, 1874-04-06


Of tho groonbacka themselves.
4 CONTRADICTORY RAILROAD LAW.
Tho Wisconsin Legislature passed. two laws in
relation to railroads, which 60 into oroct on the
lat prox. The frat, known aa the Potter bill,
provides for tho appointment Of throo RailSoad
Commiasionors, who, in tho Language Of goo. II,
'"ahall have the right Of passing In tho perfor-
nance OF thoir duties concerning railroads on all
railways aud railway trains in the stato FREQ Of
CHARGE" This would ho cheap WY OF travel
ing did not Sec. of tho second or general low
interfere. Tho 1attor says: "Any State officer
who shall accopt any FREQ pass, or pass at dis
count, from any railroad, railway, or trans
portation company, shall bo deemed guilty
of q misdomeanor, and, upon conviction there-
OF, Hia!l bo punished by Ano or I'M
prisonment, such ino to bo not less
than s25 nor moro than e100, md such irnpris-
onment to DO not less than ton days nor moro
than thirty days." Tho contradiction In this
caeo ia direct. II tho Commissioners stdead-
load" their way as authorized by the oct circuit
ing them, they must pay flno or 60 to jail.
Tho gonoral Inv (soo. . prohibits discrimi-
nation either in rates OF facilities for tho trans
portation Of freight within tho State, "or COM
ing from or going to any othor State; while the
Potter bill specially dscriminateB botwcon stnto
and Interstate business, declaring against any
interference whatever Ia tho rites charged for
tho lattor aud stl furthor discriminates by arbl-
trar1Y dividing tho railroads into classes aud
prescribing different rates for tho Bamo articles
according to tho class in which tho road ia
placed. Still another conflict exsts In this olaB-
sidcation. It allows tho roads grouped in Class
B md Glass O to charge much higher rates than
the roads in Class a, while the general law de-
c1ares that all individuals. associations, and cor
porations shall have equa1 right to havo persons
aud property transported over railroads in tho
State without discrimination. Here, certainly,
is ,noRt apparent conflict; and, If the
classification mado Ia thereby repealed,
tho rates based upon it must necos-
Barily fall, and tile Commissioners ap-
pointed to ENFORCE them will find their oc-
tho rntoa ehall DO attor May l. Tho railroads in
Glass comprise all tho lines operated by the
cl;caro H. Northwo.tern and thu Mi1wan]xee &.
1t. Pou1 comnanies. Thu ratea eatabliahod for
them vary for every twontv-}vo n;]oa I'm tn o5)
miles. On grim, thov ara from q, to a6 mr. can't
lower than present rates. On flour, tho roduc-
tion ranges from Is to Is per cent; On lumber,
from q to 10 nor cent m liyo etock, from IA tn
| M mr. rant m ocrcn1turai imotononta +ron,
81 to 4a por CENT. an oonl. brjo]t. oto !.
from SO to IL nor cont: md on conl.
nor carload. from Is to AZ nor cont.
The average reduction exceeds 30 per cont.
Tho operating expenses Of these roads. laat year,
exceeded 70 por cont OF their GROSS earnings.
| II tho proposed reduction is enforced, from
whence will tho money be orivod to pay intcr.
est on tho bonds, irrespective Of dividends? In
tho face Of such showing, 1t would not be-
maintained in any competent court that th.
rates imposed arc unreasonable. But tho gen.
cral law aays the rates charged shall DO roasona,
bio. Il would Bocm therefore, tho Companies
lave only to prove tho ratos established
in the Potter bull unreasonable ii
order to havo them abolished. N<
provision Is made for their increase providing
they arc adjudgcd unroasonably low. Buoh dis
erection was allowed the Commissioners whe.
tho bill left the Senate, but tho House, oago
to outdo the other body, struck out tho clauBo
lcaylng only tho power to lowor the rates. Wer
its validity to DO Immediately tostod, tho railroad