The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1905-04-13
State Senator from Racine and
Kenosha Counties Answers
Administration Petitions.
CLAIMS MEASURE IS NOT GOOD
Senator Johnson Does Not Mince Words
But Declares That Legislation is
Still De1iberation and
Not Petition.

State Senator Otis w. Johnson, of
Racine, who represents Racine and
Kenosha counties in the state senate,
has sent out letter in which he clear
ly states his position on the Hatten
bill, which is now before the 1egis1a-
ture. In prefacing his letter Senator
Johnson states that this letter is IN
answer to petitions sent to him from
different parts of his district urging
him to vote for the passage of the
Hatten bill. In answering these petit
TONERS Senator Johnson says in part:
81 regret to advise you, however,
that am opposed to the passage of as
radical measure as you pray for,
and l would also like to ask you if it
is a fact that you and the signers of
this petition are familiar with the
different provisions of the Hatten
bill, which you and the signers evil
IDENTIFY have in mind, and have care
fully considered the result of such
legislation.
in notifying me that you are in &C
cord with the belief of President
Roosevelt on the railroad question you
apparently ignore the fact that the
president has expressed himself OPP
posed to granting railroad commits
sion the power to initiate rates, which
your petition asks for.
"That rate should be just is adj
mitted by those who oppose the Hatten
bill, as we'll as those who favor it, but
as to the powers that should be &C
corded to commission of three men
to adjust the charges for transporta-
tion in this state over the railways of
this state an honest difference of opin-
ion exists, and, while am perfectly
willing to and will with pleasure make
known your desires to the Legislature
by publicly presenting your petitions
and am willing to give due weight to
the opinions and personal considera-
ton to the wishes of the petitioners, I
must reserve the right to use my own
judgment in voting for such meas
ures. The time may come in this
country when we will have legislation
by petitions rather than by de1ibera-
tion, but we have not yet reached it.
II am opposed to a measure that,
if passed, would give railway com
mission the power to make rates in
the first instance ard abruptly disturb
all the industrial conditions in this
state, and in consequence affect the
value of your own property as well as
mine.
81 am perfectly we'll aware that
was not sent to the Legislature to
champion the cause of railways or
abridge the opportunities of farmers,
merchants or 1aborers to jointly share
in the general prosperity. I was not
sent there to legis1ate for or against
railways or farms or factories, but to
use my best judgment and vote for
such measures as, in my opinion,
would best conduce to the mutual
interest of all.
"This railway question, like other
important measures that come before
the Legislature, is not one that should
be settled in the heat of passion or
prejudice to suit the whims and
vagaries of politicians, and neither
should it be adjusted in accordance
with the ideas of railway officials and
other large corporations.
81 do not imagine that l am big
enough to settle it, but just so far as
I am called upon to undertake it, I
will not be coerced by petitions that
originate from the capitol building at
Madison or overawed by the power of
railway corporations or frightened by
the c1amorous walls of forensic dema-
gogues.
"send on your petitions. Yours
respectfully,
mlSienedl 0. w. JOHNSON