Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1875-01-21


a means of public protection, its pro-
visions should be sacredly preserved.
But in so far as it exceeds this pur-
pose, it is necessarily superfiuous and
lnexpedient.
In my first annual message, l sub
mitted to the legislature a series OF
propositions, embodyiDg my views
as to the general principles and par.
poses of legislation upon this engross-
ing topic. Further experience and
reflection have confirmed the views
| then expressed. One of these prop
ositions declares that classification s
of freight, and rates of tare and
freight, within the state, should be
subject to revision and modification
by state authority" l am still OF
this opinion. But | am not of the
opinion that classificaiions of freight
and rates of fare and freight. can be
pedieDtIy established by an iron
bound and ipfexible rule of law,
with no power of revision and modi-
fication reserved. The best features
OF our law in respect to this branch
of the subject, are exemphfied in the
establishment OF maximum rates Of
fare, and its worst features in the
unyielding character of its limita-
ton upon rates of freight. In this
last respect | recommend such modi
ficstions of the law as shall remove
obvious imperfections without divest-
ing the state, as represented by its
board of commissioners, of power
Of revision and modification on for
NAL investigation and complaint, or
on such other conditions as due
regard for public interests may seem
to require. Further and more judi
cious legislation for the security of
corporate debt, for the protection of
shippers from unjus; determinations,
for restraining speculative expendi-
lures, for preventing the creation OF
fictitious capital, for ensuring MOI Q
equitable division of earnings, for
enforcing more efficient police regu-
Iations, for the encouragement OF
continuous and judicious Investment
in corporate enterprises, and for re-
curing ore satisfactory report
from the officers and directors OF
companies, has been the subject OF
careful and patient consi Iteration by
the railroad commissioners Of this
and other states the past year, and
is earnestly commended to your at
tention.
In any endeavor to improve upon
existing Legislation, l also invoke
your consideration of the claims OF
new and incomplete roads to exemp-
ton from any clearly needless en-
barrasAment. Few or none of these
roads yet earn sufficiency for oper-
ating expenses and interest upon
borrowed capital. No public inter
est requires the imposition OF re-
strictions upon them OF such q ma
ture as to impair their credit, or their
ability to complete their projected
lines and perfect their legitimate
connections. The magnitude Of
these undertakings is excelled only
by the extent OF the public and pri'
vate interests at stake upon their
rapid and successful progress. The
companies embraced by the presen'
law in the second and third classes
represent nearly one thousand mil Il
of road, the tull completion of whict
promises to open the markets of the
world to productive territory Of
vast proportions, and Of almost in
exhaustiblo resources.
Facts like these largely involve
the destiny of the state and the for
tunes of its people. They admonist
US of the grave responsibilities i'm
posed upon as in the enactment anC
administration Of law. They shouiC
remind US of the frivolity OF polltica
partisanship ADD the criminaIity of ,
personal and selfish ambition. They
especially commend to US the virtue
of prudence, forbearance and matua
confidence.
GOOD FAITH OF THE STATE
Interested parties have charged
Willingly or unwlttinglv, that Wis
consin is in favor Of repudiating thu
faith of the state and Of confiscatiu&
tho property Of railway companies
This charge il becomes me to indig
nantly repel. 1t is libel upon oul
people. 1t is calumny, gross as i
is groundless. No portion Of oul
population are the enemies of CAPT
tai honestly invested in public enter
prises. They unitedly accord tc
these enterprises cheerful and vol
untary support. They are wiling
their employees shall be literally re-
warded for services actually render.
ed ; that the executive ability and
the mechanical skill requisite 10 their
proper management and construc-
ton, shall be generously compensa-
ted; and that the money economic
cally expended in their construction,
maintenance or extension, shall re-
ceive liberal reward for its use.
Our railway system at most is but
half completed. Mines of marvel
lous wealth still slumber whatsoever
ed or unaprropriated, for the want
of better facilities of manufacture
and transportation. Wisconsin, there
fore, can affol no war upon capital,
at home or from abroad. She never
has proposed such war She pro-
poses none now. She asks only hon
esty, justice and the peace of mutual
good will. To all men concerned, her
people say in sincerity and in truth,
that every dollar invested in our
state shall be lawfully entitled to it's
just protection, whencesoever the
danger comes. In demanding jus
tice for all, the state will deny iue-
tice to none. In forbidding mis-
management the state will impose no
restraints upon any management
thai is honeat and just. In THE, the
moral and hereditary instincts of
our people furnish a stronger bond
of good faith than the judgments of
cOnrts or the OhlipatiOne OF nsner