The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-06-09
VVETllOyr CONFIRMATION.

Is it in the power of Que American citi-
zen to require the labor or services of
another American citizen without pay
ment, or an agreement to pay therefor :?
Has any man, or any body of men, the
right or power to require that a corpora
ton shall do certain work for them with
ont actual or promised remuneration Has
the state, acting through its legislature,
the right, power or authority, to require a
citizen, company, cO-partncrship, or a
corporation all Of which are either Il
single individual or an aggregate of ind-
yiduals-to perform work, labor or services
for others with the payment Of, or pro-
mise TO pay reasonable compensation for
such work, labor or services ? The answer
TO each and every of these questions will
doubtless be unhesitatingly "no." Further
Every person Of whom these questions
might be asked would, probably, consider
them childish, puerilc and, perhaps, UNI
worthy Of an answer. One year ago, we
SHOULD have thought them about as unde-
serving Of an answer as the or, in the
fable, did the fly, on its horns. Our reply
to such questions would have been some
thing like the remark Of the Indian TO the
missionary "any fool knows better" But
times change vastly in Il few months and
the legislature Of Wisconsin have answered
all these questions in the Affirmative.
Whether that affirmative answer is due
to fauaticism, ignorance, desire tor office,
or hasty legislation, we will not undertake
to say; we can only give the facts and
leave il for the courts to say whether the
legislature or common sense is right. In
Wisconsin, as well as in other states, there
has been great cutlery against railroads; and
as is usual in such cases. instead Of merel,
righting acknowledged wrongs, il became 4
! general crusade against all railroads, rail
road managers, directors, stockholders, etc
just rs the attempt was made in Vermont
but didn't succeed. In Wisconsin, how
ever, what was called San anti-railroat
legislature was chosen, and here we civ,
specimens of their work. The origina
cause of complaint, the charge arounc
which the movement first rallied, was M
alleged cXtortiOnate rate of charges fol
freght and the legislature early gave theil
attention to and passed bill, which wa
approved by the governor, prescribing uni
form rates of freight. The law provided
that certain amount Of freight should b,
transported for eight dollars for the frs
twenty-five miles, five dollars for the sec
ond. and two dollars for the third twenty
five miles, or the greater fraction thereof
that is the same rate should be allowed TO
all distances between thirteen and twenty
five miles. The law had regard only TO
distances, not for particular road Fo
example; Thirteen dollars could only b,
charged for carrying freight fifty miles
even if it had to be transported over fou
different roads.
AS showing the practical workings o
the law, we refer to the facts upon which
a suit based, which is now pending agains
the Milwaukee and st. Paul railway com
pany Some lumber was shipped iron
Oshkosh to Oconomowoc, distance o
seVenty-iye miles, sigtJ-three of whicl
were over the Northwestern railroad, Tn