Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1904-04-13

Railroad Commissioner Thomas, on
Saturday, made to Gov Latollette re-
mort of the examination which he is
making. in accordance with the act OF
the legislature o. the books OF the
railroads to determine IL the sworn
statements which they have filed with
the state are correct, and he has found
that during the years of 1901 and 1902
the Chicago 81 Northwestern, the Chica
90, Milwaukee q st. Paul, the Chicago,
Milwaukee 81 Omaha, the Minneapolis
st. Pault Ste Marie railroads paid TO
shippers in Wisconsin over .i,29S, OOO
In rebates, and failed to report other
gross earnings amounting t. more than
1900 600. making total OF I'll, 653, UI0'3
which they received in gross earnings,
but which they wholly failed 10 report
and upon which they failed to pay taxes
to the state Of Wisconsin amounting TO
$50, 923, 0G.
A STARTLING DISCLOSURE
Thus. after months Of patient work,
evidence has been secured by the state
administration proving c0ncluslvely
that the railroads have defrauded the
state Of Wisconsin out Of hundreds OF
thousands of dollars, which they, will be
compelled to make good
Ample proof has also been secured
that millions of dollars have been pald
to favored shippers in the form OF re-
bates. 1t is the most startling deYelope-
ment that has marked Gov AaFollett 6
fight for good government and equal
privileges for all The complete story
of this gigantic robbery is SO astounding
as TO be almost unbelievable but 1t Is
substantiated by an official report made
by Railroad Commissioner Thomas.
The facts now made public explain
fully why the railroad forces have made
such a bitter and expensive fight valnly
striving to defeat Gov. LaFollette.
TO PUSH IN EsTIG ALTON FARTHER.
The report made by the railroad com
missioner does not include the examlna-
ton of the Wisconsin Centrals books,
which has not been completed, and IT
only goes back two years, Ii Is start
ling showing and proves every assertion
which Gov La Toilette made in regard
to the payment Of rebates, aud justities
in every particular the message which
he sent to the legislature, and which
was criticised so severely by the rail-
roads and the manufacturers asking for
this examination for the purpose OF re-
covering this money for the state, 10
case it should be found that the state
had been 9sfrauded.
STATE WILL RECEIVE LARGE sum.
From the investigation thus made by
Commissioner Thomas it Is evident that
Wisconsin will recover from the ralI-
roads very large sum of money when
this investigation shall have been finally
completed Minnesota recovered from
the railroads traversing that state about
S147, 900, and its examinations covered q
period of only six years The statute Of
limitations cannot be led in Wiscon-
SIN as long as there Is any evidence OF
the withholding of the earnings from
the reports of all gross earnings, which
the law has required them to make an.
nually for the last fifty years.
PROOF OF SECRET CONVERSATION.
Thus the truth is out. The secret
ccmbinatior between. tbs railroads OF
| Wisconsin and the big shippers OF Wis.
consin il at last uncovered The deal
by which the people Of this st&te, the
| great mass Of consumers and producers,
the great majority of business men and
merchants, the towns ana CLUES from
Milwaukee, to the smallest hamlet, have
been traded off the unlawful bargain
by which the general prosperity Of a
whole state is sold ont further to enrich
the railroads and the favored shippers
is exposed at last. The people of this
commonwealth and the whole country
may count themselves fortunate that
Wisconsin has man Of iron resolution
and unyieldlng fidelity TO public inter
est as chief executive. Il Robert nj
La Toilette were a ms who could have
been bribed or bulieG, the astounding
| facts which are laid before readers
would still be locked up in the vaults OF
the railroad companies and the big ship
| pers of Wisconsin.
| GOv. Il TOILETTE LEADS THE WAY
On the Esd day Of ArpI 1909, Gov
| La Toilette sent to the legislature, theI
ia session, a special message of grea'
Importance It presented facts and ar
guments in such convincing and pow
erfui array that the legislature was com
PEELED TO follow the recommendation o.
| the governor and pass q law providing
for an investigation Of the books anC