Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1901-01-16

for every hundred pupils now attending |
district school only one pupil reaches
high school'-then ii must indeed be time
to pause in praise of our colleges and city |
schools long enough to emphasize the ne
cessity of more generous support and of
more successful supervision for the too
long neglected country schools.
Plainly our educational system is get
ting out of balance and requires read
justing. / believe that legislative action
to meet this emergency in the life of
district schools cannot be too strongly
recommended. If, in your judgment,
such action is found TO be necessary, |
am confident the exercise of a more rigid
economy in other appropriations for edu-
cational purposes, in order to meet this
new demand, will find justification in
final results as well as in immediate pub
lie approval.
Trusts and Monopoiies.
The evils to be reached by legislation
on trusts and monopolies are such com
binations and considerations as are or
ganized to control prices. create monop-
olies and destroy competition, or which,
in their practical working. have that eff
feet. 1t is not because corporation has
large capital or rransaets a large and
profitable business that it is an injury
to the community or a menace TO its pros
perity. The wrong is done and the injury
inflicted when such combinations of cap
ital are enabled, by means adopted for
that purpose, to control prices, stife COM
petition and create a monopoly.
The decisions of the highest courts of
the United States, and Of the several
States, leave no room TO doubt that the
power of the legislative branch of the
government is ample to redress all
wrongs so done to society. The decisions
of the courts are practically uniform to
the effect that no one has any right to
enter into any agreement or combination
when the purpose or the effect is to con-
troll prices or create monopoly. Further
it is also apparent that the right to pro
hibit such contract or combination is
clear, when the object is to control prices,
even if it is not intended unreasonably
to increase prices.
Evils of this kind exist and are in OPP
Grafton in every State. Their extent
and harmful effect may or may not have
been exaggerated in The public estima-
ton, but all must agree that there is
much that ought to receive the consdera-
| ton Of the legislative branch of the State
COVE rnment The present law of this
| State on the subject is principally con-
! tained in chapter 357 of the General
| Laws OF 1897. l regard it as entirely in-
! sufficient, either as a remedy or a re-
| straint. In the first place it only applies
| to corporations. 1t is entirely plain,
however. th7t partnerships and individ
uals may enter INTO agreements and com
binatious, which, in their results, viii be
| just as disastrous to the public inter
ests as can any confederation of corpo-
rations. Furthermore. the only remedy
| provided OF suggested by the present
/ statute is a proceeding in the courts to
vacate the charter and annul the exist
! ence of the offending corporation. Such
| n remedy is to great extent illusory.
Corporations must of necessity act by
| officers and agents, and it is submitted
| that one efficacious way to control the
| corporation is to act upon the indly1d-
uals who control its affairs and shape its
policy. | recommend to the Legislature
| of tits State an entire revision of the
| laws relating to this subject. and the en-
! actment of such laws as shall promise an
| eff cient remedy for the great evil, and
which at the same time shall not ham
per individual enterprise or take from
| capital the reasonable returns to which
| it is fairly entitled when invested in BUSH
ness enterprise.
The Legislature of 1899 enacted Chapter
/ 243 of the Laws of 1899. designed to con-
troll and somewhat restrict the operations
| of what is commonly termed 1.-THE lob
by IL relation TO legislation. The prin-
| ciple involved in that enactment has my
unqualified approval.
Improvement of Highways.
While the Importance Of good roads in
the development and welfare of the COM
monwealth is admitted everywhere, pru-
dent regard for the taxpayer win suggest
| great caution in removing the barriers
| placed in the constitution against en-
| ployment of State powers and resources
| in works of internal improvement. Tn
der the existing system of highway mainr
| tenance and control, an enormous amount
| of money and labor is expended each
year upon the roads of Wisconsin. II is
/! too apparent that much, il not most, of
this expenditure is wholly wasted. I'M
til this available resource for the bet
terment of roads has been brought I'M
der a more economic system as result
of complete revision of the laws respect
ing highways, those who urge for this
work the necessity of greater powers to
the Legislature aud State officials
through constitutional amendment must
be prepared to explain to the voter the
neglect properly to exercise the authority
and means a; hand. / recommend thor
ough investigation and revision Of the
| road laws of the State,
The cost Of fire insurance for the cap
! itoi and some other public buildings has
become considerable expense. which
must be largely increased il this plan of
| protecting against loss by fire is consist
entity pursued II is questionable wheth-
/ er the State with its abundant resources
| Is praetieing real economy in paying pro-
| fit-seeking companies 10 share risks Of
| this character.
The Anti-Pass Law.
| Public approval Of the law enacted by
! the last Legislature 10 prohibit she use
/ OF free transportation, telegraph aud tel
ephone privileges by public officials has
been So general afd earnest that no ol,-
position is anticipated 10 tie final pas
/ sage 81 me resolution FOR constitutional
/ amendment which aiii place this act be-
/ yond the possibility Of legislative repeal
The aggregate cost - railway mileage
used by the different Stat. departments
from June l. 1891. 20 Jan. ]. 1901, pc
riod of nineteen months is reported by