Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-06-03


anticipating no such extraordinary and fragrant
violation and contempt of it's statutes, has
made no provision to enable either the eXecr1-
tive or the railroad commissioners to meet the
emergency with extraordinary means; it sim
ply provided that every infraction should be
punished by the ordinary means of prosecuting
to conviction and punishment by fine and
damages every offender. 1t naturally assumed
that the people who had SO repeatedly made
the charge OF extortiOn and oppression only
waited for an opportunity to apply the remedy
for their grievances that they were prepared
for prompt discharge of the patriotic duty of
cooperating with the public authorities for a
vindication of the sovereignty of the state,
and for the enforcement of law by themselves
declared to be essential to the general welfare
And hence although ample facilities are afford
ed for the convenient trial of offenders by
giving to justices of the peace concurrent j1ris-
dictiOn with the circuit courts, yet as in other
actions Of a criminal nature, no prosecution
can originate otherwise than IN COMPLAINT
made By the injured party or some other person
haUing k12oeoIedye of the Otense.
With the usual cheerful obedience given to
the laws, a few applications of this easy rem
edy would induce general acquiescence.
But if the aggregate wealth of great corpora
tons is to support an organized and general
defiance Of law, the only means provided must
be cordially employed by all good citizens and
Grafton of subordinate officials.
l cannot doubt that this support and Coop
Grafton will be accorded when the whole case
is fairly understood. The interests at stake
are too vast and too vital to admit of any
other conclusions. For it will then be seen
that not only this particular law framed by a
legislature of your own choosing enacted in
your own interest and in obedience to your
own expressed command, is disregarded and
condemned, but that the very idea and prin-
clple OF law, and a just sense Of the duty of
obedience to the constituted authorities would
be clouded and impsriled by neglect promptly
to meet, rebuke and punish such defiance of
the popular will. 1t will also be seen that the
people are dealing with powerful and danger
Gus combination which holds itself above the
law, and seeks to make its sanction supe-
rlor to the sanction of any statute-that it is
not the form and terms of th5s law upon
which issue is taken. but that these corpora
tons deny the principle that a railway
though built with the public consent for a
public use, and in part with the aid Of public
gifts, and chartered under constitution
which expressly reserves to the people the
1ght of general control. can. for any purpose
III any way, be limited as to it's tolls by regula-
tions other than those of it's own corporators.
Believing then that to the authority of the
state and to the support of public officers in
their efforts to curb and restrain the threaten
ing powers of the great corporate bodies which
now boldly defy them you will bring promptly
and manfuly all the aid and cooperation
which every good citizen owes the state in any
time of peril to her institutions her authority or
her laws, and being deeply sensible Of the OBJ
legations resting upon me to avert. if possible.
the danger now pending, call upon and en-
join every citizen Of this state, to observe
with scrupulous care the requirements of the
aw herein referred to in every instance, and
particular of business dealings with any rail-
road company of this state, and especially the
companies herein named to pay as traveller
no higher fare than the law prescribes to pay
as a shipper or receiver of freight no higher
rates than the law prescribes, all Of which
rates the railroad commissioners have fixed
and published and that if III any ext gency or
necessity he should suffer any sum in excess
of legal rates to be e1torted from him by any
agent of any such company, he notify with all
convenient dispatch the District Attorney of
his county of such violation of law
I also request and enjoin all district attor-
neys promptly and vigorously to prosecute to
conviction and punishment all offenders against
said law.
further epioin all constables and police Of
ficers within the state. to inquire of ali such
offenses, and complain against the offenders
before some justice of the peace, and diligently
to take care that this law be not violated in
their towns or precincts with impunity.
Printed forms and instructions for the prose-
cution of such action will be promptly furnished
On the request of any officer of the law made to
the Attorney General at Madison.
In the possible contingency of q sufficient
resistance to the local authorities to require
the interference Of the Executive, the guaran-
ties contained in my proclamation Of May 1st,
can be relied on with the utmost confidence.
VIM. r. TAYLOR.
Governor of Wisconsin.