Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1889-04-04


might the tramp complain of the Gala
boose, the burglar OF the Jail, or tho muir
derer Of the penitentiary or the gallows.
II they intend to be honest and law
abiding then why do the railroads rage
and their attorneys imagine vain things.
MIR. President, | come now TO consid-
or the most painful effect Of this bill. I
wrestled with 1t long and hard. |
schemed and struggled to ignore or
dodge il. But like Banquo's ghost, it
would not down, and conscience, which
makes towards OF Us all, drove me with
its memorable logic 20 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 Rhinelauder 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
mess men OF Oshkosh, No longer could
We get our fr ends to attend the legisla-
tive balls, 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
ing 10y he railroads is one Of the
u ost perncious and contemptible forms
ot 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,
ur citizen however deserving, re-
Ceiyes these transportation cour-
tesies at their hands unless he is in
position TO aid or ujure them. IL Is
the Legislators, the judges, the marshals,
sherifs etc, and their friends who
alone are the benedciaries OF the free
pass system. Those who make inter-
pref and execute the laws are the men
The railroads are taking care Of They
can use them in their business. No
matter how obscure a man may be, per-
haps has never paid the railroads a dol
lar in freight, lot him get elevated to
one Of the Offices have mentioned, and
how the passes pour in with the COM
plments Of the president or general
manager What is this torY 10 is, to
put IL mildly, that in the discharge OF
thoir official duties these officers may be
induced to better serve the railroad in
lerests. II Is polite bribery. 1t is the
cunning courtesy that railroads 80 kindly
extend TO public authority, Thegeneral
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 o. himself and never
! offered one that he did not feel he was
giving ana insult As long rs IL is the
| Custom 90 tender passes TO members Of
| the legislature, for instance, eve-v NOM
! her will naturally accept them whether
| he cares TO or not, for 10y refusing he
invites unpleasant criticism, and the
suspicion that he may be posing as one
of The u am holler than thou fellows,
| whom We all desplse
"Another objection urged against this
! bill is that H. increases the commission,
| and so the expenses. | can hardly be-
| leve that an intelligent man would hon
| estly make this suggestion. The in
| creased expense would be too triiling TO
| mention in connection with so impor-
tant a subject. 1t would not cost 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 10 one On the
contrary nearly every state hat started
| with one commissioner now has three.
| Three men can more safely settle the
| important questions the commissioners
! viii nave to meet. Their opinions will
| have greater weight, both with the PEG
| pie and the railroads, and they can more
! surely resist the dangerous onslaught
| that will be made upon them The
| commissioners are given a long tenure
OF Office 80 that they may become
| thoroughly familiar with their duties.
| Their selection is not left to the scram-
| bles Of political convention, whore, 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-
| pontmeutR are made by the governor,
| who could be safely trusted TO select
! good men, and 10 case Of the present ex
! ecutiye, the railroads would surely know
! from the tone Of his message that they
| need fear no injustice at his hands
! GAS these remarks are somewhat in
| the nature 81 minority report, dissent
| log from the conclusions of a majority
| OF the COMMITTEES, ! feel at liberty to
| make a few statements in regard to the
/ action OF the committee. ] make no
I criticisms and impugn the motives OF no
member / state the facts and draw
/ conclusions, and the senate viii Judge OF
| their correctness.
mot a section or a line Of this bill was
read at any session Of the committee.
| Not an amendment was proposed nor
/ suggestion made by the majority. Is 10
not n plain inference, then. that the ma
| jorty Of the committee leslre no rail-
/ road legislation whatever That they
are ready 20 give a title deed in fee sim
| pie Of their votes 30 tho railroad c0mpa-
| niesy / can draw no other conclusion.
| n this bib does not suit them as it is,
! amend ID, or present q substitute. But
no, nothing Is TO be DONE is the verdict
Of tho majority. VIII the members Of
/ the committee stand up before the sen
ate, and tell ne that there are no abuses
30 correct, no wrongs TO right, no rates
that need Adjustment This is precisely
what they have said by their report.
/ We're it otherwise, we're they willing to
do something for the people. we're they
not wholly devoted 10 serving railroad
interests, then Why, il this bill did not
suit them, should they not amend il 50
I that a. t,.g.ttITy | .o47 IurJIsr haIfava hat