Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-01-20

That such legislation should have excited unfa-
Torable comment Is not strange. That capital has
been invested in the building of railroads; that
they are IN daily in the service of the people:
that such use pays nothing to its owners that the
owners are compelled by law to permit such use
and are deprived by law Of the right to say what
they shall receive for it, facts patent to all OBJ
servers. 1t must not be forgotten, on the other
hand that 1t has been persisenty charged that be-
fore this legislation was had the companies were
extortonate In their charges unjust in their dis
examinations and arbitrary and oppressive in their
exercise OF their chartered powers that the
terests or the people are promoted by these stat
utes, and that their continued existence is nds-
pensable to the protection of their rights.
Can there be found medium in legislation
which shall fully protect the rights and interests OF
the people and at the time be just to capitaS
lbeIeVe that such may be found, and its impor-
lature and Executive.
Certain fundamental principles must be kept
constantly in view in preparing such legislation:
l. The rights of the people against corporations
Client laws. No extortion, no unjust discrimina-
tons, no arbitrary acts of oppression must be per-
mitted. The remedy for such acts must be speedy
and the punishment sure.
2. 1t must also be remembered that such corpo-
ralons are indispensable to the material prosperity
OF the State 1t is not desirable that these Great
properties should be owned by the State Phey are
too large TO be owned by single individuals That
corporations should continue TO own and manage
them seems a necessity. They must have the
same protection from the laws that other citizens
have.
The State cannot afford to be unjust to any in
terest. Capital invested in railways must be
equally protected with capital invested in any
other legitimate business enterprise. While the
State Will not guarantee any return upon capital in
vested IN any business, it should not by legisla-
ton, SO restrict its employment, or so limit it's
compensation, as to deprive it Of the opportunity
really invested.
With these principles in view, respectfully rec
ommend that the existing laws by which rates are
regulated known as Chap. 273 of the laws of 1874
N he lad.
that there be substituted for them carefully-pre-
pared provisions of law by which all unjust dis
examinations between either persons or localities
anC ell acts OF oppression or wrong be prohibited
and ample provisions made for the prosecution and
punishment of offenders for crime against the
State; that eXtortiOnate rates be prevented by the
establishment OF maximum rates for the trans
portation of persons and property, not greater
than those fixed by the companies when they
made their own tariffs, and which may be pre-
sumed 10 be sufficient to enable them to earn
fair return upon capital actually and in good faith
invested In them; that with that limitation the
companies be free to establish their rates that
provision be made for continued supervisory con-
troll over these corporations similar in general
terms to those which have been found satisfactory
in Massachusetts and Minnesota; that annual re-
ports be required from officers appointed by the
State, under Official sanction, containing full in
formation of all matters affecting the public inter-
ests SO that, if at any time in the future further
and more stringent exercise of this reserve power
should be necessary TO prevent wrongs the part
OF those corporations all facts necessary to full
understanding Of the subject will be accessible to
the Legislature and the people
In determining how the agency shall be con-
stltuted through which the State shall exercise its
control over railroads. as in all other matters
economy is an object that should be kept steadily
in view, and 1t is worthy of your consideration
how this may be efficiently and vigorously per-
formed with the least expense to the people of the
State.
THE CENTENNIAL
You will recognize the importance of providing
for the adequate representation of Wisconsin at
the Centennial Exposition. which is to take place at
fa m fha hx(+L
matter OF State pride and for substantial con-
siderations The occasion will afford an excellent
opportunity to display the resources and products
Of the State and to attract hther capital and i'm
migration. Nearly all of the States have appro-
prlated liberal sums for the purpose, and Wiscon-
sin should be creditably represented not at ALL
L submit to your generosity and patriotism to APP
prOpriate such an amount as shall seem to you to
be sufficient to be placed in the hands of the State
Board of Centennial Managers leaving it to them
to determine how it shall De expended.
SALARIES
would call your attention TO the present pro-
visions OF law, under which it is possible for
many officers and employees of the State to receive
their salary in advance and, in view Of the fact
that Immediately after so receiving designations
and removals have occurred, would recommend
the passage Of law making all salaries payable at
the end OF each month or quarter.
THE PROTECTION OF STATE LANDS
1t has become serious matter to provide for
the protection against trespassers of the school
and university lands, and the tracts known as the
st: Croix grant. A system seems to have pre-
vailed by which large depredatiOns were COM
mitted and the State was left to secure redress by
the collection of stumpage from trespassers. This
system n wrong in principle and ruinous in prac-
tlce In the nature OF things the collected
In the settlements with the trespassers must be
vastly less than the value of the timber taken.
If am correctly advised it has come to be re-
garded profitable business to strip State lands
of their timber and then effect a settlement
Whatever power rests in the Governor to reform
this practice will be vigorously exercised and if it
shall appear that further legislation is necessary to
secure that result cahnOt urge too strongly upon
you the duty of providing it, The onlystrue policy
in dealing with this subject is to prevent depreda
tons and in this work urgently solicit your CO.
operation.
FISH PROPAGATION.
The artificial propagation of fish is becoming one
Of the leading Industries Of the country The Leg
slature of 1874 authorized the Governor to appoint