The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1874-10-22


We recently received tbs following circu
lar letter addressed to the Patrons Of Ius-
taIdrT Of this State b. John Cochrane
Master Of the State Grange, which We
p,b ish for the bentht Of oer readers
| PArRoNs OF WIscoNstS We have nr-
gained oarseiye. f,r mutual benets, pro-
lection, and the elevate n OF our ersts-
Success can only he obtained by Vigilance
and the prompt exercise OF those pow.rs
which our Organisations conisr xhen. Yer
Occasion demand- Such an occasion is
now presented, and a brief recital Of event.
which have occurred to develop she present
| crisis NAV BE- deemed appropriate.
At an early date in the history OF the
! Order it was clearly Indicated that ole i'm
| portant ol,j-ct in view, ~as 10 grappis with
! those "a eat questions which uealt with our
nafeFiIi ints.e.ts- Most PREPAYMENT among
these was that Of '.Cheap Transportation"
I 1t wa,, and still remains, cf vital lmppr
! tance, not only to US but to all the iaJas
/ tion had af1ong other results that of the
passnse of an ac; by the Legislature o.
Wiscr n. in, kn6wn as the "Potter Law"
There are three provisions Of the Potter
Law" which are believed to "esnbody ,ht
! real sentiments OF the pc, pie of the State
IN regard to railroads" They are fol
lowe:
LIST. This "Potter law f.ed MAXIMUM
rates for fares anI freights on Railroads IL
Wisconsin which were believed To l-avc
| ample margin for profit to The compan les,
(and no satisfactory evidence to the con
.raiy has yet Deeti presented). ..
81. For the purpose Of knG sing posi-
lively that justice shall be done both To ths
public and To the railroad companies, THIS
Potter Law provide, for making public
'he results of Il thorough aha cohtiuuou,
inyeet:ga ion into the affairs and doiugs vi
these ccrrorasons.
Sd. But alb we all, in the interests Of the
people, the effect of this Potter Law" war
to resume in unmistakable terms Lat state
control over the sc seml-poblic corporatio -
which had been expressly reserved by the
Constitution OF the State, but which had
been allowed to remain imperative for al
mort score oil years.
Immediately upon the law going into eff
feet two of the most powerful companies
gave public notice that they shouii disc
gard 1t, aud utterly regardless OF proclama
tions issued by the Governor of the STATE,
they treated the law of the land with con
tempt, ard dehed the authorities Of the
people.
This action of these comp anies was not
only "a direct Insult to the sovereignty of
the State, but Was without precedent IN
cue history Of any State or County.
The defiant attitude assumed by the cf
hcials of these companies may be accepted
as u demonstration that the restraints of
the "Porter Law" we're applied nome so
coon. But resort was had to the c. urt,
and the results arrived at are the decisions
of the U. 5. court, July 4th, and of the su
preme court OF Wisconsin, September l5th
both of them in favor of the people.
While the officials Of the railroad compa-
nies have at last been compelled to respect
the decision OF the courts aha comply With
TIE Potter Law" liz regard to the rates
Of compensation fixed by it for ireights ard
passengers, yet open declaration is made of
an intention To apply to the next legislature
for repeal OF 1t.
1t is difficult to conceive of any Law that
could be enacted without contsining the
three provisions Of the "Potter Law"
then ioued, and still be worthy of any con
sideration Tor the purposes intended.
Right here 10 Ghs is-u. /: ls legislation
to be IN the interests OF the eople at large,
or is it to be made subservieur to the belests
Cf the managers Of organized capital. Are
the people through their representatives to
control the management oil these corpora
lions, or are the managers Of these corpora
tlons TO cintrol the people by controlling
their represen .atives. The contest Is upon
Us SOW.
Peteor.! We cannot afford to be in If
terent; g another time ~itl he too late
Not oui iy the res 1T but our future Is ut
stake upon this Issue. We want railroads,
they have become IA public necessity, but
letter that every r.,Iis,ad charter be reclaim
ed, and every raii be nored out o. the state
tlsin that labor should summit to be taxed
at the viii and greed Of railroad managers.
The executive CONT, ttee hate already
warned YOU that every effort viii be made
hy railroad managers IL contrCie your next
legislature for their uwl Interests. They
Luidiy Announce such 10 he their int ntion-,
and they viii yr@veIt If th y can any inter
terence with their assumed preI ogativcs
In this contest our interests are not their
interests. They cry for the appeal Of the
" Potter Law. " Let u. demand OF our
representatives that not only the provisions
Of control already secured he rets ined, but
that such additional detailed legislation be
had in this direction as well provide that
the land grants, gifts, aids and earnings OF
these roads lot diverted by the various
modes which are now well understood,
from the treasury Of II company to the
packets of those who manage it and there
friends, aud thus a fictitious showin. made
of the real costs and earnings.
You are no Y abou: to select your repro
sentntives Make sure that they are in
sympathy with the interests of labor upon
this railroad question.
JOHN COCHRANE
Master Of the State drange Of Hiscon-
sIn =. of H.
WAUPUN, Oct. 81, 1874.
HlnvU rna ENfPM RAF