Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1904-04-06

under which state commission win
have the power 10 give 10 every one in
Wisconsin, similarly situated, the
same rates over all the railroads which
operate in this state. AS 1t is now,
some favored shippers get a special
rate, while the great majority pay a
higher rate than is paid by the peo-
pie of Iowa or Illinois. where there
are state commissions that tx the
rates on an equitable basis and pre-
vent discrimination. The fact that we
have no railway commission in Wis
consin keeps the rates down for few
and up for ali the rest.
The legal right of the state to reg
ulate the rates Is conceded by the rail
roads, hut that does not mean that
the railroads win allow the state to
exercise this right until they have ex-
hausted every means ia their power
to prevent it from doing so. The men
who own the big railroads which op-
crate in Wisconsin live Ia the east,
and they are not responsible, under the
law, for what may be done in Wis
consin in the way Of manipulating
caucuses, or controlling nominations
= "A Too,trfo +f.-o ,o4tor,
The favored shippers who now re-
ceiYe q special, secret rate are OPP
posed to rate commission for the rea-
son that they think they are getting
the best Of some competitors. The gen
eral public, merchants, small manu-
facturers, farmers and wage earners
Of all grades, are getting decidedly
the worst of it under this system
where the railroads have the whole
say" and there is absolutely no pro-
lection by the state. 1t is very much
as if the United States government
sold postage stamps to some persons
for half price while it charged full
price to others, or as if some merchant
sold goods to some favored customer
at less price than to the common run
OF his customers. But another strong
reason why Wisconsin should now ex-
ercise its right to tx the rates is be
cause of the enactment Of the new
railroad tax law, which was advocated
and pushed by GOV. La Toilette and
finally passed BY the last legislature.
The New Railroad Tax Law.
Under this law the railroads win be
compelled to pay their share Of taxes
which they have escaped doing for
many years IN this state. 1t provides
that railroad property shall be as
sessed at fun value and the same rate
as all other property. This law was
bitterly fought by the railroads just
as they are now lighting the freight
rate bill. 1t VIII compel the owners OF
the railroads TO pay u greatly in
creased sum into the state treasury
The tax commission estimates that this
viii increase the taxes Of the railroads
about million dollars year. But this
viii only be their fair share. Now, it
would be q very simple matter for the
railroads to make up for this increase
in taxes if the power to rlx rates were
left in their hauds-as it now is. They
would simply raise the rates little
here and there for the sr at majority
Of the people and thus take out OF
Wisconsin more than enough to make
up for what they paid In by reason of
paying their share of the taxes. Under
the rate bin. which Governor La Fol
Iette advocates, the state would regu-
late the rates and prevent the railroads
from carrying out this plan. This rate
commission law is 40 experiment, It
Is no drean--it is in force in mum
Der OF states in the Union. where it
has proven Of great value to the peo-
pie. But no state was ever able to pass
rate commission bill without meet
ing bitter opposition from the rail
roads. And even after the passage Of
such i law they have sometimes de-
feated Its purpose by securing control
OF the rate commission That is one
reason why Governor La Toilette, or
some man who has been tried aud
found true, should name the first rate
commission IN this state Thc,ralIroads
have been unable to control Governor
Ia Toilette, either By soft or hard
means, 3nd they could MOI control a
commission al pointed By him.
Now. this is the true story Of the
railroad taxation and freight rate mat
ter 1t Is plain facts in plain language
and any 'sh.pper" who tells a differ
ent story Is deing 1t for selfish pur-
pose, or he does not understand the
situation as wen as you do after read
ing this.
These Three Measures the Mala Issue.
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