The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1908-08-31
GOVERNOR WARMERS
RECORD,

In bis public utterances Governor
Warner is asking for third term in
order that he may accomplish some
things he admits have been left UNI
done. He has now been in Office near.
ly four years. Read his record on
these matters.
The Telegraph and Telephone Bill
Governor Warner has had the ad-
vantage OF two regular and one spe-
cial session OF the legislature. yet this
same proposition which has come up
in every session, Is still unpassed, and
its defeat is directly due to the gov
ernors friends. The history Of the
telephone and telegraph bill is an in
teresting one IL was introduced in
the session OF 1905 and was promptly
killed. At the regular session OF 1907
Representative Dust. whom the gov
ernor refused TO reappoint on the
state tax commission introduced a bill
for the al valorem taxation for tele-
phone and telegraph companies. II
was referred To the house committee
on general taxation, "a majority OF
whom were friends OF the governor,
and 1t was never reported out. Dur
ing the same session a similar hill
was introduced in the senate aud was
also pigeon-holed, and IL is not OF
record that Governor Warner made
any effort to secure the passage OF
these measures. During the session
of 1907 he was absolutely In control
Of the house. every measure which he
advocated being passed, but the tele-
phone and telegraph bill was not
among them, though IL had The active
support OF Attorney-General BIRD. The
failure 10 pass this measure caused
much criticism throughout the State
and when II became known that a
special session OF the legislature was
10 be called by the governor IN the
latter part OF 1907, Acknowledgement
Bird addressed an open letter 10 Gov
ernor Warner urging him to include
taxation In the matters to be disposed
OF at the special session. II is i'm.
peftaHt TO know that at special ses-
only matters eaiEbe taken up
as the governor indicates in his mes
sage. Notwithstanding this letter, the
special session was called and the
call contained no reference 10 the tax
alton of telephone and telegraph COM
panies. II was not until three days
after the legislature had convened that
the governor, unable longer to resist
the pressure, sent a communication
10 the legislature, which permitted 1t
TO take action on the matter On
October l6 1907. the senate unani-
mously passed bill taxing telephone
and telegraph companies on an al
valorem basis. The bill was then trans
mitted TO the house and after a sharp
fight was defeated, the final action be-
ing that the committee on taxation
refused To report rne Diff OUT. and
nearly all Of the supporters Of the
committee in this action were friends
Of the governor and had fought his
other battles in the legislature. Some
reason may be found for this in that
the interests OF the telephone and
telegraph companies were represented
by Ex-senator A. J. Doherty. OF Clare.
whom Governor Warner, just before
the close of the regular session ia
1907, appointed on the State Board OF
Agriculture. Yet in the face Of these
facts Governor Warner demands that
he be reelected for third term in
order that he may pass this telephone
and telegraph taxation bill.
The Anthology Law.
No official mention OF the natter
was made by Governor Warner During
his first term
II was referred 10 in the gQYArnnrss
message TO the legislature OF ls07-A
bill was introduced. but there Is no
official record that the governqr took
any action TO have II passed.
The bill was again INTRODUCED at
the special session OF 1907 butt was
killed In The House, which throughout
the session was controlled by the gov
ernor's wishes In matters OF legisla-
ton.
The Primary Law.
The present law was passed by the
Legislature of 1906.
The provision requiring 40 per cent
TO nominate governor and lieutenant
governor (which Warner Is row so
anxious to remover was inserted by
the governor himself or at least with
his approval and consent.
Governor Warner did not declare
for state wide primary law until
after Or. Bradley had announced II as
a part of his (Bradley's) platform.
Control Of Corporate capitalization.
Nothing whatever WAS done by the
governor during his first term.
Nothing was=deHe during the regu.
-lt4-sassion- of-l90z-
There is no record that the govern
or did anything 10 secure action be-