Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1903-01-07

! ii. F. Bird sfarinette county; c. G.
( Rogers, the Z waukee lawyer; Wip-
perman of -Sand Rapids, until re-
| Gently attoT - of Wood county;
| George Wyli She agriculturist, who
has been ira 81 in the assembly, and
| others
In the asse 2 ly J. II. Frear Of Hud-
son comes W g the repute of ability;
and others q 3 iote are II. l. Carpen,
ter of Steve Point; NJ. S. Dudgeon
con of the Madison district district
attorney; former speaker Ira B.
Bradford of Eau Claire county; Ole
g. Kinney of Dunn county, who sue
ceeds Mr. Hail. and S. f. verbeck
of Lodi, Columbia county; Mr.. ]. S.
Donoald, another of Dane county's
men.
Spooner's Recollection.
1t seems to be generally accepted
that Senator Spooner will be hand
somely reelected without opposition.
No one is innocent enough to believe
this viii be relished in all circles; but
with three-fourths of the members
| pledged to him, the event cannot now
well fail The factional cleavage in
the party is still pronounced, and the
! fight will so on but it is more covert
now, and, as an Irishman would say,
| the loud abuse is more of low Grum-
BILE.
A whooping administration victory
over the speakership, If the lines were
closely drawn and the fight acknowl-
edged to be factional, would no doubt
lead to fresh Inflammation; but l do
not now know of anyone who expects
other than Senator Spooner's return.
1t will mean the begianing of his third
term, and that completed win mean
eighteen years service.
Work of the Session.
| There are three topics of legislation
win press to the front from the start,
and the general impression is that it
will be an eyentful five months. There
viii be primary election bill, but
just now the talk is Of taxation and
especially of a railroad commission.
As for primary elections the expecta-
ton is for one of two things, either a
sweeping measure, with a referendum
clause. thus allowing the people to de-
| eide whether this policy of nomination
shall be set up in the state. or there
| will be moderate measure enacted,
perhaps including nominations of all
officers below congressman to be made
| by the direct vote. Some hold that in
view of state sentiment at present, as
a result of the four years of education
al campaign, such n measure can be
enacted. 1t is a great modification of
the original Stevens bill, which pro-
POSED to put all offices on a primary
election nomination basis; but it would
yet be a far-reaching measure IL it In
clndes all state senators and assembly.
men. Others hold that while such q
bill can get through the assembly. the
senate win be found opposed to it now
as two years ago In fact, 1t is In
the upper body that the governor VIII
find his difficulties in all his reform en-
deavors.
The Subject of Freight Rates.
But to return to taxation. The tax
commission, having been set up and at
work, it appears to many that rail
road commission is necessary sup
plement to it, and a strong effort will
be made to establish such a body this
winter to fix railroad rates. or this
Governor I.aFolletts is reported heart.
lily in favor.
The reasoning is this: 1t does no
good merely to raise taxes on railroads
(assuming that they should pay more)
for the companies merely reeoup them.
selves from the public by increasing
freight rates. A state commission must
have authority TO limit freight rates to
make them reasonable and just then
like the darkey's bear trap, the state
catches the railroad both coming and
going" One writer puts this way
what good does it do to add to the
tax burden of a railroad when by In.
structons 10 raise freight rates even
one-tenth of mill per ton per mile
the company can recoup itself in few
weeks"
II is seriously maintained by some
that in this state rates are from 90
to 80 per cent higher than in Iowa
where there Is tax commission
There are also commissions in Mime
sofa, Illinois New York and Massachu-
setts. 1t was MIR Halls contention
year after year that Wisconsin should
establish board to review and con.
troll rates, but he never could get any
considerable response from his fellow
members.
Of course, such an important exten-
sion of the state service cannot be ac-
compllshed without much discussion.
twill be urged that the $4,000 annual
expense Of the state tay commission
is now TO be supplemented by an addi-
tional outlay of an equal amount.
There will be the usual talk Of more
political appointees," The railroads
will remind the people Of what liber-
al taxes they already pay-and 1t GER
tainly makes handsome showing.
The friends of the measure viii prom
ise to save the state from 100000 to
SIC. 600 900 a year in freight rates.
Big shippers Oppose Commission-
It is a big topic. One Of the most
pertinent phases is the opposition OF
many big shippers to any sort Of rail
road commission. The manufacturers
are afraid Of #. 1t was they who held
meeting in Madison at the last ses-
slon and banded against Halls bill
Their reasoning is that there is nc
! sense I'm trying TO make freight rates
proportionate to small and big ship
T.