The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1874-05-07
PROCLAMATION BYT HE GOV
ERNOR.
A PROCLAMATTON.

last session, passed an act eptllled
AN ACT in relation to railroad. rrsex-
press and telegraph com. ,anies in the
state CT Wisconsin,, classifying
railroads and freights, limiting and
fixing the compensation 10 be charg-
ed for he trans portation Of freights
end passengers, and providing for the
appointment of rail DAD commission
ers: al !, a. 9 s-r.rs
Whereas, The power oftl4e Legis-
lature to regulate the operation Of
such companies in the respects named
is conceded to exist and,
" hereas, said actwas duly approved
ION the 4th day of March, A D..1874,
and was officially published on the28th
Gay Of april, 1874. and is now 10 all
intents and purposes the law Of the
lanN and,
Whereas, Che Chicago, Milwaukee
& St. Paul Railroad Company, and
the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad
Company, on the 29th day Of April,
4. d 1874, filed in the Executive
department COMMUNICATIONS signed
by their respective presidents, and
addressed to the Governor Of the state
of Wisconsin,in which they announce
Q determination to operate their roads
without reference TO the provisions of
the act and in defiance Of its require
ments and 1855
Whereas, This unusua! course on
the part OF these two great corpora
tons, at once a source OF profound
regret and in marked contrast with
the patience and submission exhibits
ed by the people in the presence OF
what they have deemed the unjust
and burdensome exact;o4s Of the
railroad companies in the past, and
II persisted III must seriously disturb
the business and greatly imperil the
industries of the State; and
Whereas, The constitution of the
state devolves upon the executive the
duty to ''expedite all such n.ea- utes
as shall be resolved by the Legisla-
tUre, and TO take care that The Jaws
be faithfully executed;"
Now, therefore, /, William r.
Taylor, Governor OF the state Of
Wisconsin, do proclaim and make
known that the law Of the lard must
be respected and obeyed. While
sl0ne are so weak as to be without IFS
protection, none are so strong as to
be above IFS res train1s. If the pro
visions Of the law be deemed oprre $.
i've, resistance to its mandates W Il
not abate, but rather multiply the an
tlclpated evils. Ii may be that the
law is defective IN some of its details,
but it is still the law of the land, en-
acted by the Legislature in the exer-
else OF Its conceded powers, and in
Accordance with thecIearly expressed
sentiment people OF the state. It's the
right of all to test its validity through
the constituted channels, but with
the right is coupled the duty Of yield
ing genera obedience to its reouir :
4nents until it has been pronounced
invalid by competent authority. |
am not without hope that better cnuu-
sells will yet prevail with the railroad
companies OF the state; but If they
or any Of them are fixed IN the deter,
mlnatlon to pursue the policy amour
eed, upon them will fall the penalties
Of the law and the consequences of
severe popular condemnation
], therefore, enjoin all railroad cor
porations, their officers and agents.
peaceably to submit to the law, for
since the executive is charged with
the responsibility of seeing that the
laws are faithfully executed. aIb the
functions of his office will be ever,
cised to that end; and for, this pur-
pose he invokes the aid and co oper.-
ton of all good citizens.
In testimony whereof, | have here
unto subscribed my name and caused
the great seal of the state to be her.to
affixed. u ---TT
Done at the capitol in The city Of
Madison, this LIST day Of May, in the
year Of our Lord, 1874, ~
.8Ie Sln(s W, r, TAYLOR, n
Governor Of Wisconsin.
by the Governor: