecting the higher
rate. During tho past year another
company has been added 10 the list.
I. therefore. renew the recommends
ton Just mentioned.
The Lobby.
Michigan has suffered less than
many OF our sister states from the
lobby evil. but We cannot ciaIIn TO
have been entirely free from the cor
rupting influence Of the professional
lobbyist
In all matters OF legislation tho peo-
pie are entitled to your best thought
and most conscientious judgement, ana
you should see 10 II that your thought
Is not directed nor your judgment ar
focted by the undue influence. Public
hearings and the right OF petition as
10 all matters pending before tho legis-
lnture arc legitimate methods 81 In
fiuoneng legislation. The legislative
Should always be Wiling to grant pso-
Ne hearings to and receive petitions
from all who may DO interested In
measures under consideration, whether
these persons represent public or PRIV
ate Interests Aside from these hear
,nsr there should be no place, eibher
NJ tho legislative hAlks. tho oommiteee
rooms or the hobby, for tho professDn-
nj lobbyist Ills rights should be ssmp-
" those enjoyed " tho hamblest SIT
izen 81 the .tsie> Thp professional
lobbyist has no provGF piNcs m iegis-
htfon and tho pc0ner hs Ia eAtcllnAbod
therefr0n the better not ouiy Zoe the
public but FOR the special interests by
which be IL employed.
The FIRST step Ia THE direction must
necessarily be taken by tho Individual
legislator m treating with cont0snpt
The introduccr " any socalled strike
legislation designed FOR tho sole pur.
pose of attracting the attention 81
those special interests. thereby inviting
them ~ either pag tribute or 20 en-
ploy Tie professional lobbyist In self.
defense. such legislation and It's
sponsors should be publicly denounced
and thclr rcnl purpose exposcd. All
proposed legislation shonld stand or
fan on is merits alone snd any nrlN-
u.ents ~ 10 those merits x1ould stand
The test of full puhliS3tJ.
IN my Judgment the practice or
heads 81 state Institutions, depart
ments and members OF state boards 81
appearing IN the role of lobbyists IN
behalf 81 appropriations for thesr 70
spective institutions. boards and DO
partmen.s. " nm unseemly one and
should be abandoned.
Conclusion.
have had occasion 10 know much
% tho conduct ~ tho affairs OF Tho
.trFtfTa aud nf,n~frffva ofFrN 80 Tho