Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1875-01-21

and modification on formal investigation and
complaint or on such other conditions as due
regard for public interests may seem 10 require
Further and more judcious legislation for the
security Of corporate debt, for the protection OF
shippers from unjust determinations. Tor restrain
ing speculative. expenditures, for preventing the
creation Of fictitious capital, for insurlng more
equitable division Of earnings, for enforcing more
efficient police regulations for the encouragement
OF continuous and judicious investment in corpo-
rate enterprises and for requiring more satlsiac-
tory reports from the officers and directors OF com
paDes has been the subject Of careful and pa
tient consideration by the Railroad Commission
of this and other States the past year, ana 10
earnestly commended to your attention
In any endeayor TO improve upon the exlsIlng
legislation also invoke your consideration oltne
claims of new and incomplete roads to exemption
from any clearly needless embarrassment. Few
or none Of these roads yet earn su1nciency LOT
operating expenses and interest upon borrowed
capital. No public interest requires the lmposl-
tion of restrictions upon them OF such nature
as TO impair their credit or their abil-
ity to complete their projected lines and per
feet their legitimate connections The
magnitude of these undertakings is excelled only
by the extent Of the public and private interests
at stake upon their rapid and successful prog
ress The companies embraced by the present
law in the second and third classes represent
nearly 600 miles of road the full completion of
which promises to open the markets OF the world
to productive territory of vast proportions and
of almost inexhaustbe resources.
Facts like these largely involve the destiny OF
| the State and fortunes of Its people. They ad-
| moulsh us of the grave responsibilities imposed
upon Us in the enactment and administration OF
| law. They should remind us OF the friyolity OF
political partisanship and the criminality of a
! personal and selfish ambition. They especially
| commend to us the virtues of prudence, forbear-
| ance and mutual confidence.
GOOD FAITH OF THE STATE.
Interested parties have charged, Willingly or I'M
Willingly, that Wisconsin ls In favor of repudiat-
| ing the faith of the State and OF conflscating the
properties Of railroad companies. This charge ii
| becomes me TO indignantly repel IL is libel
| upon our people 1t is a caumny, gross a. It is
groundless. No portion OF our population are the
| enemies of capital honestly invested in public
enterprises. They unitedly accord to these en-
| terprises a cheerful and voluntary support
They are willing their employees shall be lib
orally rewarded; that the executive
| ability and the mechanical skill requisite IN
their proper management and construction shall
be generously compensated; and that the money
economically expended in their construction
| maintenance or extension shall receive liberia
| reward for it's use. Our railway system a.
most is but half completed. Mines of marvel
Gus wealth still sumber undiscovered or map
propriated for the want of better facilities o.
manufacture and transportation. Wisconsin
| therefore,, can afford no war upon capital, a
| home or from abroad. She never has proposed
such war. She proposes none now. She ask
| goodwill. To all men concerned her people sa,
in sincerity and in truth that every dollar invest
ed in our State shall be lawfully entitled to it
! Just protection, whencesoever the danger comes
| In demanding Justice for all the State Will dem
Justice to none In forbidding mismanagemen
the State will oppose no restraints upon an.
| management that is honest and just. In TIM
the moral ard hereditary instincts OF on
people furnish stronger bond nf good fatl
than the judgment of courts or the obligations o
paper constitutions. Honest capital may b.
timid and easily frightened, yet 1t is more certain
To seek investment among people whose law
are at all times shield for the weak and reli
ance for the strong. where the wholesome re
straints of iu1icous legislation are felt alike b.
the exalted and the humble, the rich and tn
poor. And / recommend no enactment of. or ad
herence to, any law which violates the letter o
the spirit of this declaration.
CONCLUSION.
| Under the Constitution, the direct responslbll
ity for the details of legislation rests with tn
| Representatives of the people, convened in Senat
and Assembly. But most earnestly assure yo
| OF my cooperation in every effort ITO ESTABLISH
justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide 10
the common defense and promote the genera
, | welfare Our respective duties to this end ar
enforced by public obligations far superior To tn
claims of self, of friends of party We ar
all capable of error; but no pretensc can justin
or excuse IA conscious violation of our solemn
oath- of Office. In the bitter controversies q
the past year may have sacrificed the sympath
of friends whom prize and won the enmity o
: those who sometimes forget that a faithful admin
istration Of law for the protection OF the weak l
| always the surest protection OF the strong. Bu
our work is not for day. Though you and
may perish and our names be forgotten, 1ustic
shall live; and the record Of duties honestly pei
| formed shall prove Il greater reward than tn
honors of station or the applause OF men.
WIN. X. TAYLOR.
} MADISON, Jan A. 1873.