Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1904-10-26
LaFollette Begins Fight
Against Railways.

consin for alleged failure to pay the
state part of their license for 1908
have at last been started. Attorney
General Sturdevant has filed papers in
the Dane county Circuit court in suits
against the Chicago and Northwestern
and the Chicago, Milwaukee and St
Paul companies and the summons and
complaints were served upon the local
representatives of the companies.
The text of the complaints is identl
cal. 1t is alleged that the two con-
panies secured licenses to operate ln
the state for the year 1908, and that
they unlawfully neglected to pay
part of the license fee therefor, as pro
vided by sections 1911, 1912 and 1918
of the revised statutes of 1898. judy
ment in the sum of $40, 900 together
with interest and the costs of the
action is demanded in each case.
The attorney general says that
papers have been prepared in similar
suits against the Chicago, st. Paul.
Minneapolis and Omaha, the Wisconsin
Central and the Minneapolis, ST. Paul
and Sauit Ste Marie roads, and will he
served as soon as possible. The suit
against the Omaha will be started at
Eroy, that against the Central at
Waukesha. and that against The 500 at
Prentice The judgment asked is
$4,000 in each suit, as provided by
section 1914 Of the revised statutes.
The attorney general says that later
he will bring suits against the com
panies for forfeiture Of their charter as
he IS directed to do by secuion 1914 OF
the revised statutes. As the defen
dants have twenty days in which tC file
their answers it is not probable that
there will be any further developments
in the suits until after election day
Nov. s.
The text of the complaint in the suit
against the Chicago and North Western
road, which is the same as that Of the
complaints in the other suits is as
follows:
The state OF Wisconsin, plaintiff, VS..
Chicago and North-W Western railway
company, defendant: The above
named plaintiff, by L. M. Sturdevant
as attorney general for the state OF
Wisconsin, for cause of action
against the above named defendant,
alleges:
That the defendant is a railroad
corporation duly organized under the
laws of the state of Wisconsin and at
the time hereinafter mentioned was
operating a railroad in this state as a
common carrier of freight and passen-
gers.
That its motive power is steam, and
that said railroad corporation is not
now, nor has it been at any time,
operating on pile or pontoon bridges,
nor is it now, nor was it at the time
hereinafter mentioned, a street railway.
That the defendant is indebted to
the plaintiff in the sum OF $4,000 &C
cording to the provisions of section
1914 of the Wisconsin statutes of 1898.
That the particular offense and de-
linouency for which this action is
brought is that the said defendant, on
or about the 10th day of February,
1908, applied to the state treasurer OF
this state for license to operate its
said railroad in this state for the calen
dar year commencing on the first day
Of January, 1908; that the state trea-
surer issued said license and delivered
the same to the said defendant.
That the said defendant unlawfully
neglected to pay part of the license
fee therefor for the year 1908, as
provided by the provisions of sections
1911, 1912, and 1918 of the Wisconsin
statutes of 1898.
Wherefore, the plaintiff demands
Judgment against the defendant for
the sum of ten thousand dollars
$50, ,ooo) forfeiture, together with
interest and the costs of this action.
L. M. STURDEvANT,
Attorney General and PLAINTIFFS
Attorney.