Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1889-04-05

serve, oul loohiuS only 10 the puOlC
good, than to accept the reckless state
ments of salaried attorneys sent here to
plead the cause of the railway compan-
les?
But it is claimed that we have rail
road law now and a commission 10 en-
force 1t. That Is true, but it isn't gen
orally known Unfortunately the law
is so weak, and the commission under it
necessarily so helpless, that the people
have actually forgotten that they have
any protection. | have no criticisms 10
pass upon the commission. by their
fruits We shall know them | will sim
ply remark that the law is q dead stat
ute-that its enactment was farce
that the commission affords the people
no relief, and that the expense of sup
porting 1t Is so much money squandered
from the treasury of the state.
Mr.. President, it was deeply affecting
to me, naturally tender hearted and
sympathetic as | am, to listen to our
railroad friends plead for harmony.
They love the people so. Their great
hearts so out in sympathy for them.
They yearn and yearn for peace-that
peace which passeth all understanding.
They mourn that wicked men should at
tempt to stir up strife. They wonder
that they should be accused of any
wrong. They cannot understand why
their motives are misconstrued, and
their efforts for the public good uuap-
preclated. am with them, too, want
peace on this vexed railroad question,
and will have, If | have to fight for it.
Great indignation was expressed by
the opponents of this bill at the provis-
ions naming penalties for willful viola
tions of law. If they intend to be hon
est, they ought not to complain of this.
They can easily escape the penalties.
All they would have to 90 would be to
obey the law. 1t is the law breaker
alone who suffers its penalties. To pro
tect the innocent and to scourge the
guilty is the object of all law. The hon.
est man has nothing to fear. AS well
might the tramp complain of the Gala
hoose, the burglar of the Jail, or the muir.
derer OF the penItentlary or the gallows.
III they intend to be honest and law
abiding, then why do the railroads rage
and their attorneys imagine vain things.
Mr.. President, | come now to Consid-
er the most painful effect of this bill
wrestled with it long and hard. |
schemed and struggled to ignore or
dodge it. But like Banquo's ghost, it
would not down, and conscience, which
makes towards of us ALL drove me with
It's inexorlble logic, to give it insertion
here. | refer to the cruel ediCt that
takes away our passes. Our passes
gone, no longer could we adjourn over
from Friday until Tuesday. No more
could we have the blessed privilege of
visiting our city friends in Milwaukee
or Chicago, or hold sweet communion
with our country cousins in MukwOnago
or Rhinelander. We couldn't even afford
to visit the charitable institutions of our
state, or accept an invitation to share
the generous hospitality of the 200 bus
inc men of Oshkosh. No longer could
we get our fr ends to attend the legisla-
tive Dalls. or transport our admirlng
constituents to the capital to gaze upon
our statesmanlike forms as we legislate
for the commonwealth.
But, seriously, this system of pass
giving by the railroads is one of the
most pernicious and contemplate forms
of petty bribery ever invented. The rail
road companies never intend to give
something for nothing. They always
expect value received for their fav
ors No man, however eminent,
or citizen however deserving. re
ceives these transportation coUr-
tesies at their hands unless he is in Il
position to aid or injure them. 1t is
the legislators, the judges, the marshals,
sheritfs, etc, and their friends, who
alone are the beneticiaries of the free
pass system. Those who make. inter
pret and execute the laws are the men
the railroads are taking care Of. They
can use them in their business. No
matter how obscure man may be. per
haps has never paid the railroads a dol
lar in freight, let him get elevated to
one of the offices have mentioned, and
bow the passes pour in with the com
pliments of the president or general
manager. What is this for? II IS, TO
put it mildly, that in the discharge Of
their official duties these officers may DO
induced To better serve the railroad in
terests. It fs polite bribery. II Is tno
cunning courtesy that railroads so kindly
extend to public authority. The general
manager of one of the leading roads of
this state told me recently that he
never signed one of these passes, that he
was not ashamed OF himself, and never
offered one that he did not feel lac was
giving an insult. AS long as it is the
custom to tender passes to members Of
Der will naturally accept them whether
he cares to or not. for bY refusing he
invites unpleasant criticism, and the
suspicion that he may be posing as one
OF the i am holer than thou fellows,
whom we all despise.
"Another objection urged against this
| bill is that it increases the commission,
and so the expenses. ] can hardly be
hot fol
estly make this suggestion. The in
| creased expense would be too trifiing to
mention in connection with so impOr-
tant subject. 1t would not cost n cent
| apiece extra on the average TO the peO-
pie of the state. | believe no state in
the Union save this, ever changed from
three commissioners to one. On the
contrary nearly every state that started
with one commissioner now has three
Three men can more safely settle the
important questions the commissioners
will have to meet. Their opinions will
| have greater weight, both with the peo-
pie and the railroads, and they can more
surely resist the dangerous onslaught
that will be made upon them. The
commissioners are given long tenure
Of Office so that they may become
thoroughly familiar with their duties.
| Their selection is not left to the scram-
! bles Of political convention, where, un-
| fortunately, candidates are often selected
more with reference to their nationality,
location, or for some reason OF party
policy, rather than on account OF fitness.
The board in non-partisan. The ap-
pointments are made by the governor,
who could be safely trusted to select
good men, and in case Of the present ex-
| ecutive, the railroads would surely know
from the tone Of his message that they
need fear no injustice at his hands
"As these remarks are somewhat in
the nature Of a minority report, dissent
ing from the conclusions Of majority
! Of the committee, / feel at liberty TO
make few statements in regard to the
action OF the committee. | make no
criticisms and impugn the motives Of no
memb Der. / state the facts and draw
conclusions, and the senate will judge Of
their correctness.
"Not section or a line Of this bill was
read at any session Of the committee.
Not an amendment was proposed nor a
suggestion made by the majority. Is 1t
not plain inference, then, that the ma
jority Of the committee desire no rail-
road legislation whatever? That they
are ready TO give title deed in fee sim
pie Of their votes 10 the railroad compa-
MES? / can draw no other conclusion
II this bin does not suit them as it is,
amend II, or present substitute. But
no, nothing is to be done, is the verdict
Of the majorlty. Will the members Of
the committee stand up before tie SEN
ate, and tell US that there are no abuses
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