Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1905-02-15
STATE AHD.EArIoEAI IMpoRrAscE.

SkAkE AHD'HAlLUNAL lmrVhk AWE.
1t is significant that the House Of Rep.
resentatives at Washington, on Thurs
day last, by only seventeen opposition
votes, passed the bill urged by President
Roosevelt, giving aid and strength to the
interstate commerce commission, which
in the past has had little power in it's ex-
ercise over railroad corporations. The
bill passed the other day confers upon
that body power to regulate rates te-
tween the different states and authority
to prevent unjust determinations be-
tween shippers. In the past wealthy
corporations, by these favors, have
crowded out of business and ruined, f.
nancially, men and firms possessing only
moderate means. In his annual mes
sage President Roosevelt handled this
ubiquitous system and practice in vigor-
GUS shape, and practically served notice
on congress that he should insist on this
correction, and that If the present house
and senate failed to do their plain duty
to the people that they would be con-
vened n'extraordinary session immedi-
ately after March fourth. The corpora
ton fellows who are there to serve their
masters growled and grumbled, yelped
dictator" and "populist as they
have at Governor La Follette-but the
vote in the House of Representatives de-
monstrates the fact that these worthless
know the friends of representative gov
eminent lin all parties) have their eyes
open and are watching their congress
men as never before, hence the warning
and the almost unanimous vote at the
command of the president Every free
American will take off his hat to Theo-
dore Roosevelt for his brave stand in
favor of the peoples cause.
But how like 20 cents the vote in the
House of Representatives mnst make
Babcock and his mid.winter convention
pluggers feel. In that convention, run
by federal office-holders and paid agents,
a resolution presented by the Vernon
county delegation was refused consider
alton with the indecency of slum eau
Gus manipulation. 1t was sought only
to have the nominee of that convention
instructed, or requested, to vote for a
bill to strengthen the interstate COM
MERGE law. What a commentary on
present conditionsl "Populism" of last
February is good Americanism today.
And the national issues along these
lines are but tn, principles declared for
by Governor La Toilette and his sup.
porters in Wisconsin during the past
half-dozen years. 1t is what they are
contending for in the present session of
the state legislature. Control of cor
porations TO prevent discrimina-
tons between shippers, prohibit rebate
giving, guarantee better train and ship
ping facilities-is the overshadowing is
sue before the law makers now at Madi-
son. The legislature cannot fail to
ChdSg 5AAh 5ASAbhAgA II AA40A OAESbCA w
tie two houses are true to platform
promises, The highest courts have long
ago said that railroad corporations are
the creatures of the state, hence subject
to regulation by the state. To that end
strong measures have been introduced
in both houses of the legislature A
good text of the bills is gwen on an in
side page of the CENSOR today. Every
interested citizen should read the pro-
posed law, and during the coming weeks
keep close tab on matters at Madison.
1t will be a great victory for the people
if this legislation shall be accomplished
The lobby ls assembling in talented ar.
ray and the battle is liable to be fierce
and furious. No sane man desires per-
secution or injustice to the railways of
Wisconsin, but they have held uninter-
lupted sway, now give the people q
chance.
Again we say, keep your eye on the
legislature during the coming three
months.