Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1874-01-22


Cal character, as basis of legislative
action:
l. Railway companies are entitled
to full return of all proper expendi-
lures for running and repairing roads,
with fair interest," on the capital SO
invested in the construction and out
fl of such roads; and this interest on
the capital so invested should be sui
ticient in amount TO encourage the
continuous employment of capital in
the same direction, and in the con-
structlon of new AID independent
lines.
2 Every stakeholder 10 railway
company is entitled to a proportion
ate consideration for his Investment,
and no action of ma ority of the stock
holders in any company should be
permitted to jeopardize the equitable
rights of the minority, or to deny the
minority an equitable representation
| ia boards of direction.
3. The privileges of railway COM
panfes should be detin tely limited to
the purpos es of their organization, as
carriers of passengers and freight,
and any interference with private in
terests and enterprise, increasing the
cost of shipment, transhipmeDt or
storage OF freight, should be rigidly
forbidden.
4 DETERMINATIONS among ship
PEI 8, as To time or cost should be pro-
hibited and punished.
5. Raining connections between
connecting roads on equitable terms,
should be enforced.
g. 1t should be made u penal Of
fence for any officer of a railway cor
pOration to contract, as such officer,
directly or Indirectly, with himself or
with any company in which said Of
ticer has any direct or indirect in
terest.
Z. The business meetings OF all cor
porations, a majority of whose pro-
perty lies within the State, and the
officers OF such corporations should
be residents of the State.
8. Classification OF freight, and
rates of fare and freight, within the
State, should be subject to revision
and modification by State authority.
8. Consultations and combinations
between companies owning parallel
lines of railway should be forbidden.
10. In the authorization of new
lines, preference should be given,
other things being equal, to those
NrnnAooA 1ah -
growth and prosperity of home mark.
cts and home commerce.
In tne enforcement of tue policy
indicated in the propositions above
stated, Eany obvious difficulties are
attendant upon a direct exercise OF
State authority, by the application OF
unvielding rules of law. In many Of
the States, efforts have been made to
avoid Statutory complications by the
appointment of com mlssioners, vested
with more or less authority to hear
and determine complaints, and to re-
strain or abolish abuses. | am con-
strained to say, that this experiment
has not this far realized al the bene-
fetal results anticipated. In many
cases, however, commissions OF this
kind have largely contributed to a
better understanding between the
people and the railways, and have
made public a fund of information,
without which comprehensive and
efficient legislation is comparatively
impossible Such commission in
our Sta Q, ii intelIigentiy constituted,
would undoubtedly contribute much
toward the ultimate solution OF all
the questions at issue No recon-
mendation for the postponement Or
evasions of direct and immediate leg
islation, as far as practicable, should
be implied from this question. This
commission should be designed as the
supplement, and not as the substitute,
OF legislative authority, and its pow>
ers should comprehend no po aer
which can be efficiently exercised by
the Legislature itself. La briet, no
responsibility as to the main question
involved can be justly or safely avoid
ed and in suggestions. | most earn
estIy assure the Legislature of the
hearty co operation 0t the Executive
department, within The sphere of its
constitutional duty, in every measure
for the more complete protection OF
the public from the evils complained
Of.
In this place permit me to say that
the Importance OF this topic OF trans
portation is not exaggerated by those
who have forced it upon public at
tention. Wisconsin is essentially an
agricultural state. OF the total as.
sessed value Of the state at the pres
ent time. nearly one-balf consists of
land, exclusive of city and village
lots. But small fraction of this
vast landed empire is yet under cui-
tivatlon, and the portion which has
been improved is susceptible of IN al
most incaIcu!able increase in produc-
ton and value. While thousands Of
men and women in the larger cities
Of the country are clamoring for en-
ployment and for bread, millions Of
BROAD and fertile acres within our
territory await the protecting power
of impartial laws and the investment
of enlightened labor. would not
depreciate the value of a prospert US
commerce, Of our growing manufac-
lures, or of our extensive mineral
wealth. still hidden in the earth, and
impatiently awaiting development,
under the magic influences of indust-
rv and capital. No State in the
Union can boast of resources more
rich ard varied. No chemist ever
compounded with nicer adjustment
than Providence has apDortloLed,
within our state, the ingredients of
soil. climate, timber, minerals, water
power ALI the opportunities for me-
chanieal and manufacturing industry.
But all lhese sources OF wealth are
Try nv al ~alat1A a