River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1874-05-29
THE RAILROADS..
A Proclamation by the Governor.
THE LAW MUsT BE ENFORCED.
The governor has issued the follow
ing proclamation in regard to the en-
forcement of the new railroad law:

Ihc BONcIuOI Nus issued the Hollow !
ing proclamation in regard to the en-
forcement of the new railroad law:
STATE or WISCONSIN,
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT.
MADISON, May n, 1874.
TO he People Of Wisconsin
The act of your legislature passed at the
last session, entitled, FAN act relating To rail |
roads, express and telegraph companies in the |
state OF Wlroohsln, was approved by me |
March II, 1874 in the firm conviction Of the |
necessity aud validity of such legislation, But
IN order that ample time should be given the |
railroad companies affected thereby Co arrange
their business so "a 10 meet its requirements
the legislature very ccnsideratelv directed that
its publication, which was essential 10 its
taking effect, should be delayed until the 2Sth
day Of April.
SO far from using this period Of AZ DAYS for
such purpose, however, two of the most pow
erful railroad companies n you are aware. TO
wit the Chicago, Milwaukee aud st. Paul
and the Chicago and Northwestern Railway
Companies, appear TO have employed it in con
spinpg against the law, and Ina laying plans to
defeat its operation. To this end they pro-
cured, aud widely published, the opinions of
counsel hitherto in high repute, denying first
the right Of the state to limit the tariffs OF
railway corporations and secondly, upon the
basis of or parie testimony, pronounclng This
particular law invalid ON Account VI the rates
therein prescribed being unjust and unreason-
able, and gravely encouraging disubedieuce to
it, commands.
Acting upon these opinions of interested
counsel, I'D under the dictation Of directors
residing IN remote parts of the country, the
( presidents of these companies then addressed
/ to your Executive, communications, declaring
F their belief in the injustice amd lnvadty of
/ the law. and their deliberate purpose 10 disre-
/ gard It's provisions
II is known to you that immediately there
after, to wit, en- The Arst day Of May, | made
public proclamation Of these facts. declaring
that the law Of the land must be obeyed: that
while the right Of all to test the validity OF the
law is conceded, with that right il coupled the
duty of yielding obedience to its requirements
until 1t has been pronounced invalid by com
petent authority; expressing the hope that
better counsels would yet prevail with the
railroad companies OF the state and enioin-
ing all railroad corporations, their officers and
agents, peaeeably to submit to the law
This counsel And proclamation of your Ex-
ecutiVe have been wholly disregartled
The corporations above named have an.
ranged their tariffs without the slightest ap-
parent regard to the classification and rates
prescribed IN the law and prepared aud pub
llshed by the board Of railroad commissioners
In many cases they have even Increased their
rates for transportation OF freight above what
they were when the law was enacted and he
came of binding obligation.
Y They have issued commands TO their agents
and employees, requiring of them alike disobedi-
euce, snder pains and penalties which, IN many
cases, practically amount to ronipulsioD thus
using their influenza anil power to insure the
criminal dlscbedience Of many citizens, habit
F. uatlng them to a contempt for the authority of
the state, when ith laws are not i'm harmony
with a supposed self interest, and hence con
ributng IN high degree to weaken the res
pect for law IN general.
They are now exactlGg and receiving rates
which the Legislature. after much considera-
ton, and the patient hearing of able counsel
aud officers representing their interest has. in
effect sJlemnly declared ituieaSonabie uuiusf
and eKtortionate, and they boldly proclaim TO
the authorities and people of the state and Ia
the world that they viii continue 30 to do. any
law OF the state. not approved by them, to the
contrary Notwithstanding. In word thew
have set mp another law than that Of the etate
and have made obedience 20 ID the supreme
duty nf all their corporate servants and the
prpseut neCerslty of the whole people.
No objection is made to any just contest up
on the validity Of the law. The courts Of this
state are open to every 7uitor and the cause Of
every defendant will be heard with impartial
10y and decided upon principles Of Justice In
dtsl. tie state ha- already instituted and will
urge 10 the speediest possible isstie, Suits in
the Supreme Court, involving its validity. But
for the meantime, or until the law il amended,
oi repealed, t ia sufficient for your Executive
and should be- enough for every CORPORATION
and every citizen, that ths principle upon
which q rests has been affirmed by the Su-
prurio Counts Of the state and the United
States, as wen as by very many Of the abIns,
lur-ts IN the country, and that the statute it,
self has been IA d,'e form enacted and approved
and - TIE law OF the land.
tFfl Ill
dlence to its mandates It might easily be FOUND !
IA the fact that the law had origin M a deem /
convictions widely felt, that the railway corpo- +
ratiuns OF the state. although recipients Of /
great gifts and franchises, have, in many in
stances. eNacted excessive tolls, and made nn-
Just determinations To the injury OF citizens
and tue enf't hinrnt of directors aud managers
y not Of stockholders and that the very powers
conferred upon them for the public good az
well A. for their corporate advantage have /
been systematically exercised to prevent the /
enactment at Iurt laws for the redress of these
grlcN aureS.
However this NAV be- II cannot be suffefed |
that the charge Of hnreasonaheness made bv 4
those whom the law seeks to RESTRAIN from eN- /
tortinr excessive rates. shall 80 far arraign it, /
tu-tnee= as to suspend it, operation until hy 1
the tedious processes Of the courts DELAYED 4
10y apperl- and every possible legal artihce. III |
validity h az length. fuly determined Sub |
ifit' INV AiilN on tlit litlA " lftf Executive I
and people would result IN a continuance of eX- /
toriiouate gains by the corporations aud per- /
hap- Vet greater sacrifice by the people Tor /
years Go come. Nor IL this all The delay being |
granted what guaranty IL 10 be found In the /
present attitude Of these great corporations |
that they would yield a willing obedience In the !
event al au affirmative decision by the courts /
II they have become ro strong aud iudepend- /
emf OF the state hat the Legislature cannot hc |
sure ot their obedience until It's enactments I
are first approved 10y the courts IL 1t certain /
that even the courts will be able To effect a 1
compliance
II cannot he suffered that anu law which /
the Legislature has enacted and the Executive /
approved shall be put in allegiance aud treated /
with upeu disnbodicnce and hagraut Coutcmpi 4
10y any person, corporation 0r combination of /
corporations, ON the plea of pHltdS1udb,u,ys. |
or upon any plea whatever. such q suffer.
ancc would tend 90 a subverrion Of an legal /
authority.
Fellow Cit1eus The foregoing facts and
considerations can lead to but one conclusion.
N- stated n my annual ncerare.
1t must hc admitted that railway COMPANIES
are necessary 10 the prosperity and deyelop-
mcnt ~ tlc state, ami that in the discharge
of ffRfY lUunrnftn nlifWnft..ra az. s...t.t.'