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

traders at interior points. Many OF the
heavy shippers, especially in the larger
| places, complain OF this. and you must
know why. 1t is because they are given.
and l hear it intimated that some of
them are given now, special rates and
rebates. and other favors the general
public do not enjoy This is why they
opposed the inter state law. and whv
they oppose this bill, both of which for
bid drawbacks and rebates, special rates
and unjust determinations. There is
where these remonstrances and reSOlu-
tlOnS come from. from men and compa-
MES that have received in the past, and
hope to receive in the future, special IA
vors at the hands of railroad companies.
Why said Judge Howe, do You sup
pose these great concerns, like j. |. Case
Il Co, for instance, are afraid of the rail
roads" No. That's not what's the mat
ter. The railroads are afraid Of them,
and want the privilege, unhindered by
law, of giving them any favors they
please, 50 as to control their trade.
"To hear the railroad attorneys and
lobbyists talk one would think this
long and short haul section was
some new idea, some dastardly
scheme to wreck the railroads and
ruin the people. Yet, as matter of fact.
u.
state act,-a law framed after more
study and with greater care than any
other law on our national statute books.
A committee of the United States sen
ate, composed of the ablest men and
most learned lawyers in the nation,
spent nine months in taking testimony
from all classes of business men in every
section of the union, and presented this
law as embodying the ripest experiences
and highest wisdom of the country on
the railroad question. 1t was passed al
most unanimously through both houses
of congress. 1t received the vote of
every member and both senators from
this state. Our junior senator told ma
me just before this legislature met, when
he was last in Wisconsin, that if Il bill
was introduced to repeal the inter state
commerce law that it would not get two
votes in the senate of the United States.
Andyet railroad attorneys, favored ship
pers and weak -kneed Legislators tell us
1t is an outrage to offer a bill with such
provision in it, and that If passed it
would bring disaster alike upon the
railroads and the public. Don't you be
heve 1t. 1t is not true. Senators, let
us not be deceived by such idle talk.
Let us stand like men on our feet and
look this question squarely in the face.
"ln the consideration of any matter
be it public or private, it is the part of
wisdom to consult the experiences of
Others So let us now, as this great
question cOnfrontS us, the correct solu-
tion of which we all earnestly desire to
see, look at what other legislatures have
done, and see if we can safely follow in
their footsteps. l will quote very briefly
few extracts from late reports of the
r,I Of h.,
more important states, both in the east,
west and south. OF Illinois | have al
ready spoken. In Massachusetts the
law has worked to the satisfaction of all
The United States senate committee
says: In conclusion, it may be said that
the committee made special effort, by
inquiries among all classes of the com
munIty, to ascertain the popular Judg
ment in Massachusetts as to the work
ing OF the commission, and that not
whisper of complaint against its meth
DDS was heard, nor was there found any
indication of dissatisfaction in that state
with the operation or results of the ex-
isting system The commission in Mas
sachusetts is the same as proposed in
this bill.
1.-The following is the report from New
York: During its brief existence the
commission has been called upon to deal
with important questions affecting tine
great commercial interest of the Empire
state The illustrations that have been
given of the results acco m Dlished war
rant the conclusion that ia interests of
the people are better protected than
they were before the creation of the
commission, and that substantial and
satisfactory progress has already been
made under the existing system towards
the effective regulation of the railroads
Of New York
Here is what the commissioners of
Georgia say: We think that it can be
justly claimed that a fair and impartial
review of the work of the commission in
carrying out the purposes of the law by
reduction and equalization of the
rates that were of force by the railroad
companies at the time of its passage,
will show saving to the people of Geor-
/ gia, annually, of sum equal to the full
amount of their taxes, while the healthy
/ financial condition of the railroads does
not indicate that they have been injured
! thereby
The Alabama commissioners say:
! The administration of the law creating
! the commission has given, SO far as We
/ are advised, satisfaction in the main To-
/ the railroad companies and TO the peo-
/ ple.'
The South Carolina commissioners
/ report: In the early part of our work
much time was required to investigate
! and adjust complaints against the rail
roads. Each month these complaints
| have diminished, and now but few reach
his Office. This confirms the cxpcrI
/ ence of railroad ommissioners gencraIIs
/ viz, that they promote IN one way 90
! another a spirit Of consideration on the
| part of the railroads for the public,
which refults in reducing the inevitabl"
| friction of such large and rapid trans
actions as daily take place between these
| corporations and the business cOmmuu
| ity.'
| "Both the outgoing and incoming
| governors of Minnesota strongly en-
dorsed the law there, which is much
more stringent than the one proposed
! IN this bill. Gov. Merriam, in his in
! hugural, said: i understand that the
rates of freight and passenger fares
! have been materially reduced since the
! present law became operative, saving to
| the people of the state several millions
| of dollars annually
Il might give you many more reports
! of a similar character, but | have read
! enough to prove to any unbiased mind
| that such legislation as is proposed by
! this bill is wise, just and salutary. Can
! not Wisconsin safely follow in the
| beaten path where other leading states
so long have trod? We are not invited
to try experiments. We are admOnished
| to avail ourselves Of the experience that
| other states have found so profitable.
| If abuses exist, as is admitted, if rates
! are excessive, as none can deny, viii some
senator tell me why we do not owe 1t TO
| ourselves and the people We are here TO
| represent to correct the abuses reduce
/ the rates
| I'VE are told that competition, that
| great balance-wheel OF trade, VIII afford
| all needful protection. This is true only
| at the great commercial centers and in
| favored localities where competition is
most active, and applies to the larger
! shippers who are able TO take care OF
! themselves. But it should be the aim
| of the law to protect the weak, and it is
| at the great number of n-competitive
! points, where the producer and shipper
! are most completely in the power Of the
| railroads that protection is most needed
"The railroad attorneys before the
| committees talked long and eioquently
/ about the beauties and safeguards of
| the common law and the ample pro-
/ lection it affords to the people. The
/ theory of the common law is that all
| who are situated alike must be treated