The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1875-01-23

of Reputation, bankruptcy, ignorance or
crime. They earn an honest hvns' as an
men should They pay their honest debts as
promptly most men do. They are "oeoient 10
law and in peace or il war; are prompt to defend
their government. and its laws from open or secret
assault. They have asFented to no encroaehment
upon vested rights, unless it be upon rights vested
by their OVID constitution In themselves. hey
have defied the mandates OF no statute Dy ih-
genious specious and protracted appeals to courts
the doors Of our Legislative halls to
clarnor for an increase of special privileges,
and enlargement of their property
rights They have employed 10 professional loD-
byists to iufest your presence or to corrupt the
fountains of law. They have constructed no noun
tains OF county municipal debt for any but
themselves to pay. They have avoided no burden
Of taxation demanded by equity or law. They have
resorted to no political legislative legerdemain
10 forestal subvert public opinion. They have
coined no mammoth fortunes from property that
fails 10 pay interest upon itself. They have en-
couraged appoTtioument OF lands to the land
less except they have approved free and frequent
donations of the common domain, or mortgaged the
homes of their wives and children that they might
enhance the hard-earned wages of their daily labor
and contribute TO the general welfare OF the state
They have encouraged no colossal associations OF
monied power, organized concentration of in
fuenSe within without the forms OF law not in
duged in by all Intelligent men, for the promotion
of their own and the common good But If in any
Of these things they have indeed offended, they
will look elsewhere for warning and for Judgment
than to those whose eloquence il too often the pur
chased product OF the transgressions they condemn.
the enemies of honestly managed railroads.
the contrary, Their natural relations to all hopora
bic undertakings Of this kind is that OF patrons,
| allies, and friends This relation they will en-
| deavor to maintain In emanding the upright
| management CT railways by law, they aspire TO
exercise of public influence not justified by their
numbers, their intelligence, tie dignity of their
calling, aud the vast interests they have at stake
| Limited III their mutual intercourse by the stern
| necessities of their occupation, and moved by no
ambition but that of promoting the general wei
|
principles of public justice consciously TO sub
vert the progress Of enterprises which contribute
| so largely to the prosperity of all.
If the grave charges 80 sedulously circulated
| duplicating the good faith Of state towards in
vested capital, have truly impaired the credit OF
| our corporations, and their ability TO complete
to extend their lines, they alone responsible
who should have teen prompt TO defend the inter
ests they represent, by indicating the ronor of
| our people. But facts that incontroyertible
prove that capital itself has failed TO share largely
! in the alarm thus ZealOusly and wantony engen-
dered. The year has been noted for financial co.,
strvatism. In all things, and everywhere, prices
have graviated TO a lower lev |. Business and
| business have not escaped the revCrses Of
! labor and laboring men. Production has been re-
strail ed Exchanges have been lin IL d. All the
| avenues OF trade bear abundant evid euce of the
react that inevitably succeeds era OF careless
government, speculative thrift, and luxurious ex-
pebditure. Railway enterprise within aud without
| tie state nss shared the common fortune
The whole number OF miles III railroad
structed IN the United States during the year 1872
vas = g.. The number of miles constructed in
1873 was 1906, about one half the numb con
structed in 1872. The number Of miles constructed
in 1874 was l, SlS or barely one-halt the number
constructed n 1873. TIE number of miles of
road constructed III Wisconsin during the
period has been more than the average for the
other states proving that the causes of decline IN
this department of public improvement are gen.
era and possess no special relation to the sruc-
tufe of our constitution, or thu character of
legislation.
just how to develop our immense resources 10
their fullest extent-to best promote the great and
varied Industries of our state-and at the same
time to rlete out equal ard exact justice TO all
citizens, 10 d problem which yet remains I'M
solved.
