Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1905-04-14
WISCONSIN LEGISLATURE
STILL ON THE GRIND

committee on railroads has practically
agreed on railroad rate bill is one
of the most important bits of informa-
tion that has come from the legiSla-
tive chambers this session. 1t is not
stated the agreement is such that it
will be unalterably adhered to and
many predict that when the test
comes, the committee will yet break
On some point or that the upper
house will not abide entirely by any
report made. The bill is the result
Of an agreement between the two
factions, and is much less drastic than
the one reported to the assembly.
The authority of theIcommission will
be more restricted. The railroads
will be given the right to apply to the
courts for lnjunctions- right partly
denied them by the assembly.
Senator Hatton, chairman of the
committee, made the following state
ment:
''The committee is ready to report
adbill. We have agreed on the points
which have divided US most seriously,
and there are only one or two minor
points to SETTLE"
!. The bill provides that the commits
sion shall have power to review all
and rates made by any
railroad company doing business in
this state which are in force, and 1t
may, either on complaint or on it's
own motion, Investigate the reason
ableness of any rate or classification,
provided that no determination shall
be made except after full hearing of
which the railroad company and
parties complaining shall have ten
days notice in writing as to time and
place.
If, upon such hearing, it shall be
found that any existing classification
is unjust, or any existing rate is
unreasonable, the commission shall
have power to fix and substitute a
just classification and a reasonable
rate.
The present week promisessto be a
memorable one in the annals of this
legislature of Wisconsin if not in the
history of the state. The railroad
rate bill, the one measure on which
more interest centers than On any
other, will come up as special order in
the assembly next Tuesday. In It's
present redrafted form it will be at
once put through that house after
the prolonged debate, which will
undoubtedly be held, and will sbe
passed at once to the senate on whom
the responsibility of defeating rate
legislation, if it be defeated, must
rest. The assembly leaders 0will
permit no change to be made in it's
present form. AssemblymanIPage, of
Milwaukee, has introduced "a sub
stitute. for the purpose of delay, say
administration leaders, but which
will undoubtedlyfai of that purpose.
1t provides for an elective commission
without the power to initiate rates
in the first instance. On the COM
plaint the commission is given power
to fix rates, which go into effect at
once if no appeal is takens by the
carriers within fifteen days. If the
appeal is sustained by the courts, the
carriers are Obliged to pay the excess
to the shippers with 5 per cent.
added. The fight will then be fought
in the senate, where there may also
be two bills, an administration
measure, essentially the same as will
be passed by the assembly, making
the commission appointive and giving
it large powers or the senate measure
with restricted powers. The issue in
the upper house is one of much doubt
and another week may not see the
end.
Next Wednesday also the Thayer
ward option bill comes up as special
order in the assembly, This aims to
prevent the establishment of saloons
in any resident district on petition Of
a majority of the residents. The bill
is being desperately fought by the
liquor interests, and is attracting
wide attention. Ministers and other
public spirited citizens of Madison
held mass meeting in the opera
house Sunday night to stir up
enthusiasm for it. Last week also
saw the anti-cigarette bill finally put
through both houses. It is now with
the governor, and while many profess
to believe he will veto it on constitu-
tional grounds, it is more probable
that he will sign it.
Not for q Junket
The assembly turned down the
invitation of the Minnesota legislature
to come to ST. Paul and see the new
capitol there. The Wisconsin capitol
commission has picked the same
architect that Minnesota employed,
Mr.. Cass Gilbert, and it was hoped by
many that the visit might be made
and the problem what to do about
new state house in Wisconsin be
somewhat simplified thereby. Many
take the adverse vote to indicate that
Wisconsin will have no new capitol,
but will rehabilitate the present
ruined shell.