The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1874-01-24

| states, and with an amount of exports large
in proportion to her population. should have
| reached at this time rank in the scale OF ma
terial progress much higher than she now oc-
| cuples.
doubt the propriety Of appeals to the fed
| eral government for relief from abuses IL til G
operation of railways. Apart from the ques-
| ton of constitutional power, always worthy OF
grave consideration III connection with IN
ternal enterprises of this kind, it must be COZ
| tessed that experience has not given occasion
| for unlimited confidence in the ability, purity
| or Impartlallty of congress lii the management
OF enterprises OF this class
Fortunately no doubt can exist as to the
| plenary power of our own state over corpora
tfons OF its own creation. By constitutional
! provision all existing enactments on the sub
| ject may be altered or repealed.
| The duty OF the legislature to exercise this
| power to the full extent of preventing or abol-
ishlpg the evils of monopoly and extortion, is
equally clear. A corporation which tran spires
to plumber the people by whose con- ent it
exists, betfays its trust and justly forfets its
claim tc existence.
1t must be admitted, however, that railway
companies are necessary to the prosperity
| and development OF the state, and that in the
discharge OF their honorable Obligations to the
public, they are entitled to the gratitude and
posti, e and uniform protection of legislative
authority In this matter the people will
make no peace with enemies, but they seek no
! encourage to the fullest extent the develop
mept of the railway system OF our State, they
cannot submit to manifest injustice, nor per-
init the abuse of chartered privileges.
The great problem then is, how snail the
State afford proper protection and encourage
ment to all its varied industries, and, at the
| same time, mete out equal aud exact justice to
| all It's citizens.
| The precise manner in which the state can
best exercise its power for the protection OF
| the people against the abuses OF railway cor.
| pora tons, Is d question not now presented
for the first time. There is no aspect of the
subject which has not been the occasion o.
| rigid investigation by the wisest statesmen OF
this country and Europe, and there IS no con-
ceivable expedient of legislation which has
not been lesorted to on both continents for tn
| attainment OF the most desirable results. LII
a matter SO complicated aud important, it can
not be expected of me to recommend, or The
| Legislature to adopt specific measures of re-
| lief, without much research and mature de-
liberation. Permit NE to briefly suggest
however, few general propositions OF a
practical character. as a basis of legislative
| action
/. Railway companies are entitled to a full
return of all proper expenditures for running
and repairing roads, with fair interest on the
| capital so invested in the construction and
outfit of such roads and this interest ON the
| capital so Invested should be sufficient in
| amount to encourage the continuous employ
ment of capital in the same direction,
| and III the construction OF new and independ
| ent lines.
| 2. Every stock-holder In a railway company
is entitled to u proportionate consideration
| for his investment, aud no action OF majority
| of the stockholders in any company should
| be permitted to jeopardiZe the equitable rights
| of the minority, or to deny tue minority an
equitable representation in boards CT direc-
| ton.
3. The privileges of railway companies
should be definitely limited TO The purposes OF
| their organization, as carriers OF passengers
and freight, and any interference with private
| Interests and enterprise increasing the cost Of
| shipment, trans shipment or storage of
| freight, should be rigidly forbidden.
| 4. Determinations among shippers, as 20
time or cost, should be prohibited and pun
| is ed.
| 5. Running connections between connecting
roads on equitable terms, should be enforced
| 8. 1t should be made penal offence Tor any
officer OF railway corporation to contract, as
| such officer, directly or Indirectly, with him.
self or WITH aay company In which said Officer
has any direct or indirect interest
| Z. The business meetings OF all corpora ions
| a majority OF whose property lies Within the
State, should be held within the State and
| officers OF such corporations should be resi-
dents of the State.
s. Classhcations OF freight, and rates of
fare and freight, within the State, should be
subject to revision and modification by State
authority.
| 8. Consultations and combinations between
companies owning parallel lines Of railway
should be forbidden.
10. In the authorization of new lines pre-
| ference should be given, other things being
equal, to those proposed lines which favor the
growth and prosperity of home markets and
| lone commerce.
| II the enforcement of the policy indicated
IN the propositions above stated, many obvi-
Gus difficulties are attendant upon direct
| exercise OF state authority by the application
Of unyIcldlnG rules Of law. In MANY Of the
states, ettOltS have been made to avoid statu-
tory complications by the appointment of
commissioners. vested with more or less au.
thOrty, to hear aud determine COMPLAINTS
and to restrain or abolish abuses | am con.
strained to say, that tbs experiment has not
thus far realized all the beneficial results an
| ucIpated, In many cases however, commits
sions of this kind have largely contributed
| to better understanding between the people
and the railways, and have made public fund
OF information, without which compre h en-
slve and efficient legislation Is COM
paratively impossible. Such commits
sion IN our state, if intelligent
ly constituted, would undoubtedly
contribute much towards the ultimate solu-
ton of all the questions at issue. No recon-
mendatIOn for the pOStpOnement or evasi0ns
OF direct and immediate legislation. as far as
practicable, should be implied from this sug-
| g.stlOn. This commission Shotld be designed
ds the supplement, aud not as the substitute,
of legi lative authority, and its powers should
comprehend no power which can he efficiently
exercised by tue Legislature itself In brief
no responsibility to the main question IN
! yolycd can be Justly or safely avoided and in
submitting the foregoing propositions and
suggestions, L most earnestly assure the Leg
lSiatGrc OF the hearty cooperation OF the ex-
ecutive department., within the sphere of its
constitutional duty, III every measure for the
more complete pTOtet ton Of the public from
the evils complained of.
In this place. permit me to say that the lm-
portenoe OF this topic of transportation is not
exaggerated by those who have forced it upon
public attention Wisconsin is essentially an
| agricultural state. OF the total assessed
value OF the state at the present time, nearly
one half consists of land, exclusive of city and
village lots. But a small fraction of this vast
| landed empire is vet under cultivation. and
the portion which has been improved Is sus-
| ctptible Of an almost incalcuabe increase in
! production and value. While thousands OF
| men and Woliien IN the larger cities % the
| country are clamorlng tor employment and
for bread, millions of broad aud fertile acres
within our territory still await the
| protecting power of impartial laws
| and the Investment of enlightened Ia
| Dor. | would not deprecate the value or
prosperous commerce, of our growing manu-
| features, OF OF otr extensive mineral wealth
| ing development, under the magic influences
Of industry and capital No state in the union
| can boast of resources more rich and varied.
| No chemist ever compounded with nicer adj
| juJtment than Providence has apportioned
| within our state the ingredients of soil, eli
mate, timber, minerals, water powers all the
opportunities fer mechanical and nanufac-
turing Industry. But all these sources OF
wealth are directly or remotely related to or
| dependent upon the development and pros
| nc nv Of 10 1tt,rn ha
/ habit is primarily derived all that constitutes
our indep endence and progress, and the hap