Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1903-05-06

was perhaps the most eventful week
Of the session. On Thursday night
the assembly killed the bill on which
! Governor LaFollette now lays so much
stress-to set up a state railway COM
miss on (of V hich he is to appoint two
men bers) the same TO regulate freight
rates. The bill was rejected Gs TO 25
and so does not 90 10 the senate
The New Issue.
This defeat in the assembly, which
IS distinctivtl Governor LaFollette's
body, must be a grea: disappointment
to him He knew 1t would not pass
the senate, but he would like to be
able to show the people of the state
that he and his friends We're for the
bill and his enemies against it. 1t
would have made good political capt.
tai In that way As 1t is, no doubt the
governor will take the issue to the peo-
pie and say that political pledges must
bind legislators-eyen his friends--be-
fore the reform can be effected. But
the fact that the assembly refuses the
perilous to denounce his Op. onents as
to freight rates, whatever other
charges tbs governor may have.
Merits of the Blu.
1t may be that a state commission
is desirable TO check the railroads. OF
course, they are not now much ham
pered In fixing rates-except by the
law of wisdom-that Is, they may XIII
the goose that lays the golden egg;
they may shrink shipments by heavy
charges. As IL matter Of fact, the st.
Paul and c. & ". w. K. II. are well
managed and popular. The big ship
pers-and there are thousands of
them in Wisconsin-are satisfied with
present conditions. 1t Is impossible to
indlet a whole nation; and this unani-
nous protest from all lumbermen,
manufacturers, in an hundred lines,
etc, was irresistible OF course, the
railroad lobby helped. For some weeks
they have been active, some of them
ex-legisll rs and employees. But with
them. and with the best Of motives,
were these many substantial business
men who have developed especially
northern Wisconsin. They like their
present rates and say they are just;
these men have gone into the W ilder
ness in some cases and by giving a
low rate FIR olesale shipments, the
railroads ave Quit up a clientele. The
fear Is tlat rates fixed by the state
land especially if politicians get on
the commission will mean CONFUSION
the shipper Of box of soap wanting
the same rate for the same haul as the
Mccormick concern. which sends agri-
cultural Implements by the tranioad.
1t Is also urged that there is no de-
mand for this bill except as worked
up" that even if state commission
would be a good thing it Is best to
wait until the people call for 1t. The
Din is a drastic one: instead Of allow
ing large powers to the commission. it
prescribes details and many who do
not wholly oppose a commission balk
on the present bill.
Nevertheless. the governor has shown
great adroitness in getting this mat
ter to the front. Everybody wants
things cheaper-all sorts of things
and the candidate who holds ont the
likelihood Of cheaper things $ very
attractive, Primary election is getting
to be an old story--more the pity.
for Unless there is some legislation
now as the sruitage OF popular edu-
cation, he combinations may not be
right tc get 1t In the future. How
ever, freight rates is to be the new
cry. The governor supplemented the
long talk in his annual message with
a special message last week.
The assembly debate on the freight
rate bill lasted until / O'Clock at
might. One of the best speeches was
by Cowling of Oshkosh, clean-cut
young Republican lawyer, who has
done notable work on the judiciary
committee and whose independence
and cordiality have made him very
influential. Mr.. Cady. the adroit Marsh
field lieutenant OF Governor LaFollette.
opposed the bill as his constituency
includes such heavy shippers as ex-
Governor Upham and others Of Wood
county.
Johnson OF Racine is doing a good
work IL suppressing lobby nuisauces.
The gossip is that he served notice on
the St Paul managers ne. long ago
that he would not stand for anything
Objectionable. and being one of the big
shippers of Racine, the hint evidently
had weight: ut least In the rout. the
Madison end of the 81. Paul road was
consp'cousiy al gnt
Ad Nalorsm Bili.
1t looks now as il the ad yalorem
bill which, In substance. had passed
both houses may yet fail There
should be no misunderstanding as to
the reason. The senate passed this
measure, which represents an im-
mense amount of careful work, exact
~ as the tax commission recommend
cd it. Some II the administration men,
however have gotten up scare over
one point They say that because the
railroad bonds are exempted from tax
alton. they will not vote for the bill.
This and all parts of the bin are as
the state tax commission drew them. not
Senator Whitehead or other senator's.
There are very few bonds owned in
the state aud the fact that the whole
There t. no Roehsus ssFts. Alum.