The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1903-05-08
MAY ADJOURN |, !! J. J soon.
State Legislature Expects by
May I6 TO Finish
Business.
PRIMARY ELECTIONS BILL DEAD
Also Railroad Commission Bill by a
Vote of 08 to 25 in Assembly-Ad
Valorem Trembling in Balance.

Madison, Wis, May 5.-Last week
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
mission (of which he is to appoint two
members the same to regulate freight
rates. The bill was rejected 6S to 70
and so does not go to the senate.
The New Issue.
This defeat in the assembly, which
is distinctively Governor LaFollette's
body, must be great disappointment
to him. He knew it would not pass
the senate, but he would like to be
able to show the people of the state
that he and his friends were for the
bill and his enemies against it. 1t
would have made good political capt.
tai i'm that way. AS it is, no doubt the
governor will take the issue to the peo-
pie and say that political pledges must
bind legislators-even his friends-be-
the fact that the assembly refuses the
bill nearly three to one will make 1t
perilOus to denounce his opponents as
to freight rates, whatever other
charges the governor may have.
Merits of the Bill.
1t may be that state commission
is deSira BILE to check. the railroads. Of
course, they are not now much nam
pered in fixing rateS-eXcept by the
law of wisdom--that is, they may kill
the goose that lays the golden egg;
they may shrink shipments by heavy
charges. AS a matter Of fact, the st.
Paul and C. & N. w. r. r.. 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
indict whole nation; and this unanl-
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-legislators 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 wilder
ness in some cases and by giving a
low rate for wholesale shipments, the
railroads have built up a clientele. The
fear is that rates fixed by the state
(and especially if politicians get on
the cOmmssion) 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 trainload.
1t is also urged that there is no de-
mand for this bill except as worked
up" that even if a state commission
would be Il good thing it is best to
wait until the people call for it. The
bill is drastic one; instead OF allow
ing large powers to the commission, it
prescribes details and many who do
not wholly oppose commission balk
on the present bill.
great adroitness in getting this mat
ter to the front. Everybody wants
things cheaper-all sorts of things
and the candidate who holds out the
likelihood of cheaper things is very
attractive. Primary election is getting
to be an old story-more the pity,
for unless there is some legislation
now as the fruitage of popular edu-
cation. the combinations may not be
right to get it 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 l o'clock at
night. One OF the. best speeches was
by Cowling of Oshkosh, Il clean-cut
young Republican lawyer, who has
dore 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 fs.@doing good
work in suppressing lobby nuisances,
=. The gossip is that he served notice on
e the st. Paul managers not long ago
that he would not stand for anything
objectionable. and being one of the big
=; shippers of Racine the hint evidently
! had weight; at least in the rout, the
Madison end Of the st. Paul road was
consciously absent.
Ad Valorem Bill.
1t looks now as if the ad valorem
. bill which, in substance, had passed
both houses may yet fail. There
, should be no misunderstanding as tC
. the reason. The senate passed this
measure, which represents an i'm
mense amount of careful work, exact
ly as the tax commission recommend
80 st,4,,, -