The Grange advance., 1874-07-22
The Wisconsin Railroad Decision.

Below we give what the Industrial
.Aqe SAYS in reference to the late decis-
ion in the u. s. Circuit Court on the
Wisconsin railroad law of last winter.
The Legislature fixed maximum rates
for carrying freights and passengers,
which the companies declare are much
less than they can possibly afford to car
ry for, and that if the law were carried
out it would destroy every railroad in
the State, and therefore they brought
suit in the Z. S. Circuit Court to re-
strain the execution Of the law, claim
ing that it is unconstitutional. They
prepared themselves for the fight by
getting lengthy opinions from William
NJ. Evarts, Judge Curtis, and other en-
inent lawyers, in their favor How
much they paid for these opinions is
something the public will never know.
What right have they to know such
things? Well armed with these opin-
ions from the greatest lawyers III the
country the railroads supposed they
could carry the courts by storm. They
faWca. The court was no, to be run
with purchased opinions Of lawyers,
however great the regulations Of such
lawyers might be.
Now we feel like the Age. If the
rates, as established, are too low; let
them be raised; but in the meantime
let the companies respect the law. 4
few months Of low rates will not kill
them. IF it makes them little hard
up, we'll and good for it will prepare
them to sympathize with others who are
hard up. We do not desire to destroy
the railroads, but we do desire to have
them understand that they are not rum
Ming this just yet. We desire them 70
understand that they are not above the
law Or above the people, but that they
are subject to the law and the Servants
of the people. The sooner they learn
this, the better Tor themselves as we'll as
for all concerned.
The Fourth Of July, 1874, was proud
day for the State Of Wisconsin. She was
declared on that day, by the Circuit Court of
the United States, in full bench, asovereign
and Independent State. She has assumed
she has the right to bring the corporations
Of her own creation under the power and
operation Of her laws-that the institutions
Of her originating, for the benefit Of her
people. do not pass beyond her control
when they become engines of abuse and
oppression-that when they set themselves
up in rebellion against the State to which
they owe their existence, the State has the
right and the power to enforce obedience
and make them loyal. She has assumed,
also: that this Government is still, bless
God, composed Of independent and sover-
eign States, controlled and governed by
the people, and is not cluster of provinces
managed by arbitrary and hereditary
power, like those Of Austria and Russia.
The legislation of the past winter relating
to railroads was declared constitutional.
and Wisconsin has right to protect her
people from extortion and imposition.
The announcement Of this decision has
thrown the big monopoly dailies into spasms
Of age. Some that were previously help
ing the monopolies in sly way, in their
inf uI
ceal their temper. One railroad organ at
Milwaukee says the decision is "socdolo-
ger" in support Of Gov. Taylor and his
course in executing the laws Of his State.
The railroads have been so successful in
their efforts to violate law that they have
no idea they would meet with check,
Hence the decision has taken them all
aback. The Northwestern secumbs at once.
and President Keep has written Gov. Car
penter. Of Iowa, his road accepts the situ-
alton, and will, under protest, come in and
obey the law.
In Wisconsin they are all aaoat, and
have decided on no definite course of action.
as for as learned. The St. Paul road. in
its greed and arrogance, hates to abandon
the idea that is must succumb to the power
of the State, and that the State of Wiscon-
sin is not carried about in Mr.. Alexander
Mitchells right hand breeches pocket.
We ore advised that one Of it's plans il to
conform TO the law in the charge for paleen-
gers and keep up the freight rates. The
effect OF this will be, it is calculated. tn
quiet the travelling public, and r;ve ths
company chance to take the head ~ th.
bolt from the farmers harvest .no+h..
year. Besides, most Of the fre;.ht cn..o.
mers are 80 situated, it will not n.~ ~.
them to get into controversy w;th -.
railroad company, and hence it il thop.ht
they eau be easily managed.
Another plan is to have the St. Paul ro.d
conYeYed to Alex. Mitchell and ha h...-