River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1876-01-20

material, and the convict work thus improp-
erly brought in competition with the hone 1
labor Of the State. At the last session OF the
Legislature RESOLUTION was introduced the
object Of which was to secure disappointment
OF commissioners 10 investigate and report
whether more advantageous place for the To-
cation OF the State Prison could not lie select
ed. would recommend the passage al a res
olntion aut orizirg tbs appointment OF COM
missloners 10 Investigate the advantages OF
changing tue location 81 the prison and the
employment OF the cOnvicts.
THE APPoRTIoNMRNT.
II will he yonr duty to re divide line State
~ 9 Senate and Assembly districts, according
b the census taken during the past year. la
doing this, your aim should he TO secure equal
ny In POI nlation, contiguity OF territory and
identity OF interest and considerations of
partisan advantage should not I've permitted TO
defeat these objects
CENSUS AND IMMIGRATION
The census provided ior by the act OF the
last Legislature las been completed and Is pub
lished as an appendix to the report OF the See.
rotary Of State From this il appears that the
population o the State is 1876 729, an increase
OF lS2,O59 since the last previous enumeration
IN 1870. The natua attractions which Wiscon-
SIN possesses IN 50 high degree are doubtless
the main influence that has operated 20 pro-
mote the growth OF the State but second only
to this is the policy OF encouraging Immigrants
from other lands to find homes within our
limits. The question is commended 10 your
solution, whether any further legislation n
desirable to realize this policy, and 10 attr ct 10
our State the frugal and industrious men and
women, many thousands ct whom are yearly
landed upon the shores Of the new world.
THE STATE CANVASS.
The Secretary OF State, State Treasurer and
Attorney General ARE made, by law, n State
al In a
the certified statements OF the votes given in
tue different coun les. When these officers
are themselves candidates, this provision de,
wolves upon them a very delicate duty from
which they would undoubtedly I've glad u he
relieved. ! therefore recommend e passage.
OF an act providing that when any member of
the state b ard Of CanvasSers il a candidate
hs shali SO advise the Chiei Justice OF the Su.
preme Court, and the Chie Justice shall there.
upon designate a Judge OF the Circuit Court 10
act in his stead.
INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS
The Improvements that have been under
taken ly lie Federal Government on our har-
bors aud within the territory OF the State, are
works 81 great I'M ortancr, and Won may wise.
IN urge upon Congress that liberal appropria-
tions ba made tor their completion The con-
>ideritlnns that have been repeatedly present
ed IN support OF the improvement that will
connect the Mississippi river with the chain
OF lakes, and thereby greatly increase the ia
ctlities Tor and reduce the cost OF transport.
ing tue products of our soil to the seabOard
are constantly increasing in force, aud it is
greatly to e hoped that the National Govern.
ment will not pause in the prosecution
at the work in whi..h the interests Olthe North
west are SO vitality involved
RAILROADS
The present condition OF the railway inter
est in the State, and the existing laws affecting
. H. stt. - H.
the consider ton OF the Legislature With
the exception Of the line from Portage to
Stevens Point IA portion OF the line to aid
which the State received a land grant,, which
is now In process OF construction, no RAILWAYS
are being built within the limits Of the Stale
While the central aud eastern portions of the
state are well supplied with these f,cilties
the southwestern and northern portions are
almost wholly without them. None of the
companies owning or operating lines within
tue Stat have paid dividends to theis stock
holders i1r the past two years. The line from
Milwaukee 90 Manitowac, and thence 10 Ap-
pletau, has recently been sold under judicial
proceedings growing out of a failure to pay in
terest on their FIRST mortgage bonds, those citi-
zers aud municipal corporation - he State
whn had contributed largely L, lis c0ustruc-
ton, losing their investment
With the exception ui the Chieg-0 Milwau-
kee y 81 Haul, the Chicago a hurl nWeStern
the Mineral Point and the Western Union rail.
roa.ts, none OF the companies have paid iute-
r. Il uu their bonds during tue past year, aud
during that year the existing laws restricting
the companies in the amounts they shall
charge aud receive in compensation Tor serv ces
rendered have been enforced. The power 4
the Legislature 10 make aud enforce these re
strctions has been distinctly affirmed hy the
supreme Court. Their drcsiUn is now un-
der revision by the Supreme Court OF the Uni.
{ fl /. . - a
at oar own Supreme Court will be affirmed n
will b. admitted by All that this power is one
oi vital Importance, requiring for IFS eNer,ise
great care and Judgment
IL cannot te denied that the existing law,
I passed IN the e ,ercise Of this power, have.
either Justly or unJu,tly, impaired tlte credit
+ "i the STATE and It, individual citizens ia the
commercial and financial ceuters ui tue world
/ With immense resources umdrvfl1ped aud Il
consequent need Of capital from source where
y Is in eNce.s, the people lind capital ret,elei
! 10y legislation which would seem 10 h. SO Tar IN
robilict with the rights cot capital as to put the
best Interests OF tue people themselves at haz-
ard
That such legislation should have excited
uniayorabie comment Is not strange That
I capital has leen invested ia the bntlding of
I railroads; that they are in daily use il the
/ service 81 the people, that surl use pays
nothing 20 it3 owners; that the owners are
/ compelled ly law Ia permit such use, aud are
/ deprived hy law Of the right tn say what they
shall receive for Il, are IA as patent 10 an OBJ.
I servers. II must not hc forgotten, ON the
/ olher hand, that il has been lersistently
i charged that before this legislation was had.
/ the companies were eXtOrionate in their
/ charges, unjust ia their determinations, and
1 arbitrary and oppressive in the exercise OF
+ their chartered powers that the true interests
\ oi the people are promoted by these statutes.
/ tud that their continued existence is indspeu.
I sable 10 the protection OF their rights
] Can there tc found medium IA legislation
\ which shall lull5 protect the RIGHTS ami inter
ests 81 the people, aud At the same time be lust
/ "a caWtat ! believe that such n3y be found.
aud rs importance will justify the earnest
/ efforts OF both the Legislature and executive.
i Certain fundamental principles must be
/ kept constantly in view in preparing such
/ legislation.
! /. The rights Of the people against corpora
i lions, as against all Others, must b. protected
\ 10y efficient laws, No eXtoltiou, 40 unjust
/ Determinations, NO arbitrary arts ot oppression
must I've permitted. The remedy COR such acts
must b' speedy, and the punishment sure
:. It must also he remembered that such
/ corporations are indispensable 20 the material
\ prosperity Of the Sule. IL Is not desirable
\ that these great properties should he owned