River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1874-05-29

remedies for its violation. But the Legislature
anticipating no such extraordinary aud ilagrant
violation and contempt Of its statutes, has
made no provision TO enable either the eXecu-
tive or the railroad commissioners 10 meet the
emergency with extraordinary means It SIM
ply provided that every niracuon should De
punished by the ordinary means Of prosecuting
to conviction and punishment by fine aud
damages every offender. II naturally assumed
that the people who had 80 repeatedly made
the charge Of extorti0n and oppression only
waited for an opportunity to apply the remedy
for their grievances: That they were prepared
for 4 prompt discharge of tho patriotic duty Of
cooperating with the public authorities for a
yindication Of the sovereignty Of the state,
and Tor 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 10 Justices Of the peace concurrent 1uris-
diclion with the circuit courts yet as ia other
actions OF criminal nature no prosecution
ran originate o'i11ciSe than IA complaint
mdd' 5g Ne injured party on some other person
| hdriag kB0ieledle 0fHte off ste.
With the usual cheerful obedience given to
the laws, few applications Of this easy REM
| edy would induce a general acqulehcencB.
/ But # the aggregate wealth OF great corpora
tions H. to support an organized and general
defiance Ct law the only means provided must
be cordially employed ~ all good citizens and
your Executive Sustained by the hearty co-op-
eraticu 81 subordinate officials.
cannot doubt that this support and coop
Grafton viii be accorded hen the whole case
is fairly understood. The interests at stake
are too vast and too vital to admit OF any
other conclusions. For II will then lie seen
that not only this particular law framed by q
legislature of yonr own chccs'ug, enacted M
your, 9Nn mteir-t enid In obedience 70 youl
own expressed command, Is disregarded and
condemned, but that the very idea and prin
ciple of law. and a Just sense of the duty Oi
obedience to the constituted authorities WOult
be clouded and imperiled by a neglect prompt,
to meet, rebuke and punish such defiance d
the popular will. Ii viii also be Seen that Tia,
people are dealing with powerful and danger
Gus combination Which holle ITSELF above TIA,
law, and epuks 60 make it's own sanction supe
nor 20 the sanction Of any statute-rihat 1t j
not the form apd toins - @,,o law upoi
which is-''- q taken. but that these corpora
toms deny the principle that a railway
though built with the public consent, for
J public use. and IN part with the aid of publ
/, gifts. and chartered under a constitution
which expressly reserves to the people tn
} right OF general control eau. for any purpose
IN any way be limited aa to rs tolls bv regua
tlOns uthpt than those OF it's own cOrporators
believing then that 20 tile authority OF ia
state and 70 the support oi public officers /
their efforts TO curb and restrain the threaten
ing powers Of the great corporate bodies whic
now boldly defy them. YOU will bring prompt
and maufully all the aid and co-operatio
which every good citizen owes the state IN am
time of peril to her institutions her authority q
her laws, and being deeply sensible of the OF
legations resting upon me to avert If possible
the danger now pending, ! call upon and eI
; JOIN every citizen at this state, To observ
Atrrtfl af
law herein referred to ia every instance, an
{ particular Of business dealings with any raj
= road company Of this state. and especially th
companies herein nlmed to pay AZ trayele
) no higher fare than the law presCrbes to pa
= as shipper OF receiver of freight no highe
rates than the law prescribes, all OF who
rates the railroad commissioners have IKE
aud published and that if in any eXigeucy c
= necessity he should suffer any sum IN eXces
( of legal rates to be eXtOrted from him by an
! agent of amy such company he notify WITH a
= convenient dispatch the District Attorney q
his county of such violation Of law
Il | also request and euioin all district attOl
ueys promptly aud vigorously to prosecute t
conviction and punishment all offenders aSalns
said law.
I further enioin all eonstables aud police of
ticers within the state to inquire Of all sue
offenses, and complain against the offender
before some justice of the peace and dilgeutl
to take care that this law be not violated il
their towns or precincts With impunity.
Printed lorIns and instructions for the prose
cutiou Of such action will be promptly furnishe,
on the request of any oficeBo the law made t
the Attorney General at Madison.
In the possible contingency Of a sulficien
resistance to the local authorities TO requir,
the Interference Of the Executive, the guaran
ties contained in my proclamation Of May LIST
can be relied on with the utmost confidence.
WIN r. TAYLOR.
Governor of Wisconsin