Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1889-01-24
AT TIE CAPITOL.
Madison, Jan. 10, 1889.


the wheels of legislation in the Stats
legislature were thoroughly set in
motion and ever since they have
hummed quite merrily on. During the
first week of the session little more than
organisation and adjournment was
accomplished.
Necessity" says the adage, "knows
no law but not so 10 this case. The
law in question was that providin for
the conforming of the state statutes
relative to the time Of casting the state
electoral vote to the statutes OF tho
United States, the change being from
the FIRST Wednesday in December to
the second Monday in January. and it
was necessity since the time for ballot
ing was about at hand that required
the law and its hasty enactment The
bill having been published, 1t now is
law Of the state. The most important
measure OF the week was the bill Of
Senator "Hod Taylor" relative to the
regulation Of railroad traffic in the
state. Dir. Taylor is the bland, yet
shrewd, Hudson statesman who would
willingly have served the people OF
Wisconsin il they had said SO. Previous
to the introduction OF the bill by Mr..
Taylor Thursday morning much spec
ulation was rife as TO its probable pro
visions and the measure was locked for
with much interest by legislators and
railroad manipulators as well. The
bill is a very lengthy one embracing
twenty-three sections aud provides in
detail for judicious and wise state
regulation of railway traffic. The
measure is modelled largely after the
Interstate Commerce act, the object
sought having been to apply the prin-
ciples and in many instances nearly
identical privileges and restrictions to
traffic In the state. In its makeup
it also embraces some of the best and
more important features Of laws of
other states upon the same subject.
The milder features of the Minnesota
and Illinois laws which have been in
corporated are especially in point. So
closely, however, was the Inter State
act followed that tho fourth section,
relating to Determinations is an inser-
ton of verbatim copy of the same
section in the Interstate law. By the
terms OF the bill q commission of three
persons is created, the commissioners
to be appointed by the governor and
confirmed by the Senate, each to re-
ceive a salary of $500 per annum
with per diem of $500 for travelling
expenses Not more than two COM
missioners shall be chosen from the
same political party. A secretary with
a salary Of 1000 is created. The right
to establish rates is reserved to the rail-
roads themselves; but upon complaint
to the commission il the rates be found
excessive, authority is given the COM
mission to make lower rates and COM
pei the railroads to adopt them unless
such rates fixed by the commission
shall be held unreasonable BY the
courts. The maximum penalty inn
posed by the act for violation Of its
terms is not to exceed $4,000 and $500
additional for each day subsequent to
the decree of competent court that
such violation continues. A prohibit
ton OF pass transportation is incor-
porated from which only railroad
officials, employees, members of the
commission and the secretary are ex-
empt. That there are some good
points in the proposed law is generally |
conceded and much favorable comment
is passed by legislators many Of whom
are quite free to discuss the bill.
Thursday Senator Schofeld, on be-
half of the Trustees of the Wisconsin
Veterans Home at Waupaca asked an
appropriation for that institution Of
$4,000. The funds asked it is pro-
posed to expend in enlarging the home
and for maintaining it generally.
Other bills relating to railroads pro-
hiblt the employment Of locomotive
engineers who use intoxicating liquors.
under penalty Of $50 to $500 fine. and
providing for the erection Of guards at
the front or rear Of frogs on railways,
with like penalty for violation.
In bill introduced the initial move
was taken in an attempt to repeal the
the law of 1887 extending to women
the right Of suffrage upon question
relating to school matters. This
measure became noted because Of the
proceedings instituted under it by the
Rev. Olympia Brownnillis, Of Racine, to
compel the inspectors Of election to
accept her vote for city and school
officers. HeYT. !