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

as win be most favorable to their interest
rms II IS the part OF wisdom for Us 10
understand nov, and provide aggias; In SO
far as possible Indeed. the representative
OF one of the leading public service corpora
tons went somewhat farther than this
during the last Legislative session when he
declared that:
The ad yalorem system is one which is
more liable TO be affected by the weak
nesscs and evil elements of human nature,
and Is therefore, open to more criticism.
and more Justly, than the license fee sys-
tenn"
The question Of railway taxation is a
practical one and it is expected that as
public officials we Will deal with II in a
practical way. AS men of experience some
of YOU men experienced in legislation. you
will understand, the public likewise I'M
derstands, the opposition which has been
crease In their taxes 1t is matter of
common knowledge among those who have
encountered the railroad lobby that this
opposition was so determined as to an
nounce the declared purpose of the railway
companies to Increase their freight rates
enough 10 offset any increase in taxation.
The ease with watch this menace might be
enforced can very readily be seen. An in
crease in the fraction of q per cent. Ia
the classihcations. would enable railroads to
collect from their patrons in Wisconsin
more than enough to balance any Increase
In theh taxes.
Indeed. since legislation has been pend
ing Ia TINS state to require railroads to pay
their proportlonate share of taxation,
creased, indicating a forehanded determi-
natInn TO be prepared against legislation 20
equil!ze taxation.
II becomes apparent at once that legis-
latlon compelling the railroads. and other
ublic-service corporations, to pay their
utterly In its object. unless 1t be supple
mehteu with legislation protecting the pub
lie against increased transportation charges.
Freight Rates in Wisconsin.
We come now to n question the co:sid-
Grafton # which can be no longer Dost-
poned by the representatives of the people
OF the state. Since the railway companies
threaten the use of their unlimited power
In imposing rates to coerce the state into
exemptlng their property from its share of
taxation. they have by this very act
aroused public concern with respect to The
rates or transportation which Wisconsin
shippers have been and are now paying
Inc subject is not new one In the
Wisconsin Legislature, Int the OpDosition
OF the corporations to paying their proper
tlonate share of the taxes and the meth
DDS employed to delay and defeat legisla-
tion to equalize taxation session after scs-
slon mas been Il great source of education
10 the people of the state. 1t has en-
llghtened them in many ways, and out Of
II has come the determination to know
more respecting their government and its
relation TO public service corporations
Among other things just AT this time they
are prompted TO inquire if the railway com
panles can 50 easily exact from their pa
ever they should in fairness pay as in
creased taxes what has prevented them
In the past, what binders them today from
grossly ovcrcharging the people Of Wiscon-
SIN on transpol tation ratesI
The questions presented are of the gray
est Importance 10 the public. Whenever
and wherever persons engage in the bust
ness or public carrying the law says TO
them: You must provide efficient service.
you must be fair and impartial YOUR
ehai ges must he just and reasonable. Your
legitimate function is transportation, In
your capacity as "A public servant. you must
know nothing of persons. til ngs or places
You are legally bound to treat all alike.
Discrimination and favoritism are forbid
den.
While it has been commonly understood
that the railways Of the country have over
~ den law, and, in a measure. controlled
legislation, it is doubtful whether any con
siderable number of the people of Wiscon-
sin have until very recently had any con
ceD0on of the en0rmity of the wrong which
they have suffered in discriminating rates
ut the hands of railroads III. oughout this
commonwealth.
Railroad transportation is Il tax upon the
commerce OF the country. 1t Is Il tax from
which no one can escape. Every producer
every consumer. every man who buys every
man who sells must pay railroad transpor-
tatiGH. IT pervades every phase of our OK
istence: it is part Of every hour of our
daily life. 1t Is an important element in
the cost of our clothing. our food our fuel
II is n tax upon that which nourshes our
intellectual and spiritual life as well, the
books we read, the schools and churches
we build. 1t adds materially to the price
Of everything we purchase. Each article
of manufacture, every pound of butter and
cheese. of pork aud beef. every product of
the soil, must pay its part of the $1,000. $50
and more that constitute the gross amount
paid as transportation charges to the rail
roads Of Wisconsin every twelve months.
How essential ii is that this tax imposed
by the railroads should be fairly and justly
levied. 1t must he just and reasonable in
amount 1t should be justly ana fally
distributed Each Individual, every class
of business and every town. city and see
ton of the state is entitled to equitable
transportation charges under a system
which shall be open to public inspection
and controlled By public Justice instead OF
private interest.
As means Of insuring reasonable trans
portatOn charges laws nave been enacted
in different states providing for Il com
mission with powers to regulate rates, sub
ject to revisit, n by the courts. Such laws
have been enacted in the adjoining states ii
Illinois and Iowa, the commissions in each
of those states being empowered by the
Legislature TO fix maximum transportation