Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1905-02-15

tion, adopted by the commission. the
company may file complaint. setting
forth the particular cause, or causes,
OF objection in the circuit court OF
Dane county against the commission
as defendant. The action shall have
precedence over any other cause of a
different nature pending, and shall
be tried and determined as other civil
actions Such suit may be filed at
any time and stand ready for trial
after issue is Joined upon ten DAYS
notice. Either party to said action
may appeal to the supreme court at
any of its terms, and said action so
appealed shall have precedence in the
supreme court of all causes of a
different character therein pending.
In all trials the burden of proof shan
be upon the plaintiff to show by a
preponderance of evidence to a rea.
sonable certainty that the rates,
regulations, orders, classifcations,
acts or charges, complained Of are un,
reasonable and unjust.
The railroad commission shall, as
soon as any classification and rate or
rates provided for are prepared by It,
furnish each railroad company with
he same and the rules and regula-
tions made by the commission with
reference thereto. Said classification
and rates and rules and regulations
shall take effect at date which may
be fixed by the commission not less
than twenty days after the service
thereof Each Of said railroad com
panies shall cause the same to be
printed and posted up in a con
spicuous place al each of its stations.
Any person complaining of any
thing done or omitted to be done by
any railroad in violation of the pro-
visions of this act. may apply to the
commission for redress.
The commission shall have the'right
TO inspect the books and papers OF
any railroad company.
The commission is to ascertain as
early as practicable the amount OF
money expended in construction and
equipment per mile of every railway
in Wisconsin. the amount OF money
expended to procure the right of way
ana the amount of money it would re
quire 20 secure the right of way
reconstruct the roadbed, track, de-
pots aad facilities for transportation
and to replace all the physical proper
cites belonging to the railroad. Ii
shall also ascertain the outstanding
bonds and indebtedness and the
amounts respectively thereof, when
issued, to whom issued, to whom Sold
the price paid in cash. property or
labor if any received therefor, what
became of the proceeds, by whom the
Indebtedness is held. the amount pur
porting to be due thereon, the float
ing Indebtedness of the company, to
whom dlre and his address, the credits
due to the company, the property on
hand belonging to it, the judicial or
other sales of said road, its property
or franchises, and the amounts pur
porting to have been paid and in what
manner paid therefor The commits
sion shall also ascertain the gross and
net income of the road from all
sources in detail; the amounts paid
for salaries to the officers of the road,
and the wages paid to its employees
and the hours of continuous service
of each For the purpose in this
section named, the commission may
employ sworn experts for such in
spection of the affairs of the com
pany to assist it when needed, and
from time to time. as the information
required by this Sc tion is obtained
it shall communicate the same to the
governor by report, and file a dUpli-
cate thereof with the secretary Of
state.
If any officer or employee Of a rail.
road company shall refuse to fill out
and return any blanks as required in
this act, or shall fail or refuse TO an
swer any questions therein PROFOUND
ed, or shall give false answer to any
such question, such person Shall be
guilty of a misdeamor and be punish
ed by a fine of not more than $500
Lor less THAI 500 for each day
The commission must investigate all
through freight rates on railroads in
this state; and when the same are, in
the opinion of the commission exces-
sive, or levied or laid in violation of
the interstate commerce Law, or the
rules and regulations of the inter
state commerce commission, the Off
cials of the railroads upon which they
are so laid or charged. shall be notl-
fed of the facts and requested to re-
duce them or make such changes as
the commission mas advise If the
rates are not reduced or changes
made. the commission shall notify the
interstate commerce commission OF
the facts and apply to it for relief.
II any railroad company shall
charge "a greater rate than that fixed
and established by the comm ssion it
shall be guilty of extortion, and shall.
pay into the state treasury not less
than 500, nor more than $4,000, and
its agent and officer so offending
shall be guilty Of a misdeameanor.
and upon conviction shall be punish
ed by fine OF not less than So nor
more than $500 for each offense.
If any company shall directly or in
directly, or by any special rate, re-
bate or drawback, collect from any
person or corporation. a greater or
less compensation for any service
reudel ed or to be rendered by it.
than il charges. demands. collects. or
receives from, a,.- ,+lsy, rnve,e., o-