New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-10-06

# ten me Of Of y %
built them Hss delegated the making Of tariffs for rail-
way service to board OF railway commissioners az
The results Of this policy must necessarily arrest rail-
way building In these States ..r..,. .Lnt.lI
prses combned have enriched the state and developed
m passed an se on ae no 81 Macn
In It's oppressive provisions towards railroads all the
unjust legislation q other states go o.,
cperate. a OSsger a a. the nd' tSa hicS
waukce aud St. Paul Railway Company and Its
dependent Iines Irrespective of the cost earnings, ex
pense Of working financial condition OF either any
OF these pendently relatveyas com
pared with each other with roads permitted to exist
outside OF this group classified and set separate
arbitrary exceptional requirements laid down for
their business, their of fare reduced. their
OF freight comprising the principal products which the
farmer has TO sell buy, such gram four salt. iun
eliminated from the usual Cassncation OF articles
transported by rail. and prices are fixed on sliding
scale Tor their transportation. beginning with certain
rate for the first IS miles and diminishing the same
Win every successive stage OF IS miles. whether the
freight goes roads, or whether those
roads are In the class or receive equal
OF mnereht rates for precisely the same service.
act who are authorized still further reduce the tariffs
az their discretion, and the attempt Is thus made by
experienced railway manag the power to pre-
scribe the compensation which may receive for our
business. VIVA .l III.
This act went into effect 10 the last Of April but Its
provisions were palpaDly crude, unjust, aud repug
nsnt 70 all principles Of equity and to the spu
htions contained In the charters Of this Company
which were REGARDED essential to the protection of its
aud stoekholaer that under advice of the
the act tine Company decided to test its
At thS same session of the Legislature which
passed the Potter act, the taxes imposed railways
were increased from three to four per cent OF their
earnings.
While the State OF Wisconsin has made herself con-
spcuous by legislation which would utterly suDvert the
aud Aan Iva IA - has
roads OK their beneficial yet it Is due to people
to say that Throughout the controversy this Potter
act with very few annoying exceptions they have
evinced the friendly disposition and generally
Cured In conenning the nasty legislation which has
railway Within the STATE II csDDot be- po.s
BILE that the business community or the farmers Of Wis
those OF the people OF any State, DO fairly repre-
sented In the passage Of this act, and t is confidently
believed that when the present excitement shall sub
side and culner views prevail, they Will demand the
repeal OF the obnoxious measure and prevent the recur
renee OF so great an injustice.
The continuance OF such act upon statute book
would under circumstances, be greater calamity "
the State than TO the railways themselves
Its enforcement might despoil them OF their income
and impair the value Of their property but the conse
quences would parayze the state arrest the influx OF
capital and destroy cOude In all species Of corpor
ate property as resting on the verge OF eonhscaton
The assertion has often been made ana repeated that
the railroad companies Of Wisconsin, IN contesting the
validity OF this act are setting themselves above the
state ana superior 70 aw tna' Inc charge mas come 10
Influenced some who have not taken THE TO consider 1t,
n coptepdne that thew NOT 10 be deprived Of the
beneficial use OF their property, without compensation,
is not only claimed but accorded to, and freely enjoyed
by every other corporation and citizen OF tine State and
IL Is submitted. that the assertion OF sueh right IN
TO override law but Rather an endeavor to invoke the
law for tue yindcaon and enforcement OF just aud
uniform LEGAL principle necessary 10 the existence OF
government and the protection OF every citizen cOrpO
rate corporal, the enjoyment OF his rights and
property throughout the State.