Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-12
LAFoLLETT TO LEGISLATURE.
Message Read Personally by the Wis
consin Governor Today.

MADISON, Wis, January 12-The main
feature of Governor LaFollette's message,
which he read personally to the 1egisla-
ture today, was demand for an appoint
i've freight rate commission, the last of the
big reforms asked by the governor. The
message occupied three hours in reading,
nearly half being devoted to the railroads.
The governor also urged reappeal of the
mortgage taxation law, the enactment of
an income tax and better protection
against railroad accidents.
Relative to railways he said: '1nde-
pendently of the question of excessive
freight charges, the state should no longer
allow a railway corporation to control
without supervision, absolutely and arbi-
trarily, the commerce of Wisconsin and
through control of that commerce deter
mine what villages shall become cities,
what cities become great markets, and die
tate as to business supremacy in every in
dustry. Whatever temporary reductions
may have been made for business. reasons,
a study of railway tariffs in force in Wis
consin now discloses:
"First-Wisconsin rates are still higher
than the rates charged under substantially
similar conditions on state traffic in the
neighboring states of Illinois and Iowa,
where the rates are regulated by law.
"Second-InterState rates in Wisconsin
generally higher than rates in Illinois
and Iowa.
''Third-Rates charged on traffic in Wis
consfn, on the whole yield gross income
to the railroads considerably above the
amounts required for all operating ex-
penses, for maintenance of property and
for fair interest or profit in the cost
of the roads.
"Fourth-The railway companies are gull
ty of gross discrimina tions in favor of GER
tain shippers, and their determinations as
between favored shippers are likewise rank
ly unjust, resulting in the upbuilding OF
monopoly controlling production and mar
kets alike. The fact that the railroads
have such complete control over the rates
has given them control over commerce OF
far-reaching effect. 1t is easily in theil
power to destroy cities and villages ol
build them up in wealth and power They
have but to raise rates in one case and
lower them in another or afford superior
facllltleS IN one case or Inadequate service
in another. The time has come for de-
cisive action. Control of the price of Goa
and iron, the food products and other basic
elements of our commercial life by trust
organizations in connection with the great
transportation systems of the country is
absolutely destructive of industrial an6
commercial independence. Industrial anG
commercial servitude, in the final ANALYSIS
is absolutely destructive of political in
dependence. 1t is time to look to the
government for relief and for it's own sake
no power short of the government itself is
adequate now to meet existing conditions "
Senator McGillevray today introduced in
the legislature joint resolution memorial
izing Congress to enact at it's present ses-
sion law giving increased power to the
interstate commerce commission In con.
formity with the recommenda tions contain.
ed IN President RooSevelt's recent message