Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1904-04-19

He says:
/ 'sThis Office is in receipt of informa-
ton giving the names and addresses
OF shippers who it is claimed are get
ting rebates regularly. Many of these
names do not appear or the account
ants report I believe this 1nforma-
ton reliable. and that the scope Of the
investigation must be broadened to
cover the entire field, and that it is
the plain duty of this department to
continue this Investigation until all
facts pertaining to the earnings of the
railway companies have been fully Sc
| cured"
1t was very well understood by those
who prepared the bill which passed
the assembly that the railroad COM
panieS had doubtless carried on their
| distribution of rebates under cover of
different plans well calculated to
battle Investigation whenever it
should come, whether by state author
flies or through the interstate COM
| merce commission in the federal courts
for violation of the United States
| statute. 1t was therefore regarded
as important that specific and clearly
defined authority should be given the
| commissioner to take the testimony of
shippers as to whether they were re-
ceiving rebates from the railroad COM
panies.
1t was for this very reason that the
bill as it passed the assembly provided
for taking the testimony of such wit
nesses. This testimony could have
been taken and it is now practically
demonstrated that it would have
| greatly increased the amount of re-
bates shown to have been paid back
by the railroads.
Work Will Be Pushed Through.
The work of the railroad commits
l
as great thoroughness as the character
Of the investigation and the authority
of the legislature will permit of, and
the state can rest assured that in so
| far as it lies within his power the
| perform his full duty. That he has al
ready dug out of the ingenious and
intricate system employed by the rail
road companies the enormous sums of
money withheld from their reports,
the largest proportion of which con-
sists of rebates paid to individuals,
co-partnerships and corporations in
Wisconsin who are heavy shippers Of
manufa ctured products over the lines
Of these railroads; that he has been
able to trace this money in its wind
ing way and under it's various dis
guises into the very pockets and fix
the identity of the parties to whom
paid, the exact amounts and times of
| payment, in so large number of
cases, speaks volumes for the thor
oughness, the ability and the integrity
Of his department and the experts
conducting this important investiga-
ton under it. That there is so much
| more to be unearthed even in the
/ oh
practical certainty. That the state will
go ON with this important work until
the last dollar belonging to the state
is discovered and paid over there can
be no doubt if the people do their full
duty respecting the men who have be-
gun and who should finish this good
| work.
Mr.. Thomas declined to give out for
| publication at this time and in this
connection the names of the individu-
ais. o-partnerships and corporations in
Wisconsin who have received this
money. It is understood, however,
from his report that he has placed
such information in the hands Of the
executive.
Has Not Found All Rebates.
There is another aspect of this case
which is Of the gravest concern to
the people Of this commonwealth. One
| million, one hundred and ninety eight
thousand, two hundred and fifty-five
dollars and eighty-siX cents (S1.19S,-
250.S6) is an enormous sum Of money
for the railroads to distribute by
system Of unjust discrimination to GER
tain shippers In Wisconsin within
period of two years. 1t should be re-
/ membered that the commissioner
states that this is not the total amount
so distributed It is certain that it
| will be much increased by the exam
nation, under oath, of other shippers
whose names do not appear among
those upon the books examined so
far, but as to whom the commissioner
has reliable information that they are
receiving rebates. But, taking the re-
port as it stands-in rounds numbers,
| twelve hundred thousand dollars ($1,-
200, OOO)-paid in violation Of both state
| and federal law to particular concerns
| In this state, is a shocking and ap-
palling disclosure, the full realization