The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1905-04-07


sentative is it in it's counsel as to how
the state should proceed in dealing
with the railroad. Professor Taylor,
of the state university, in a federal
report, also makes the conservatives
happy by disappearing the Texas sys-
tenn, which commission, he says exer-
cises a greater control over railways
than even in England. He credits the
system with having accomplished
many good things, but discourages
Wisconsin from going to such a great
length
The bill as it is now before the leg
islature provides for three $4,000 men,
who shall, on complaint, examine rates
and lower them if they think best; the
change not to take effect less than
twenty days after being announced by
the commission. The bill leaves
door open for the commodity rate, that
cheap charge by which Northern Wis
consin manufacturing points claim to
have been built up, and is long meas
ure dealing in detail with train service,
railway stations. etc. It is not neces-
sary for the commission to wait for
complaint before instituting rates, one
section reading: 1.-THE commission may
institute any inquiry on it's motion in
the same manner and to the same eff
feet as though complaint had been
made" The bill is confessedly incom-
plete and the criticism thus far is that
only inistratiOn men have had
hand in outlining it; it must certainly
be changed to get the general support
necessary to pass it. One train a day
must be run on all roads. The office
staff carries a secretary at s., 800, and
| while two clerks must be content with
81 200 each, a stenographer is to have
| $780, This shows how we'll it is to
know one thing. In taking testimony
it will be necessary for the stenog-
rapher to be an expert.
The New Capitol and Cool Heads.
The sentiment IS to new capitol
is clearing some, but there is yet
much feeling. Such a construction is
a business proposition and nothing
will be done in anger, indeed it may
that reason. This might carry some
peril to Madison, giving Milwaukee
a chance to plan campaign to get the
capitol city honor, though this danger
could be Obviated and indeed wisdom
conserved by empowering the revised
commission to- go ahead after careful
consideration. The fact is the COM
In& 1csf
decide to do things. The legislature
can instruct it's commission, tell it how
much money to spend, how many cubic
feet not to exceed, what wings to build
and how many at time; but to at
tempt to thresh out in bill on the
floor the architectural form of new
capitol would be like building a watch
in a massmeeting.
The best thought now is that the
north and south wings shall stay, and
the DOME That is, they shall stay for
the present Or for thirty years, if sue
cessive legislatures desire. In them
the business shall be done, while the
north and south wings are being built
and longer Thus the composite build
ing could stand indefinitely. if so de-
slider Some day the old wings can
be removed and new ones inserted;
and in the future, perhaps, when the
children Of this day are themselves the
wise men of the legislature, a new
dome, higher, better proportional to
the revised structure, may reach
heavenward. mecca for the 100000
Of Wisconsin people who know us no
more. Such new dome will mean
million dollars. Apart from this,
completely new capitol, built in sec
tons on the Cass Gilbert lines, may
be reared. for from two and a half mil
lions to three and half millions.
Returning Flag to Dixie.
The question of returning con-
federate battle flags also bothered law
makers, who wanted 10 do the right
thing. At first under the influence of
ardent speeches full of brotherhood,
by Pliny Norcross and Mr.. Hansen
the Rock county delegation is espe
cially strOng-the return was voted
easily. Then it became involved with
the proposal that the Grand Army
have veto if it thought best. Then
some one raised the pertinent point
that if thrown open to a state conven-
ton some imprisoned orator would
be found to oppose the return and
make scene with the result of caus-
lag bitterness down South. AS mat
tor of fact. since the capitol fire. the
flag that is asked for is the only one
IN the possession of the state, so the
Issue is not acute in Wisconsin. At
present the question of return Is in
xbeyance.
Educating the Deaf.
For some reason the question of
how to train the deaf and dumb youth
of the state is a recurring cause Of
friction. There are sixteen day schools
in the state. some OF them 20 years
old. and there is no question that the
results in teaching deaf children to
speak have been very happy OF
course the parents of the deaf child