Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1876-01-19

the Legislature resolution was introduoed-
the object OF which was to secure the appoint
ment OF commissioners to investigate and re-
port whether more advantageous place for
che location of the State Prison could not be
selected. I would recommend the passage of
resolution authorizing the appointment of
commissioners to Investigate the advantages
OF changing the location Of the prison and the
employment OF the convicts.
THE ApPoRTIoNMENT.
1t will be your duty to redivide the state in
to Senate and Assembly districts. according to
the census taken during the past wear. In
doing this, your aim should be to secure equal
10y IN population, contiguity OF territory and
Identity OF interests; and considerations of
partisan advantage should not be permitted
to defeat these objects.
CENSUS AND IMMIGRATION.
The census, provided for by the last !eeisla-
ture, has been completed, and is published IA
an appendix to the report of the Secretary Of
State. From this it appears that the popula-
ton OF the state is 1885, 1919, an increase of
152, O59 since the last previous enumeration in
1870. The natural attractions which Wiscon-
sin possesses in SO high degree are doubtless
the main influence that has operated to 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 to your
solution, whether any further legislation is
desirable to realize this policy, and to attract
to our state the frugal and industrious men
and women, many thousands of whom are
yearly Landed upon the shores of the nav
world. s ~
THE STATE CANVASS.
The Secretary of State, State Treasurer and
Attorney General are made, by law, q state
board OF canvassers. to receive, open and
count the certified atements of the votes
given in the different counties. When these
officers are themselves candidates, this pro-
vision devOlves upon them very delicate
duty from which they would undoubtedly be
glad to be relieved therefore recommend
the passage of an act providing that, when
any member of the state board Of canvassers
is candidate, he shall so advice the Chief
Justice of the Supreme Court, and the Chief
Justice shall thereupon designate Judge Of
the circuit court to a,t in his stead. e
INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS.
The improvements that have been under
taken by the federal government, on our har-
bors and within the territory Of the state are
works of great Importance, and you may WISE
~ urge upon congress that liberal appropria-
tons be made for their completion The
considerations that have been repeatedly pre-
scented in support Of the improvement that
will connect the Mississ. ppi river with the
| chain of lakes. and thereby greatly increase
the facilities for and reduce the cost of trans
porting the products OF our soil to the sea-
board, are constantly increasing in force, and
it is greatly to be hoped that the national gov.
eminent will not pause in the prosecution OF
the work in which the interests OF the north
west are SO vitality involved.
| RAILROADS 9
The present condition Of the railway inter.
ests in the state, and the existing laws affect
| ing that system, are earnestly recommended
to the consideration of the legislature. With
the exception of the line from Portage to Ste
vens Point Ca portion of the line to aid which
the state received q 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 we'll supplied with these facilities,
the southwestern and northern portions are
almost wholly without them. None of the
companies ownings or operating lines within
the state have paid dividends to their stock
holders for the past two wears. The line from
Milwaukee to Manitowoc, and thence to Ap-
pleton has recently been sold under judicial
proceedings growing out of failure to pay in
terest on their first mortgage bonds, those
citizens and municipal corporations of the
state who had contributed largely to its con-
struction, losing their investment.
With the exception OF the Chicago, Milwau-
kee and st. Paul, the Chicago and Northwest
ern, the Mineral Point and the Western Union
Railroads, none of the compauies have paid
interest on their bonds during the past year,
and during that year the existing laws restrict
ing the companies in the amounts they shall
| charge and receive in compensation for SER
vices rendered have been enforced. The power
| Of the Legislature to make and enforce these
restrictions has been distinctly affirmed by the
Supreme Court. Their decision is now under
revision by the Supreme Court of the United
States, and it is believed that the decision OF
our own Supreme Court will be affirmed, II
will be admitted by all that this power liz one
of vital Importance, requiring for it's exercise
great care and Judgment.
It cannot be denied that the existing laws
passed in the exercise Of this power, have
either justly or unjustly, impaired the credit
Of the state and OF it's individual citizens in the
commercial and financial centers of the world
With immense resources undeveloped and 8
consequent need of capital from sources where
it is in excess, the people find capital repealed
by legislation which would seem TO be so fa
in conflict with the rights Of capital as to pu
the best interests of the people themselves al
hazard
That such legislation should have excited
,.nfavorabie comment is not strange Thai
capital has been invested in the building OF
railroads; that they are in daily use in the ser
vice Of the people; that such use pays nothing
to it's owners; that the owners are compelled
BY law 10 permit such use, and are deprived
by law of the right to say what the shall re-
colV0 IOr IT, are IaCLS patent TO all OD60l vor6
It must not be forgotten; On the other hand
that it has been persistently charged that be-
fore this legislation was had. the companies
were extortionate in their charges, unjust ir
their determinations, and arbitrary and op
pressive in the exercise OF their chartered
powers; that the true interests of the people
are promoted by these statutes, and that thei1
continued existence is Indispensable to the
protection Of their rights.
Can there be found medium in Legislation
which shall fully protect the rights and inter
ests of the people, and at the same time be
just to capital believe that such may be
found, and it's Importance will Justify thu
earnest efforts OF both the legislature and OK
ecutive. ~
Certain fundamental principles must be KEEP
con stantly in viaw in preparing such legisla
ton:
i /. The rights of the people against corpor
atoms, as against all others, must be protected
by efficient laws. No extortion, no unjust dis
criminations, no arbitrary acts of oppression
must be permitted The remedy for such act,
must be speedy, and the punishment sure.
2. It must also be remembered that such
corporations are indispensable to the materia
prosperity of the state. It is not desirable
that these great properties should be owned
by the state. They are too large to be owned
by single individuals. That corporations