River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1905-04-20
RATE BILL PASSES
RAILROAD MEASURE WINS IN
WISCONSIN ASSEMBLY.
SENATE MAY PROVE A sNAG
Upper House Minority Members Draft
Bill of Their Own-Manner of
Selecting Commission Is
Contention.
Especial Correspondence

Madison, Wis, April 17.-True to all
predictions made before the so-called adj
ministration rate bill. recently rehashed
in committee, was brought to the assem-
bly,, the measure has passed the lower
branch by a decisive vote. The show OF
force which accompanied the triumphal
entrance of the bill, was lead by Speaker
Lenroot, who abandoned his chair to Mr..
Leroy in order that he might talk in be-
half of the measure The hardest part
of the fight for the administration men
was getting the bill to third reading and
engrossment and in this stage of the
process bitter personalities were in
dulged in, the debate lasting nearly three
hours. The chief subject of contention
lay in the commission question. Mr.. Page
offered an amendment providing that
the commission should be elective and
it's defeat was Immediately followed by
Mr.. Cleary's addition containing the
provision that the first member should
be appointive and the remaining cleo
tive. The amendment was also defeated.
and the bill passed as it stood. Coming
if this saying was ever borne out it will
be proved true when the rate measure
is ushered into the senate, for here it is
that the big contest is looked for. The
issue in the senate contest will, accord
ing to predictions made by leaders in
legislative circles, he the manner OF Sc
lecting a railroad commission. At pres
ent administration men have majority
of but one in the upper house and should
the front lined up favor of the measure
weaken in any spot the outlook is doubt
full. At conference last week the sem
ators in committee agreed upon all pro-
visions, but the manner of selecting the
commission, and this contention will be
fought out on the floor of the upper house
when that body takes the measure un-
der consideration.
Minority Bill Drafted.
While members of the senate railroad
committee were endeavoring to bring
about some sort of compromise regard
ing the rate bill the minority of the sem
ate have drafted a measure of their own
embodying the ideas which they believe
just.
The bill which has been drafted pro-
vides for an elective commission of three
members, of which the present railroad
commissioner is made a member during
his term of office. The other two shall
be elected in April, 1906. Up to the time
the other two can be elected the present
commissioner shall exercise all the pow
ers of the commission conferred by the
law.
The bill contains two provisions of the
interstate commerce law. the anti-pool-
ing feature and the long and short haul
clause. These provisions are not con-
tanned in the administration measure.
The bill authorizes commodity, concen-
tration and other contract rates, apply
ing the same without discrimination,
commission.
To Compel Good Service.
To compel good service it pro-
hibits undue preferences and discrim-
nations and contains strong provision
relating to secret rebates. The bill pro-
vides that all freight must be transport
ed on the public tariff rate which must
be filed with the commission and any de-
parture from the public tariff subjects
the carrier to heavy penalties. The COM
mission is given the power to compel the
carriers to furnish an adequate service
and this relates to both passenger and
freight traffic.
The commission has the power to hear
and determine rate upon complaint
and whenever the commission shall have
reasonable grounds for the belief that
any rate is unreasonable in amount or
discriminatory it may upon it's own mo-
tion investigate the same. This provision
in the bill is practically agreed by both
sides to the rate bill controversy.