Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1901-02-26
COM M UNlCATE

Mr.. Editor:
am democrat, just the same as
Dave Hill. am sick and tired of hear
ing the republican speakers and read
ing the republican papers charging our
party with being populistic. Though it
be true that in some sections of this
country the party organization may
have been stolen to serve other pur-
poses, certainly in the state of Wiscon-
sin the republicans have no reason to
throw stones.
The attempt of a well known clique
of politicians in this state to parade
/ themselves as reformers and endeavor
to pass primary election law that will
practically disfranchise the common
: people ought to be enough; but when
one of their leaders like Mr.. Hall in the
assembly will introduce the bill he has
in regard to railroads, it is time that
some of the facts contained in that bill
are made public. If there was any one
office that was ever created by our
| legislature with little or no excuse it
was that of railway commissioner. No
one has ever been able to see where the
people receive much good. 1t is now
proposed not only to make three com
missioners, but to grant them powers,
so far as spending money is concerned,
that are practically unlimited.
The law first provides that all charges
J for transportation of freight and pas
SengerS shall be just and reasonable
and in another place the bill provides
that three politicians appointed by the
! Governor shall determine that question.
To show the foolishness of the bill
needs but an examination of section s,
which not only requires the railway
company to make good any loss to a
party, but permits this board of three
politicians to grant to the party three
times the damages he actually suffered
1t also provides that in addition to this,
together with the costs of suit, this
commission or court shall add reason
able attorney fees. But it does not give
the railway companies in case some one
makes an unwarranted attack the right
TO rec over any such reasonable fee.
The supreme court of Colorado, that
much abused populistic state, held that
such legislation was clearly unconstitu-
ton all because it did not give all parties
equal rights to justice without price or
compensation. Our own supreme court
have practically decided the same ques-
ton also.
The bill further provides that every
officer, director or agent can be COM
PEELED to go anywhere in the state with
the books and papers of the corpora
ton, regardless of how needful it may
be that they should be kept at head
quarters for business purposes, and tes-
tify in the ease They are further re-
quired to answer any question put to
them, even though it tends to incrimi-
nate the witness.
The bill provides that such testimony
shall not be used against the party. but
the supreme eourtsof the United States
have held that such legislation is void.
Some of the penalties in the bin are
mild enough to show the:fairness of its
author towards railway companies. In
case there is false bill or false weight
the party shall be deemed guilty of a
misdemeanor and be fined not less than
s., 600 nor more than s5,Oe0. To make
such a section complete, it should pro-
vide that the case be tried in justice
court and that there should be no ap-
peal.
The Governor is given the power to
remove any commissioner at any time
without restraint. This would Be 8
very convenient power to governor
who obtained a special train to cam