Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-04-04

augural, 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
L might give you many more reports
of 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, will some
senator tell me why we do not owe it to
ourselves and the people We are here to
represent to correct the abuses reduce
the rates.
"We are told that competition, that
great balance-wheel of trade, will 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 non-com petitiye
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 eloquently
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
alike. But the law is not enforced. and
individuals, against great corporations,
are powerless to enforce it. The United
States senate committee says on this
point:
"'The experience of all states and ma
tions where railroads have been built
shows that the people cannot with safe
ty rely upon the ordinary common law
remedies to protect them against unjust
discrimination and extortion. In the
language of one gentleman who came
before the committee, the ordinary
courts are open theoretically, but they
are closed practically to the individual
man who has grievance
DeudJOIS, Ccu we uOU nOTS Safely UIuSU
the judgment of this committee, com
posed of five of the ablest lawyers in
the country, having no clientage to
serve, but looking only to the public
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
q To
force it. 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 to
pass upon the commission. BY their
fruits We shall know them | will sim
ply remark that the law is dead stat
| ute-that its enactment was a farce
that the commission affords the people
no relief, and that the expense of sup
porting it 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 go 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 unap-
preciated. am with them, l 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 do would be to
obey the law. 1t is the law breaker
alone who suffers it's 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
boose, the burglar of the Jail, or the muir
derer of the penitentiary or the gallows
If they intend to be honest and Law
abiding, then why do the railroads rage
and their attorneys imagine vain things
"Mr. President, I 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
its inexorable 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 LOO bus
iness men of Oshkosh. No longer could
we get our fir ends to attend the legisla-
! tive pals, or transport our admiring
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
H. ost pernicious and contemplate forms
Of petty bribery ever invented. The rail
! road companies never intend to give
| SOH6GuluS LUZ uOGuIuS. Lucy away
expect value received for their fav-
ors No man, however eminent,
or citizen however deserving, re-
ceives these transportation cour-
teses at their hands unless he is in a
position to aid or injure them. 1t is
the legislators, the judges, the marshals,
sheriffs, ETC., and their friends, who
alone are the benefciaries of the free
pass system. Those who make, inter
pref and execute the laws are the men
| The railroads are taking care of They