Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1897-04-15

The assembly session Tuesday even
ing was long one, the time Deing
chiefly given up to debate on the Hall
bills providing for the appointment OF
railroad commissioners and prescribing
their duties The gentleman from
Dunn made another severe onslaught
on railroads, but met with scant sup
port and his bills went down In a man
ner calculated TO discourage any spirit
less domitable. Mr., Ray was In the
chair.
The Hall bills were Nos. 1l0a and
lila. To give Mr.. Hall an opportunity
to be heard the 5 minute rule was
suspended. He treated both Bills to-
gether. He said that before entering
upon their merits II would be well to
look at the relation OF the state TO
the railroads. He quoted from the de-
cisions of the supreme courts OF the
states and nation to show that the gov
eminent can fix the rates for pas
sengers and freight by railroads. lie
gave figures showing that local rates
are higher than through rates. Wheat
rates from Minneapolis to Chicago are
only a quarter OF The local rates, he
said. From Superior TO ST. Paul, flour
in barrels is carried at 10 cents u bar
rel, while to points nearer Duluth. 20
and 30 cents are charged. He showed
that 81 5000 900 were paid by the rail-
roads for overcharges IN the state In
one year. These overcharges, he as
serted. are but rebates and do not go
to all tho patrons Of the roads, but 10
a privileged few. He marshaled n
formidable array of statistics OF dis
examinations by eastern roads to the
Standard OH company and other corpo-
ratlons and strongly arralgned them
for their tyrannlcnl and dark lantern
methods. He then looked into the mat
ter of the watering OF stocks ana SAID
that the railroads had no right to ex-
tort from the people money to pay the
interest on fictitious bonds. He dwelt
at great length upon this point substan-
tialting his position with figures, show
Ing that such extorlons were ana
have long been made. He read from
the opinions OF students on tho subject
showing that tho only solution OF the
problems OF railroads and similar IN
stltutlons He's In government control or
tho extension of the powers OF com
mssoners. He reviewed the present
situation with that Of 80 years ago
when the millionaire was the pride OF
the country Today one-half of the
wealth Of the country Ia In the hands OF
10000 people, while 35 estates of $75,-
0U0, 900 each exist. The safety of our
institutions, he asserted demand some
restriction TO the concentration OF
wealth The great majority Of the peo-
pie would vote aye upon these bills ana
the members as their representatives
should do, said Mr.. Hall.
Mr.. W. A. Jones agreed with Mr.,
Han that there was grave danger In
fha, concentration of wealth and con-
seQucntly OF power In the hands OF
few. Sevcnty-ilve per cent, Of the
railroads IN the country, however, he
ers. Ninety per cent OF the stock
holders are innocent parties and cannot
afford to lose the earnings on their
Investments that would follow on Il re-
dhetion of their rates. He defended
determinations, saying they were not
really determinations. M by their
means alone could the interior towns of
the state be built up Rates cannot be
made as cheap to them MS to direct
points, Central Iowa, he said, Is Grip
pied today because of the stringent
laws of that state. AS to overcharges,
he stated that European roads charge
higher rates than the American roads,
yot pay their worlmcu less. lie be-
lioNed the danger from the railroads
Was largely exaggerated and that the
difficulties would settle themselves In
the future. Ho gave instances of his
experiences. showing the fairness Of
the roads to him.
This furnished Mr.. Hall the oppor-
tunity To make vigorous response,
Mr. JOKES was happily situated. lie
VAS favored by the roads. His argn-
ment but clinched his own (Hall's) Mr.
Jcl Us had given little light; he
wished there were more There was
not a road In the state, he said, that
had not raised It's rates during Che last
four years and also earned more than
ever before.
Mr.. Jones replied with figures to
show that the roads had been all along
losing money during the past few years,
Messrs Miss, Peterson and latta
suailc against the bills, claiming that
Wconsiu has less need OF railroa
legislation than any other western state
Mr. Latta said such a law II enforced
would cripple many of the industries
ii the s,ate and II the railroads abided
by Il in good faith the people would
demand its repal in six months. II
considered from a business standpoint
there was no call for such bill,
The bills were thereupon indefinitely
postponed by vote Ut 50 to Z, III,
dissenting votes being Ivy Messls
Bechtel, Davidson Edwards, Goodell
Hail. Mcdonald and Wolf.
Bills Passed