Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1903-01-21


roads equal distances TO market; IL VIII he
40 answer TO say to the consumers o. hard
aud soft coal throughout wisconsin who
are paying % to 81 per cent. more freight
charges on ineir coal than the consumers IN
Illinois are pas ilg for transporting their
coal the same number OF miles over the
same lines of roads-th that this whole subject
has been deferred for two years more be.
cause the railroad companies want more
time. For ten years at nearly every session
of this Legislature bills have been intro.
ducpd figures have been presented. facts
have been placed before the Legislature and
action urged for the relief of cur people SO
nnjustly and unwarrantcdly Disseminated
against ny the railroad companies,
See Table No 10.
Railway Commission Wanted.
let 1t be plainly understood FRAT nothing
more is asked than the creation OF a rail
way commission having the authority TO IN
vcstlgate this matter fully and to deal With
absolute justice as between railroad com
panles and the people OF the state. Mem
bers of this Legislature should not be mis-
led The people of this state will not he
misled into any belief that there Is the re-
road interests OF this state or of imposing
upon them any injus tlce whatever, much
less any hardship. The establishment OF a
railway commission clothed with oil the
power which this Legislature can invest
cannot fix transportation charges nj rate
so low that the railroad companies would
be deprived of a reasonable pront upon ai'
Of the capital which they have invested
for the courts would at once set inside any
rate fixed by a railway commission upon ?
showing by the railroad companies that the
rate Is unjust.
Legislative action at this session can harm
no interest, do injury TO no company, pref
udice no business. Delay ana postpone
uient ln1ict upon the business interests, the
manufacturers. the merchants the farmers
the consumers Of this state nm injury when
can never be repaired. The millions Of
dollars In excessive charges taken from the
people or Wisconsin, by the railroad com
panles before another session OF the Iegls.
lature VIII never be returned 20 the packets
Of the people of Wisconsin. III the legisR'
tion recommended proposed TO Tx maximum
transportation charges by law. II might be
urged with great force that the facts here
with presented, showing the relative
charges In Iowa, Illinois, and this state
furnish ample reason for such action upoa
the part Of this Legislature. But no such
legislation is recommended or contemplated.
That which Is now recommended Is the
appointment Of CON sioI to secure
further facts. II more art needed. give thu
railroads ample opportunity to present their
case, aud then render a decision establish
me reasonable rates which shall M All
times be subject to review 10y the courts
There Is nothing In such proposal from
which any railroad company should shrink.
unless It's case Is one which win not bear
full investigation and fair and just de-
termination II they are charging the PEG
transportation. they would welcome the es-
adjustment of commission 10 r. view the
facts and make its findings Ia accordance
Herewith,
Investigation Resisted.
The same policy which has been pursued
with respect 60 the establishment OF a tax
commission has controlled the companies
in resisting any investigation and regulation
of transportation charges in this state.
whenever bin has, been pending to ere
ate . railway commission with powers TO
investigate ana ascertain the exact facts
with respect To transportation rates, such
legislation has encountered all OF the oppd-
siiion which the railroads could organize
for Its defeat. They have been able to
bring to the Legislature 80 aid In the de-
feat of such legislation an Imposing lobby
Of shippers who are secretly receiving rates
more favorable than their competitors IN
business, or. az least. are led 10 believe they
are. In this connection IL should De noted
that 40 shipper upon any secret agreement
can eyer he ccrtal' that the rate which he
supp0scS Is the nos advantageous rate IS
not higher than the secret rate which may
he given 20 his competitors In business
And the favored shippers who have APP
poured from time TO time before legislative
committees, and who are sure 20 he sum
mobed here again nc this session. would
receive a lower rate In the form Of public
open rnte afforded 10y railway commission
than that which they now get under cover
Of secrecy ana In violation Of law. The
legislation here proposed would put all
business upon an equal footing 1t would
put an end 10 most rCprchcugiblp and mex
cnsabie forms Of favortism. system
which IL absOlutel. without defense or
Justification. II violates NOT only the sim
plesi and best understood common law oh I.
cations, but 10 unsrtties business caictIla-
lions, r. against business principles II
builds NJ one mans fortune on the ruins
Of another. II is without legal or .1oral
support anywhere and ig a menace to pri
vBtc and public prosperity All this has
been admitted by a high official " one Of
the leading ifrOads Of Wisconsin. who has
said with respect 70 the oppression and In
Justice Of secret rebates.
There Is not an official OF any Of the
great railways % prominence and weight
who VIII attempt 20 deny that The railway
service has been honeyComhed with secret
preferential rates. That, 90 use an old popu-
lar phrase, makes the rich man richer AMI
the pooi man poorer
Three Kinds of Discrimination.
The discrimination shown IN the com
parisoE Of transportation charges with the
HtBtc Of Iowa discloses but partially the
W oHgs suffered By the people Of Wisc9n
sin from this unrestricted power exercised
by the railway corporations That inyesti-
CATION viii reveal as great differences De-.
I .ren different sections OF this state and
different individual and business concerns
as exists between Iowa and Wisconsin
there is rot tbe slightest reason 20 doubt
Rail- DAD Determinations arp Of three kind
Th8@t which pertain TO Individual shin
pars, those which pertain % different prod
uets, and those which pertain 10 diTerpgt
places. n has been proven over and owes
again in court ana through legislative ami
other committees ~ inve ,isatlou that the
most arbitrary and uniHstiGHhle piacticrz
pertaining tN discrimination as well as 10
exf essive charges prevail on the part of
these common carriers. Many cities gre
built up and made important ~ shipping
and manufacturing reuters SOLELY through
favor iflsm in transportation charges. Nany
Hines Of production are given extraordinary
advantages over others in the matter uf
rates. These differences are not basel upon
any natural Jaw, but as q rule arise from
the greater readiness With which producers )