Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-05-06
THE RAILROADS.
Proclamation by the Governor.

sent railroad difficulty:
A Proclamation by the Governor Of
the State Of Wisconsin:
WHEREAS, The Legislature, at its
last session, passed an act entitled can
act i'll relation to railroad, express and
telegraph companies in the state Of
Wisconsin" classified railroads and
freights, limiting and fixing the com
pensation to be charged for the trans
portation of freights and passengers,
and providing for the appointment Of
railroad commissioners; and,
WHEREAS, The power of the Legis-
lature to regulate the operation Of such
companies in the respects named is
conceded to exist; and
WHEREAS, said act was duly ap.
proved on the 4th day Of March. 4. D.,
1884, and was officially published on
the 2S;h day of April, 1874, and is
now to all in;ents and purposes the
law Of the land ; and,
WHEREAS, The Chicago, Milwaukee
& St. Paul Railroad Company, and
the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad
Company, on the Goth day of April,
a. D. 1874, filed in the Executive
Department communication signed by
their respective presidents, and ad-
dressed to the Governor of the state
of Wisconsin, in which they annouce
a determination to operate their roads
without reference to the provisions
Of the act aud in defiance Gifts require
ments; and
WHEREAS, This unusual course on
the part Of these two great corporations
at once a source of profound regret
and in marked contrast with the pa
thence and submission exhibited by the
people In the presence of what they
have deemed the unjust and burden
some exactious OF the railroad compa-
MES in the past, aud if persisted in
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 measures as
shall be resolved by the Legislature,
and to take care that the laws be faith
full executed; ;"
Now. therefore, | William r. Tay-
lor, Governor Of the state OF Wisconsin,
do proclaim aud make known that
the law of the land must be respected
and obeyed. While none are so weak
as to be without it's protection, none
are SO strong as to be above its restraints.
If the provisions Of the law lie deemed
oppressive, resistance to its mandates
will not abate bat 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, enact
ed by the Legislature in the exercise
of Its conceded powers, and in accor-
dance with the clearly expressed SEN
timent Of the people of the state. 1t
Is the right of all to test its validity
through the constituted channels, but
with the ght is coupled the duty of
yielding general obedience to its re-
quirements until it has been pronoun.
ced invalid by competent authority. I
am not without hope that better coun-
sells will yet prevail with the railroad
companies Of the state ; but if they or
any of them are fixed in the determina-
sion to pursue the policy announced,
upon them will fall the penalties of
tho law and the consequences Of severe
popular condem nation
], therefore, enjoin all railroad cor.
porations, their officers and agents,
peacably to submit to the law, for,
since the executive is charged with
the responsibility of seeing that the
laws are faithfully executed, all the
funtions 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, I have here
unto subscribed my name and caused
the great seal of the state to be hereto
affixed.
Done at the capitol in the city of
Madison this LIST day Of May, in the
year Of our Lord, 1874.
W. R. TAYLOR,
Governor of Wisconsin
BY the Governor:
&C.