Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1875-01-21
GOV. TAYLOR'S MESSAGE.
fCoatinueG from, Third Page. |

that not less than one-third Of the States are
more or les. directly interested In this i'm
proyement; and to the testimony Of Senator
Window and other high authority that its com
pletion would connect the commerce OF nearly
1900 vessels on the lakes with that OF
aulte 2go boats on the Mississippi River and
tributaries; would save 'tten cents per bnshel''
on the cost OF wheat shipments which would
naturally he contributed from Minnesota, Wis
consin. Nebraska. Iowa and Missouri amounting
to a yearly aggregate to these States Of not less
than s1O0W,ooJ; would save other mill
ions upon the cost Of transporting iron,
copper, salt and lumber from Northern
Wisconsin and Michigan, and Eastern
chandisc received in exchange and that
with the completion Of the Huron Canal, its nat
ural extension, distance would be sufficiently
abbreviated 10 encourage large additional pro-
duction and shipment, even promising 10 the
ioiiing producer OF the West profit on his sur
plus oats aud corn. hundred thousand West
ern producers are now praying Congress for
more prompt and liberal action for the attaln
ment of these advantages and ask you to unite
with me In memorial of similar Character In
behalf of this and such other Improvements OF
this class clearly demand the continued and
more rigorous support of Federal authority
THE HALLWAY COMMISSION.
In pursuance of an act Of the last Legislature,
.atitied - An act relating 10 railroads, express
and telegraph companies, It became ny duty IN
Sioners Conscious of the responsible duties as
signed to the commission under the law, Il was
my eafnest endeayor TO go constitute the Board
ar 10 avoid any just suspicion of political par.
TALLY or OF desire to PREJUDICE the interests oi
either the public or the corporations
believe every familiar with the facts
vii concur with in bearing cheer
mi testimony 10 the mpartiality and ability with
which the work Of the commission has thus Tar
been performed. In addition 10 the ordinary dti-
tier If similar commissions, the act clearly inn
Piled the necessity OF protracted investigation.
Impossible Of satisfactory completion within the
few months intervening between the organization
OF the Board aud the meeting OF the Legislature
Sufficient progress has been made however, to
assure as thatthe Commissioners have laid broad
and u the foundations of future progress and
more Intelligent legislation.
THE RAILWAY CONTROVERSY
Immediately previous to the organization of the
Board OF Commissioners formal communications
were forwarded 20 me by the Presidents OF the
Chicago Milwaukee II St Paul Railway Com
pany and OF the Chicago Northwestern Rail
way Company, notifying me, the one In words
aud the other in effect, that the requirements of
the law in important particulars would be disre.
garded by these corporations aud assigning rea-
CONS for this determination.
Under these circumstances alternative
presented me- The Constitution declares that
the Governor shall expedite all such measures
ne may be resolved upon by the Legislature, and
ehaI take care that the laws be faithfully ex-
ecntad ~ This Constitution had solennnly sworn
TO support. | possessed no opportunity and no
power to determine the merits OF The law 1t is
not within the scope of my official authority to
revise the action OF the legislative branch of the
Government or TO consider objections 10 the
perform. nee o. duties II mad required. Nor
IL II permissible that corporations, because
and Influence tnn righifnliy await the progress OF
prouacied judicial investigation rs condition Of
obedience 90 pubiic authority. Such All assump
tiou r. subyeftye OF all law. In this respect the
obligations Of powerful corporation are no
greater and no less than those OF the humbles cit
fxeu within the jurisdiction OF the State, And
should have been false to you aud false to the peo-
pie We mutually represent had | ialed IN TINS
emergency to exert all the authority vested IN the
Executive Department of the Government for the
enforcement of the law,
II 4 i,t
the proceedings which ensucd viii be submitted
To you Ia due time and form. They amply con
arm Thus Tar the construction Of our Constitution
previously placed upon IT by the Legislative and
Executive Departments at the Government. Thi-
construction il emphasized by the concurrent
opinions OF all the Judges OF the Supreme court
aud The Judge of one circuit of our own state
and also OF three Judges OF Federal juris
.dirtiou, including distinguished member
nj the United states supreme Court In accord
with these judicial results and especially III
fsar.uance of wrlts of injunction Issued nom the
SHpreme Court of Wisconsin, the law has been IN
practical force throughout the state since The first
5lay of October last, except as to the carriage OF
fts,-se ugers and freight from points within the
state TO points without H. and from points with
np5 saa state To points WITHIN H. ihNolN
Ift NE question Of Interstate commerce
seSA'rh has been reserved for consider
alton ut the hnal adjudication Of thS
controversy By the supreme Court of the United
States Rates for freight and passengers pass
sug entirely through the State are not affected
by the Iaw, and all roads In - Glass c. are sub
irCt only 10 the provision That they shalt mol
charge higher rates for freight than they were re
Cct,ing under their own tarihs juno !, lat3
Hence It may be seen that the amount OF bushes,
actually affected by the law Is light compared
win tile whole,
The power Of the State over the franchises o
corporations, rs thus far judictaiiy determined
Is absolute most firmly believe that the reser
walton ut this power 10 tht- unlimited extent VA
clearly aud wisely intended by the makers OF Tbs
fundamental law, Doubtless the trainers of tha
instrument forcsaw aud appreciated the beneht
fH.AE Tt,ah AZ
enterprises nv means of organized aud AZ
grcgated capital hut they also teresaw ant
appreciated the possible dangers That Nigh
ari-r from the creation, within the state, OF
power moro formidable than the state Itself
However plausible the argument In hehalt OF In
contrary view, We can never ihtcugehtN con
gvdc that the sovereign eau become the serNan
at the subjects, We do not deny the sacred ant
binding character of contract or the duty of th'
STATE 10 protect the just pretensions OF claims
founded upon vested rights, INT because
of The sacred character of contracts
and because OF the lust preteu~ons OF claim
founded uPon vested rights, our Constitution
has doHea 10 The representatives of year tn
authority ga make charter contracts incapable q
modification or repeal. IN representative gov
crRmrnt the people only are The perpetual toun
tain pt justice ami power, ANA IN surb cases ihv
only can rlShtMlly determine, from time 20 time
the extent OF their obligations to others, OF q
others TO themselves
Nor tx this doctrine peculiar to our own stat
or country In Great Britain the charters O
corporations are held 10 be subordinate 10 IN
viii 81 Parliament, and, a. y matter OF fact IN
railway laws ol England are subject 90 couliuGou
modification 10y the legislative power In thi
country at The present time nearly uEe-third d
the state, claim and safely assert stmtlar prcrol
afjvc. AlmUs, entirely without question or dis
pate.
PROTECTION OF foGsitN oArrAl.
It Is alleged that this vtscr,a alton ot power q
onr Constitution Will pndaugtr The iuyCstmvu
.,i farytEn capital and restrain the progress q
public Improvements in Wisconsin. | indulE
Ia NO forchodugs ut this Kind The power &
destroy includes an equal power 90 vucouraS
ard protect Moreover, the power OF the StaI
@ destroy by WAYS more direct than those q
public supervision. has never been seriously de