Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1903-05-20
S2,31O,5s4 TO SPEND
Legislature Runs Up Appropria
tions Half a Million
Over 1901.
AID vALoREM BILL is SNOW A Law
New System OF Railroad Taxation the
Only Big Event of the Present
Session of the Legislature.

Many-not all--of the members came
back for the sessions last night and
today, but last week, including Friday
afternoon, exhausted most OF the bust
ness. There was fresh furry over
primary elections, fed by Messrs. Ray,
CowIing and Barker, who with many
others, object to being placed in the
position of opposing the primary cleo
ton law, but nothing came Of it. The
people must interpret the failure as
best they can. The assembly voted
full primary election system of nomin-
atoms to go into effect at once, and
the senate voted identieally the same
bin with the qualification that only
part of It (city and county officers
Shall go into effect at once, the result
OF the plan to be approved or disap-
proved by the people at the polls in
the fall of 1904. Whether the law
maker having voted for this last prop
osition can be properly abused@by his
constituents on his return home is the
question. If it be q matter of stand
ing by the party pledge, the admins
II men must NU4ANNNAI A1isAA A4ACN
too were willing to yeer from this, fc-
the assembly conf 4rreC5 offered NJ less
than six compromises.
Subject of Freight Rates.
However, it is unlikely that we shall
hear much about primary elections in
the coming campaign. The absorbing
interest is more In the subject Of
freight rates 1t win be remembered
that the proposal Of a railway COM
mission was defeated in the assembly,
no doubt much to Governor LaFol-
lette's disgust. That n reform body
should take this action confuses the
issue. However. later the governor
revived the matter with a new bill
that provided that the railroads should
not charge more for freight than was
listed in the published schedules of
June 10, 1902. The assembly passed
this bill 55 to 81 but only with an
amendment which to some extent
saved the railroads, provision that
where the rates should be unjustly
low, the railroad commissioner might
raise them. This was placing author
ity in one commissioner rather than in
a full board
The Action Friday Last.
Then this bill went to the senate.
Being disappointed in his assembly,
If he wishes the governor can claim
in his campaign that the stalwart SEN
ate prevented control Of freight rates
by the senate vote which killed the
hill nVba vote xvns % IN IN stnl,Ifpr~
not only the uncompromising stall
warts, but Bird and Sarau, who on
many occasions have acted with the
administration and the three Demo
Gratis, Merton, Randolph and North. |
The merits of this bill will be dis
cussed more or less. The controlling
argument seemed 30 be that the mat |
ter came up late I'm the session, and |
that it was not right To put such n |
law on the statute books without |
more deliberation. Governor LaFol- |
lette's reasoning was that with the |
ad valorem bill law railroad taxes
would be greatly increased and the |
companies would take It out of the
citizens through higher charges for
freight. The assessment ON the new
basis will be made In 1904 but the !
railroads win not be called upon to |
pay until the following year. The
year 1908 is legislative year If the
railroads seek to rccoup themselves, |
the next legislature can keep down |
freight rates by law. In other words, |
1t is not right to punish even a rail- |
road for wrong dong until 1t is done. |
Practically 1t is reasoned that the rail- |
roads would be very foolish in this |
time Of unrest to raise the rates.
Political Conditions.
The opposition to Governor LaFol. |
lette is numerically stronger thc~ yer.
but 1t Is hampered as IL was two years
ago by the burden of the load Of the
railroad lobby and other influential |
eontingents which the farmer and |
working man conceives is opposed to
his interests. The outcome win de-
pend largely on the leadership, the can
didate named fer governor by the op-
ponents Of the administration. and es-
pecially by the impression the thou
sands of plain people" get rs to
whether the so-called stalwarts are a
mere corporatlon-protecting contingent
or a genuine ground swell for less one
man power and more conservative gov
eminent
a Popular Campaign Cry.
Generally speaking even the Oh.
ponents of the governor admit that
he has struck Il popular note in
arguing for lower freight rates. Most
everybody has had the experience OF
shipping box of goods or COW on
freight car aud the bill seemed
Tsteep' 60 him. There are not a few
citizens who hitherto have opposed the
governor who Will throw up their hats
for him IL he will promise to give
them cheaper freight rates. The on
position recognizes the difficulties Of !
the situation and the wiser ones are
cautious about declaring themselves |
as opposed TO railroad commission. /
The fact that the railroads nav fix
The rates Is graphic fact. much more
So than the fact that 10 charge too
high prices shrink shipments and Kills
the goose that lays the golden eggs /