In the consideration Of questions for the develop
ment of the physical energies of state, we are
reminded of the fact that the railway system of
transportation il comparatively nv. The roads
OF to-day not those of yesterday, and the posi-
Elhtes of the future are far beyond the reach of
present estimate. The nobest inteects of modern
times az yet, have failed to accomplish such COM
plete results arrest the treeea sDirit of pro
gress, or forbid the probability of more wondrous
achievements IN time TO come. Apparently, the
railways constructed are but the main lines OF
8 complicated system of CRITICAL highways, ult-
matey to enrich and utilize the remotest territory
inhabited by man. The siX-teet gauge has disaT-
peared- The al yaIltages OF speed contest the
merits OF weight and strength To-day the great
and complex question apparently uppermost in the
minds OF engineers, is how to multiply the number
and length Of lines by reducing weight, speed and
cost. Narrower gauge, less expensive grades
lighter equipment, and moro miles of road the
promised fruit Of present inquiry and experiment.
the hnal results OF which We can only hopefully
swait.
Railway legislation. like railway construction
must progress toward perfection by slow degrees
The almost perfect law for common carriers was
the product OF ages But in controlling by
Law, confronted by conditions and are
advancing upon comparatively new and untried
ground Our progress though Undertaking, should
nevertheless be duly guarded and restrained. Our
people have declared that they will endure mis-
management or extortion. Bat in demanding jus
tIce for Ourselves, let us be douby that we do
II q
after remains continuously and forever within our
reach. The very existence of that power is per-
ha1ent safeguard against persistent encToachnont
and abuse.
THE POTTER AUTHORIZATION.
Ia the discharge OF the specinc duties OF the
executive department the past year. have not re-
garded the particular provisions of the law of last
winter as an tissue. 1t is not my opinion that this
law expressed the best judgment of the Legislature
which enacted it, While the general principles up.
on which 1t Is founded command our unqualified
appreciation and never be surrendered, il must
DC conceded that the law is defective in some Of its
details. The great object sought to be accom-
pshed by our people is not the agems mt of rail
road property by themselves, but to prevent It's
mlsmana cement by others Such should be the
purpose and the limit of legislative action In so
Tar as the law acc0mplishes this cad, and is means
Of public protection, its provisions should be
sacredly preserved. But in so far az il exceeds
this purpose, II ia necessarily supcrfuous and in.
expedient.
In my first annual message submitted to the
legislature series OF propositions embed wing NV
vleAs as to the gener principles and purposes of
legislation upon this engrossng topic Further
experience and ection have confirmed the VIZ vs
l then expressed. One Of these propositions de- !
clares that classhcations of freight and rates of
fd'e and freight within the state, should be sub
1ect TO revision and modification by state author
lty.' ain still Of this opinion. But I am not OF
the opinion that classhcations of freight and rates
If fare aud freight can be expediently establish =.
by an frou-bound and infexible rule of law With |
no power OF revision and modification reserved |
Inc pest features OF our law IN respect TO this |
= ar1nr.i lad In, y,r
tdDnsnInent oil maximum rates OF fare and Its !
worst features in the unyieldiug character OF liz
limitation upon rates IF freight In this last re-
spect recommend such notifications of the law
as shall remove obvious inperfections without III |
sting the state, as represented by its board of
of power OF revision and mo,Iif-
cation on formal investigation and compliant or on
sucn other conditions due regard for public in
terests may seem TO require. Further and more
ludlclous legislation for the curity of corporate
.ebj, Tor the protection Of shippers from un lust
lscriminations, for restraining speculative expen.
ditures, for preventing the creation Of fictitious
,ap!tal, for ensurin2 more equitable division of
earnings Tor enforcing more ETH lent police reQu-
atoms, Tor the encouragement of continuous and
uolclous investment in corporate enterprises AID
or requiring more satisfactory reports from the
'1hcefs and directors of companies has been the |
uh1ect OF careful and patient consideration by the
ABROAD m'ssioners OF this and other ststes
he past year, and is earnestly commended to vour
ttention. '
In any endeavor to improve upon existing leoisIa
loil also invoke your reconsideration OF the claims
II new and incomplete roads to exasuption from
ny clearly needless embarrassment. Few or none
j these roads yet earn 4 sufficency for Operating
expenses and interest upon borrowed capital NJ
,uohc interest requires the imposition of r4stric
IONS upon them OF such nature as to inuair THAR
Fedl', or thelr ability to complete their projected
mes and perfect their legitimate connections The
magnitude of these undertakings il exceled only
y me extent OF the public and private interests al
S Sahe upon Their rapid and successful progress
ne companies embraced by the present law in the
econd and third classes, represent nearly one