Charlevoix county herald., 1908-10-24
Splendid Results
Governor Warmers De-
fense of Republican
Management.

Gov. Warmers speech at Grand
Ledge Wednesday night was wei
presented and effective defense of hi:
administration as governor and can
did review Of what he had sought tC
accomplish. He referred TO the fact
that as a member OF the state senate
about ten years ago, he had voted for
Gov. Pingree's first bill to establish
equal taxation In Michigan. At that
time the entire income OF our state
from all specific taxation sources was
less than one million dollars. Gov.
Warner made 1t emphatic and very
clear that the increase over that
amount which the state is receiving
from such sources at the present time
is directly due to republican legisla-
tion and republican management Of
state affairs. The states income from
the different sources through which
it's earnings come has reached the
splendid total Of more than one mil
lion dollars in excess of Michigan s
entire state tax.
The establishment of the railroad
commission was directly in line with
what has been done in some of the
other progressive states. Up to that
time Michigan had nothing to say
with regard to freight rates. The
state could take part 10 the regulation
OF passenger affairs, but the railroads
could charge any rate they saw tit
from any point ia Michigan to any
other point in the state, aud they
could change their rates arbitrarily
and without notice to the people or to
the state. Under the present law the
railroad commission Is given authori-
ty to receive complaints from any
shipper, and II upon investigation a
rate is found to be an uureasona ble
one the commission has the right TO
take part la the formation Of a fair
schedule.
Within the period through which 1t
is claimed state expenditures have
most largely increased the enrolment
at the University of Michigan has in
creased from three thousand to over
five thousand; the attendance at the
Agricultural College has increased
from less than four hundred to over
fourteen hundred; the attendance at
the Normal schools has increased
from less than nine hundred to four
Thousand, and three additional state
normal schools have been established.
Aud further in that same direction,
the state assists in the management
aud expense or over forty county nor
NAL schools, which are doing splendid
work in the way Of providing trained
teachers f0rj the country district
schools.
Gov. Warner called attention to the
fact that the state executive has
nothing to do with the expense Of the
legislature fdr its own purposes. His
democratic opponent was member Of
the legislature. Through four years
Le was in position to criticise legis-
lative expenses, but he did not do SO,
nor did he at>any time make objection
TO state expenditures or state appro-
priations-
In explanation Of the increase la
the earnings of the state, the COVER
nor called attention TO the fact that
within twelve years the number OF
factories la Michigan had increased
from about 2,S4o to $500; and the
number of men employed from lol 600
70 2a5.000. Twelve years ago the
average wages paid in Michigan was
sl.22, while the average wage OF today
IS sl.S0. And while this upbuilding
and advancement have been in pro-
gress In Michigan, said the governor,
1t is worthy to note tnat the state tax
rate hat. grown less rather than larger.
In 1899 the average rate Of taxation
In Michigan for state purposes was
s3. 30 on each $1,000. last year, 1907, 1t
was 81 81, and this year the state tax
rate will be but s2.42 on each $1,000.
The governor reviewed his success
full efforts Ia behalf OF the establish
ment of two cent fares on the rail-
roads OF the state, referred TO the law
making railroads common carriers OF
live stock which he had favored, and
explained the value to the state and
its people Of the binder twine plant at
Jackson, which had been secured
through energetic efforts on bis part.
He called attention to the bills which
he had supported which had not been
put on the statute books aud he stat
ed that he had worked sincerely for
the hill providing for the taxation OF