Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1905-07-03
ATTORNEY GENERAL RENDERS
AN OPINION.
LOW RATE FOR THE CAMP
Railroads Reconsider Decision and
After Careful Examination OF
New Law Notify Adjutant Gener-
al That Usual Cent-a-miIe Rate
Will Be Allowed.
Madison. June SO

passed upon the new railroad TdCc
commission law, as affecting the
granting of low rates for immigrants
coming into Wisconsin from other
states or abroad or passing through
this state. The question had been
raised by parties who adversely criti-
cized the law and who expressed the
opinion that the new enactment pro-
hibited the granting of such low rates
as would encourage settlement in this
state, and that the law would divert
the stream of immigration from Wis
consin to the disadvantage of this
state. Inquiry of the attorney gen.
eral was made on this point by c. A..
Russell of Superior and other per-
sons, principally residents in the
northern part of the state, and in an
official letter Attorney General
Sturdevant gives it as his opinion
that the law does not prevent the
railroads from granting the usual I'M
migration rates, as they may see fit,
except that such rates must be cob
tainable by all persons applying
therefor under like circumstances
and conditions" In his letter the at
torney general quotes this part of Sec
ton 8 of the law and holds that it is
the governing clause of the act in
this matter and more important than
subdivision of section 10, which is
read by some as interfering with the
granting of low immigration rates.
Usual Low Rates for Guards.
Adjutant General Boardman yes
terday received from the railroad au-
thorities a final decision on the ma
tional guard encampment rate, to the
effect that the usual rate of one cent
a mile, which has prevailed for many
years past, would be applied this
year, the roads having come to the
conclusion, after more careful exam
nation of the new railroad rate com
mission law, that it did not extend in
it's restrictions to the point of pro-
low rates for the transportation of
the guardsmen.
The decision of the railroads in
this matter was particularly crafty
ing to the department of the adjutant
general, as without the low rate it
would hardly be possible to have the
annual drill and encampment at
Camp Douglas. So we'll assured did
Adjutant General Boardman feel that
the law was not as the Wisconsin
Central first interpreted it that he
did not pause in his preparations for
the encampment, and he will now
complete the arrangements. The
first regiment goes into camp the first
week of July following independence
day.
The notification came in the form
of a telegram from Generan Passen-
ger Agent Miller of the st. Paul road
at II o'clock. The managers held a
meeting in Chicago and resolved to
compel the Wisconsin National guard
to pay three cents a mile, Or, as it
was expressed in the notice which
was received by General Boardman
Estate orders honOred in the future
for such transportation will have to
be paid for on the basis of the pub
lishe1 tariff rate which is open to the
general public 1T Isl within the
power of the roads to ignore this
section if they are disposed to do so.
The law does not compel them to
make these low rates, but it express
ly gives them the power to do So
The meeting Monday decic not to
10 SO. The st. Paul road, North
western and the wisconsin Central
were represented at the meeting. AS
soon as the action was determined
the Central, in conformity with the
decision of the meeting, informed the
adjutant generals department. The
other roads represented at the meet
ing did not SO notify. Another con-
sultation was held in Chicago yester-
day morning and a reconsideration
was made, and the st. Paul company
notified the adjutant generals de-
partment that the old rate would
maintain. Later in the day the Wis
consin Central notified the depart
ment that it wished to withdraw the
letter received Wednesday.
Passes Called In.
The new railroad commission law
is working a hardship on federal Of
ficials and others, who for generations
have ridden on free railroad passes.
They have been notified by the rail
roads that under the new law of Wis
consin it is impossible for them to re-
tain this privilege. Even members
of congress have been called upon to
surrender the credentials which en-
abled them to travel without charge.
Among the mail which awaited Con-
gresham H. C. Adams on his return
from his trip with the congressional
party west was is notification of the
effect of the new law on his trans
portation. The call for the passes
was issued some ten DAVIS or two