Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-01-21
GOV. TAYLOR'S MESSAGE.
rContinnea from Third Raae.l

lContjn1ted from Ih1Td fdge.J
The almost perfect law for common carriers was
the product Of ages. But in controlling railroads
bylaw we are confronted by new conditions ana
are advancing upon comparatively new anu un-
tried ground Our progress, though unhesltat,
ing, should nevertheless be duly guarded anu
restrained Our people have dectaL1u .oo
But in demanding justice for ourselves lSt US
be doubly sure that we do no lnJustlce 10 othefs.
The power Of redress hereafter remains cohLH-
uousfv and forever within our reach. The very
existence of that power Is permanent safe
guard against persistent encroachment and ABUSE.
THE POTTER INTERPRETATIONS.
Tn the discharge of the specific duties of the
Executive Department the past year / have not
regarded the particular provisions of the law of
last winter as in issue 1t is not my opinion that
this law expressed the best judgment of the Leg
isature which enacted it. While the general
principles upon which it is founded command
our unqualified appreciation, and can never be
surrendered, it must be conceded that the law ~
defective in some of it's details. The great object
sought to be accomplished by our people IS not
the management OF railroad property by mem
selves, but to prevent its mismanagement by
others. Such should be the purpose and the
limit of legislative action. In so far as the law
aCcOmplishes this end and is means OF pubic
protection its provisions should be sacredly pre-
served. But in so far as it exceeds this purpose
it is necessarily superfuOus and inexpedient
In my first annual message submitted to the
Legislature series of propositions embodylng
my views as to the general principles and pur-
poses of legislation upon this engrossing topic:
the views ] then expressed. One OF these prop
ositions declares that considerations OF freight,
and rates of fare and freight, within the State,
should be subject to revision and modification by
State authority | am still of this opinion. But
am not Of the opinion that classifcauons OF
freight and rates OF fare and freight can be eX-
pediently established by an Iron-bound ana IN
flexible rule of law, with no power OF re-
vision and modification reserved. The best
features Of our law in respect TO this
branch Of the subject are exemplifed IN the
establishment of maximum rates OF lare and It's
worst features in the unyielding character of its
limitation upon rates OF freight. In TINS last re-
spect | recommend such notifications Of the
law as shall remove obvious lmperfectlOns with
out divesting the State, as represented by It's
Board Of Commissioners, OF power OF revision
and modification on formal investigation and
complaint such other conditions as a due
regard for public interests may seem to require.
Further and more JudlCIouS legislation Tor the
security Of corporate debt for the protection of
shippers from unjust determinations, for restrain
ing speculative expenditures, for preventing the
creation OF fictitious capital, for lnsur1ng more
equitable division of earnings, for enforcing more
efficient police regulations, for the encouragement
of continuous and judlCious investment in corpO-
rate enterprises and for requiring more satisiac-
tory reports from the officers and directors of com
panies has been the subject of careful and pa
tient consideration by the Railroad Commission
OF this and other States the past year, and is
earnestly commended to your attention.
In any endeavor to improve upon the existing
legislationI also invoke your consideration ofthe
claims of new and incomplete roads to exemption
from any clearly needless embarrassment. Few
OF these roads vet earn q Su11clenCy Tor
operating expenses and interest upon borrowed
capital No public interest requires the impOsi-
zion of restrictions upon them Of such nature
to impair their credit or their abll-
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 1000 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 iuexhaustible resources.
Facts like these largely involve the destiny of
the State and fortunes of its people. They ad-
monIsh us Of the grave responsibilities imposed
upon in the enactment and administration of
law They should remind us OF the frlyOlity OF
political partisanship and the crimlnalIty OF a
personal aud selfish ambition. They especially
commend to US the virtues of prudence, torbear
anCe and mutual confidence.
GOOD FAITH OF THE STATE.
Interested parties have charged Willingly
Willingly. that Wisconsin in favor of repudiat-
ing the faith Of the State and of Confscating the
properties Of railroad companies. This charge 1t
becomes me to Indignantly repel. 1t is libel
upon our people. 1t is calumny gross as 1t 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
maintenance or extension shall receive a liberal
reward for its use. Our railway system at
most is but half completed. Mines of marvel
Gus wealth still slumber undiscovered or unap-
prOpriated for the want of better facilities of
manufacture and transportation. Wisconsin,
therefore afford no war upon capital, at
home from abroad. She never has proposed
such war. She proposes none now. She asks
only honest, Justice and the peace OF mutual
goodwill. 70 all men concerned her people say
in sincerity ard in truth that every dollar invest
ed in our Sta shall be lawfully entitled to its
just protection, Whencesoeyer the danger comes
In demanding justlCe for all the State Will deny
justice to none. In fOrbidding mismanagement
the State will oppose no restraints upon any
management that is honest and just. In this
the moral and hereditary instincts OF our
people furnish a stronger bond of good faith
than the Judgment of courts or the Obligations OF
paper constitutions. Honest capital may be
timid and easily frightened yet 1t Is more certain
TO seek investment among people whose laws
are at all times shield for the weak and a re- |
ance for The strong, where the wholesome re-
straints u1CiOus legislation are felt alike by
the exalted and the humble, the rich aud the
poor And recommend no enactment Of or adj
herence TO, any law which violates the letter or
the spirit Of this declaration.
CONCLUSION.
Under the Constitution the direct responsible |
ity for the details of legislation rests with the
representatives Of the people, convened in Senate
and Assembly. But most earnestly assure you
ofmy cooperation IN every effort to establsh
Justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for
the common defense and promote the general
welfare Our respective duties to this end are
enforced by public obligations far superior to the
claims OF self, of friends or of party. We are
all capable of error; but no pretense can Justify
or excuse conscious violation of solemn
oaths of office. In the bitter controversies of
the past year / may have sacrificed the sympathy
of friends whom prize and won the enmlty of
those who sometimes forget that faithful admin
istrarion of law for the protection of the weak is
always the surest protection of the strong. But
our work is not for day. Though you and
NAV perish and our names be forgotten, justice
shall live: and the record of duties honestly per-
formed shall prove q greater reward than the
Of tari or 10
WIN. r. TAYLOR.
MADISON Jan. IA, 1875