Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1874-05-07
THE RAILROADS.
z Proclamation by His Excellen-
cy, Gov. Taylor.

MADISON, Wis, May 1.-The Gov
ernor to-day promulgated the fol-
lowing proclamation bearing upon
the present railroad difficulty:
a PROCLAMATION.
BY the Governor of the State of Wisconsin,
Whereas, The Legislature, at its last ses.
SION, passed an act entitled 'EAn act in rela-
tlon 20 railroad, express and telegraph COM
panIes IN the State of Wisconsin, classifying
railroads and freights, limiting and fixing the
compensation to be charged for the transport
tatlon OF freights and passengers, and provid-
Ing Tor the appointment of railroad commits
sioners; and,
Whereas, The power of the Legislature TO
regulate the operation of such companiessin
the respects named is conceded to exist and,
Whereas, Said act was duly approved on
the 4th day of March, A. D., 1874, and was
officially published on the % day of April,
1874, and is now to all intents and purposes
the law of the land; and,
Whereas, The Chicago, Milwaukee & st.
Paul Railroad Company, and the Chicago s.
Northwestern Railroad Company, on the
29th day of April, A. D. 1914, filed in the
Executive Department communications signed
by their respective presidents, and addressed
TO the Governor of the state of Wisconsin. IN
which they announced determination to op-
crate their roads without refer ence to the
provisions of the act and in defiance to its re-
quirements; and
whereas, This unusual course on the part
oil these two great corporations, at once
source of profound regret and in marked con-
trast with the patience and submission ex-
hiblted by the people in the presence of what
they have deemed the unjust and burdensome
exactlons OF the railroad companies in the
past, and it persisted in must seriously dis
turD the business and greatly imperil the in
dustries of the State and
Whereas, The constitution OF the state de-
wolves upon the executive the duty to Sex
pedlte all such measures as shall be resolved
by the Legislature, and TO take care that the
laws be faithfully executed -
Now, therefore, /, William r. Taylor, Gov
ernor of the State of Wisconsin, do proclaim
and make known that the law of the land
must be respected and obeyed. While none
are so weak as to be without its protection,
none are so strong as to be above its restraints.
If the provisions of the law be deemed oppres-
slve, resistance to its mandates will not abate,
but rather multiply the anticipated evils. 1t
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 exercise of its
conceded powers, and in accordance with the
Clearly expressed sentiment oil the people OF
the state. 1t is the right of all TO test its val
idity through the constituted channels, but
with the right is coupled the duty Of yielding
general obedience to its requirements until il
has been pronounced invalid by competent
authority. am not without hope that better
counsel will yet prevail with the railroad
companies of the state but if they or any of
them are fixed in the determination to pursue
the policy announced, upon them will fall the
penalties of the law and the consequences of
severe popular condemnation.
/, therefore, enjoin all railroad corporations
their officers and agents, peaceably 10 submit to
the law, for, since the executive is charged
with the responsibility of seeing that the laws
| are faithfully executed, all the functions of
his office will be exercised to that end and
for this purpose he invokes the aid and CO.
operation OF all good citizens.
In testimony whereof, have herelnto sub
scribed my name and caused the great seal Of
the state to be hereto affixed
Done at the capitol IN the city of Madison,
this 1st day of May, in the year of our Lord,
1874. w. R. TAYLOR,
Governor of Wisconsin,