The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1905-02-25
Nf1raHtty uf Qnntrnl
ut Ratt- maktng by Ratlmaua
By GOV. ROBERT NJ. LA TOILETTE.
OF Wisconsin,.
OF WISCONSIN,.

<xmNNgn>> AS a mere carrier Of the products OF 9TH
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MxSAMsssSMMM ers, the railroads have no right to show favor
AsNsIWMDMM#A itsm to individuals, o r to discriminate between
kNMW #A places. It's business is transportation. 1t has
MMNHM not been vested with authority to ordan shat
ESNssAsxl y WMM# one shipper or city shall grow rich and great
MyXW -~MaN@W at the expense Of another. 1t is preposterOus
WAWNN @MMDwk that the corporation, which is merely a carrier,
WW1aI Zn6eNA not the producer or the consumer 0: the prod
WMXa###w8I uct carried, should be permitted to stand in e
Wa8aM6MSsaMI lation to that product, as though its interests
@@M4#8| were the sole interests to be considered. The
railway company has inportant: interests in the
regulation OF its service to the public. These interests must be fully
and fairly weighed in regulating that service. But its interests are not
higher than those OF the producers and those Of the consumers. The
fact that the carrier has interests to serve units it to be the sole and
final Judge as to the efficiency, the value or the impartiaIty OF its err
vices to the public. It i entitled to be heard. The producer and con.
tcrmine inpartiany The rights OF all, with due regard to the interests
OF all.
1t is unreasonable and unjust and into1erabIe that the carrier
should be empowered SO 10 arrange its schedule of rates as to force
produce and merchandise and manufactured products to the market
which it chooses to build up.
Commerce and transportation IRE vital to organized society. They
constitute a public service, and are essentially subject to control by the
state.
The supreme court OF Wisconsin, with one of the ablest. most in
vjncible arguments in the history OF Jurisprudence, settled for ali time
all controversy as to the inherent right Of the people.
1t IS we'll also to recall right here the words of that great lawyer
and junst, Mr.. Justice Bradley, who, in speaking Of the right and duty
TO control railways, said: But a experimenting power over the high
ways and the charges imposed upon the public for their use, have al
ways remained in the government. This is not only its indcfcaibe
right, but it is necessary for the protection Of the people against cxtor-
ton and abusc.'
state TO exercise it broadly for the protection Of the interest OF all it's
people, not only from unreasonable charges and extortion, but from
other abuses equally farrcaching in consequences and no less unjust.
The industrial and commercial life OF every community, the comfort
and wherever the state has given a railway corporation chartered rights
10 acquire land, establish and operate a road, there rests an obligation
on the state, to see to it that the citizens and communities interested
are given, in light OF all the circumstances, a reasonably efficient and
impartial service