Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1875-09-02

I
and justly intended by its genuine
| friends to accomplish, would be de-
feated and the law repealed.
AfteS considerable delay, and
forced lseSshe more considerative
advice Of os..ers, he gave the matter
into the control of the Attorney
General other eminent counsel
were employed, and the case was
broughtsYiifeore the Supreme Court
1 by PROB, 1,Mng directly against the
corporatiIs, to test the validity of
I the law, and enforce its obedience,
and that court, after great research
and long elaboration, sustained the
law, and submitted an opinion by
! its able Chief Justice. To show the
dnin,us of the Governor and the
evident reasons and interested mo-
tives of his zeal in this controversy,
he committed a most fragrant breach
Of decorum aud common decency,
if not a contempt Of court, by per-
sonally and Extensively requesting,
and nearly ordering the Chief JUS
tice to shorten his opinion on file,
so that it could be cheaply published
as campaign document, to advance
his own political interests and in
crease his popularity with the farm
ers and producers of the State, thus
claiming the sole credit of the decis-
ion, as much as If it had been OBJ
tanned by his own official and per-
sonal influence, and as a special
favor to himself.
This comprises all that VIM. r.
Taylor ever did in favor of the priu-
ciples of the potter Law"
Now in his official record and
personal action o.. tile other side, are
proper to be considered. The Leg
islature of last winter was specially
called upon 10y the Governor in his
message to consider again the sub
ject of railroad rates, with the init
nation that the present law in prin-
ciple was oppressive and unjust.
Some time before the session, a
bill was prepared by the Railroad
| Commissioners, or rather for the
Commissioners, by the friends Of the
railroad companies, abrogating to-
tally the principles and provisions
of the Potter Law, and establishing
as the only possible restriction upon
railroad rates and charges, fixed
and unalterable limitation upon the
net earnings of the roads, and leav-
ing the companies without any re-
straint, aud free to charge and exact
the most oppressive, eXtortlonate
aud discriminating rates, only linn
tied by their own discretion and
greed.
This bill was utterly impractic-
| able, aud was intended to be, and
was a sham, II cheat and a fraud,
and if passed into a Law, would have
repealed all existing laws upon the
subject, rendered nugatory the de-
cision Of the Supreme Court. and
have defeated---probably forever
all that had been accomplished for
the protection of the people against
railroad monopoly. This bill, called
| the commissioners Bill" was well
understood to have been approved
and favored 10y the Governor and
Railroad Commissioners, and it
would have passed if the farmer
and Granger members Of the Legis-
lature had not become alarmed, and,
independence party, called.a caucus
and devised means to defeat it
| against the interest of a clamorous
and overwhelming lobby, strength
cned by the Governor. 1t twas final
ly defeated by the friends of the
Potter Law acting without regard
! to party, and the law upon the sub
jcct, with but slight change, remains
substantially us before--uo thanks
} to Governor Taylor or his railroad
/ friends. The more space and prom
/ iuence are given to this subject be-
cause, admitting his general want OF
ability aad qualification, his friends
claim that he is especially aaJstao!e
as the champion OF the railroad war.
Ia this only trial and test, he most
signaty failed, and should not now
be rewarded for opinions and prin-
ciplcs he never entertained for
boidness, independence and bravery
I no uavp,, axhihitrd for services he
never rendered, and for Lolors he
never won. 1t is not to be Tor
moment supposed that the people
of this State arc not 20 be informed