Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1902-10-08

as 10 the action OF lndlYlduai members.
This is for each man TO settle for him.
self and with his constituents. But in
the government which should be repre-
sentative to the will Of the people, they
have the right to know why their will,
as expressed under the constitution and
the laws of the commonwealth, has been
thwarted and baked.
/ shall speak of the action Of the Leg
islature as a whole in its position upon
these questions which are of such great
public interest
l shall speak Of the conduct of the lob
by and its influence upon those measures
and the methods by which it influences
and controls legislation.
Statement of Assemblyman Hall.
Hon. A. r. Hall of Dunn county,
whose long, practical experience, un-
biased interest and strict integrity are
known TO all men in this state, says over
his own signature:
1T was boastfully stated by a repre-
sentative OF one of the railway compa-
MES just after the defeat Of the railroad
taxation bills at the last session of the
Legislature, that no bills had been en-
acted into law during the sixteen years
last pasl IN the interests of the people
when objected TO by the railroads"
Mr.. Hall says further OF this state
ment by the lobbyist: "He spoke the
truth and ought to have added" says
Mr.. Hall, "that Lo measure, no matter
how damaging to the interests of the
people failed to become law If wanted
by the railways"
Statement of Assemblyman Lenroot.
Hon. Irving l.. LenroOt of Douglas
county, one of the ablest and most faith
full members of the last Legislature,
whose name is a guarantee for the truth
Of anything he says, throws some light
On the defeat of the railroad bills in
written communication, from which /
quote as follows:
From the first day of the session the
railroad lobbyists were on the ground in
force, offering courtesies and entertain
ments of various kinds to the members.
Bribery is hard word, charge which
should never be made unless it can be
Bubstantiated. The writer has no per-
Bop Il knowledge of money being actually
Offered or received for votes against the
BILL 1t was, however, generally under
stood in the Assembly that any member
favcring the bill could better HIS inan-
ciai condition if he was willing to vote
against it.
Members were approached by repre-
sentatlYes of the companies and offered
lucrative positions. This may not have
been done with any idea of influencing
votes. The reader may draw his own
conclusion. 1t was a matter of common
knowledge that railroad mileage could be
procured If q member was right Rail
road lands could be lrehased very
cheaply by members of TIE Legislature
1t was said If a member would get into
a poker game with a lobbyist, the mem
Der was sure to win. Members opposed
10 Gov La Toilette were urged to vote
against the bill because he wanted 1t to
pass prominent member stated that
he did not dare to vote for the bill be-
cause he was at the mercy of the rail
road companies, and he was afraid they
would ruin his business by increasing his
rates if he voted for it,"
q
ployed TO defeat the BILL" says Assem-
blyman LenrOOt, but II the whole truth
were known" he goes on to say, the
righteous Indignation of the people of the
state would make itself felt" and mil
lions" could be spent where thousands"
now are without accomplishing any re-
suits.
Statement Of Assemblyman Evai a.
Hon David Evans, Jr., of War
county, another strong, conscientious
Conservative member, states in Il D..
address to his constituents with resp q
to the forces arrayed against these " .as
ures and the methods they empl0 t.
defeat them, the following:
Members of this combination stopp
at no vile means to accomplish the
ends. Debauchcry in various forms $
tried upon members Of the Legislature
in order TO seduce them from their duty
or incapactatc them from voting at crit
ical times. Gamblers laid IN wait for
some in order to get them 10 gamble In
game in which there was no possible
ity of winning. They unanswered TO
make them contract debts of honor for
the payment OF which they had no means
an order TO get them to sell their integrity
Tor means To satisfy Their needs They
piled men with drink in order to stop
Them from coming into the house To vote,
ana more than one member came to
the house III a cordtios -~lich was sean
daious made 50 by their weakness for
drink and through having been piled
with champagne and other intoxCants
by membe' of this desperate eOterie
1T is an open secret that the lobby
agents OF these roads offered, e en on
the hoor of the Assembly chamber. TO
members of the LEGISLATURE free trans
portation for themselves and families.
contrary to Law, and that they offered
10 members much more valuable consid-
erations repeatedly. These facts / can
swear to, if necessary, for | know them
10 be lacts OF my own personal knoWl-
edge"
Public Discussion Before Committees.
l would wrong no man and do injustice
TO no corporation. believe that every
interest that is affected by legislation
Is entitled to be heard before legislative
committees and have its case fairly and
fully stated TO both Senate and Assem-
Oily. Every cause, whether it be good
cause or bad one, has right to the
strongest presentation of every fact and
every argument it has to offer.
Recognizing this principle funda-
mental justice, the public-service corpora
tons We're given the opportunity 10 dis
euss the bills OF the tax commission be-
Tore the committee on taxation OF the
Senate and Assembly, sitting in Joint
and public session for several days in
succession. There We're present the
abIest corporation counsel in the coun-
try. George Il. Peck Of the St Paul,
L. w. Bowers of the North WEBSTER
Thomas H. Gin Of the Wisconsin Cen
JraI, the late j. -. Losey of the Bur
Ington, George p. Miller OF the AIilwau-
kee street railway company, and other
distinguished lawyers representing other
pubhc-seryice corporations. These gen
tlenen argued their cases with the learn
2ng and ability to be expected from able
lawyers. They We're there in the dis
charge of u plain professional dut.
winch they Performed Will, honor 10
IAeInSelEeS and efficiently for their clients
as well, publicly and before all men
The Lobby that Works in Secret.
But there are lobbyists Of a very DIFF
ferent class ana lobbying of a very diI-
ferent Kind IN the interest of these pub
nc-serYice corporations. 1t is a kind of
legislative lobbying which demands pub
ne attention and public condemnation.
II is a kind which seeks the darkness
In. ls4st.t