Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1876-01-20

| Guy luz VhOh leSIfldttOu is ueSirAOl
to realize this policy, and to attrac
to our State the frugal and indus
trius men and women, many thou
sands of whom are yearly landed up
on the shores of the new world.
THE STATE CANVASS
| The Secretary of State, Stat
Treasurer and Attorney~General ar
made, by law, State Board of Can
gassers, to receive, open and coun
the certified statements of the vote
given in the different counties
When these officers are themselve
candidates, this provision devolve
upon them very delicate duty
from which they would undoubtedly
be glad to be relieved. | therefor,
recommend the passage of an &C
providing that when any member o
the State Board of Canvasscrs is .
candidate, he shall so advise th,
Chief Justice of the Supreme Cour
and the Chief Justice shall thereupor
designate Judge of the circuit cour
to act in his stead.
INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS.
The provements that have beer
undertaken by the Federal Govern.
ment, on our harbors and within the
territory of the State, are works oil
great Importance, and you may
wisely urge upon Congress that
liberal appropriations be made for
their completion. rhe considera-
sions that have been repeatedly pre-
sented in support of the improve
ment that will connect the Missis-
sippi river with the chain of lakes
and thereby greatly Increase the
facilities for and reduce the cost of
transporting the products of our soil
to the seaboard are constantly in
creasiug in force, and it is greatly to
be hoped that tho national govern
ment will not pause in the proseou-
of the work in which the interests oil
the Northwest are 50 vitality invoved.
RAILROADS.
The present condition of the rail-
way interests in the State, and the
existing laws affecting that system,
are earnestly recommended TO the
consideration of the Legislature.
With the exception of the line from
Portage to Stevens Point G. portion
of the line to aid which the State re-
ceived a land grant,, which is now in
process of construction, no railways
are being built within the limits of
the State. While the central and
eastern portions of the State are well
supplied with these facilities, the
south western and northern portions
are almost wholly without them.
None Of the companies owning or
operating lines within the State
have paid dividends 10 their stock
holders tor the past two years. The
line from Milwaukee to Manitowoc,
and thence to Appleton, has recently
been sold under judicial proceedings
growing out of q failure TO pay To-
terest on their first mortgage bonds
those citizens and municipal corpor-
atoms of the State who had contrib
uted largely to its construction los
ing their investment.
With the exception of the Chicago
Milwaukee and st. Paul, the Chicago
and Northwestern, the Mineral
Point and the Western Union Rail
roads, none of the companies have
paid interest on their bonds during
the past year, and during that year,
the existing laws restricting the COM
panies in the amounts they shall
charge and receive in compensation
for services rendered, have been en-
forced. The power of the legislature
to make and enforce these restric-
tons has been distinctly affirmed by
the Supreme Court. Their decision
is now under revision by the Su-
preme Court of the United States,
and, it is believed that the decision
of our own Supreme Court will be
admitted by ali that this power is
one of vital importance, requiring for
its exercise great care and Judgment.
1t cannot be denied that the exist
ing laws, passed in the exercise Of
this power, have, either justly or un-
Justly, impaired the credit of the
State and of its individual citizens in
the commercial and financial centers
Of the world. With immense re-
sources undeveloped and a conse-
quent need of capital from resources
where it is in excess, the people fad
capital repealed by legislation which
would seem to be 80 far 10 conflict
with the rights of capital as to put
the best interests of the people them
selves at hazard.
That such legislation should have
excited unfavorable comment is not
strange. That capital has been in
vested in the building of railroads ;
that they are 10 daily use in the SER
vice of the people; that such use pays
nothing to its owners that the own
ers are compelled by law to permit
such use, and are deprived by law OF
the right to say what they shall
receive of it, are facts patent to al
observers. 1t must not be forg often
on the other hand, that it has been
persistently charged that before this
legislation was had, the companies
were extortionate in their charges
unjust in their Determinations, and
arbitrary and oppressive in the exer'
else of their chartered powers; that
the true interests of the people are
promoted by these statutes, and that
their continued existence is indispen.
sable 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 same time be just to
capital? / believe that such may
be found, and it's Importance viii
Justify the efforts of both the Legisla'
ture and Executive.
Certain fundamental principles
must be kept constantly in view IN
preparing such legislation
/. The rights ofthe people against
corporations, as against all others,
mnst ha nrotected by efficient laws