Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1905-03-08
Madison, March )

Madison, March ).
1t is said in the capitol corridors
that a railroad rate commission will
surely be established at the present
session of the legislature. 1t is said
that Senators Kreutzer, Whitehead and
Hagemeistar will work and vote for
the passage of the necessary law and
will in fa>. be found clost to the ad-
ministration in this piece of legisla-
ton None of these senators desires
to be approached on this subject, but
there is reason, nevertheless, for be
lieying that the report is substantially
true
Yesterday morning unanimous CON
sent was granted Senator Kreutzer to
introduce a new bill in the form Of an
amendment to the original Hatten bill
the new measure is merely q perfec
ton Of the Hatten bill and involves the
ideas not only of Senator Kreutzer
but of Senator Hatte4 and others. 1t
is said that the Kreutzer substitute in
wolves he most satisfactory prov ions
OF all the bills on the subject now be
fore the legislature. 1t provides for an
appointive commission and differs from
the Hatten bill only in details, making
the powers of the commission more
explicit and providing that the com
modify rates now in force shall re-
main until changed by the commission.
Senate Routine.
The senate was opened with prayer
by Rev. Houghton. The customary
bunch of petitions was presented, in
GLIDING several from lodges in favor
of the fraternal insurance bills.
Senator Merton offered a resolution
that the senate meet at 9 o'clock in
the morning. He explained that this
7ould expedite business by allowing
committee meetings in the morning.
Senators Noble and Roehr spoke in
opposition and the resolution was laid
over until Monday night.
Wants "Bob to Show Him
Senator Johnson offered a resolution
to require Governor La Toilette to lay
before the senate the full figures and
processes of calculations for the state
ments he made in his message about
earnings of the railroads. He asked
immediate consideration but under the
rules the resolution went over
The Johnson resolutions are in full
as follows:
Whereas, IN the executive message
laid before the legislature in January
it is stated that the average annual
gross earnings of the Chicago, Milwau-
kee e ST. Paul railway for 1902 and
1903 amounted to s14,549 1894 in Wis
cousin. and only S32. $50, 64390 in states
outside of Wisconsin through which
the road operates, and the annual
gross earnings of the Chicago & North
western railway for 1902 and 1903
amounted to s15,473 1898 for Wisconsin,
while the average gross earnings in the
states outside of Wisconsin through
which the road runs were only $685.
&4763S; and
Whereas. The st. Paul road has APP
proximately LOO miles in Wisconsin
and $500 miles outside of Wisconsin,
and the Chicago & Northwestern road
has / 200 miles in Wisconsin and 5000
outside of Wisconsin, and it is thus
made to appear that the gross earn
ings of the former road were $8,559
per mile, and the gross earnings of the
latter road were sS,8S5 per mile in
Wisconsin, while in the other states
outside of Wisconsin through which
these roads run their earnings were
only s6,610 and $7747 per mile, re-
spectively; and
Whereas. BY these figures 1t is made
state of Wisconsin is being charged
Z early $1,000 per mile more than the
same roads charge in other states for
the same service; and
Whereas, 1t is the duty of this body
and the right of the citizens of the
state to be fully and accurately in
formed Of all the circumstances lead.
ing to such apparent discrimination,
in order that just conclusions may be
arrived at and proper legislation enact
ed to correct sdch apparent abuses.
Resolved. That the governor be re
spectfuily requested to lay before this
body a clear analysis of the figures
furnished the state by said roads and
the method of calculation by which
sucn apparent inequalities are charged
in the message: the classification OF
gross receipts of the roads mentioned
into receipts for service within the
state and for interstate service separ.
ately, aud also Gf it so happen they
included in the stayemen. of gross
earnings for the state of wisconsin,
the charges on this road for service
that originated outside of and termin.
ated outside of the state Of Wisconsin
foI which the shipper ~ consumers OF
Wisconsin are not directly concerned. I'd
Senator Kreutzer attempted 10 in
troduce a substitute bill for the Hat
ten railroad commission bin but tie
rules prevented and he asked unani
nous consent that it be received
Senator Frear objected but after
Senators Hatten and Hu5nal explain.
ed that the desire was merely 10 get
the bin printed and placed on the files
end before the committee on rail-
roads. consent was given and the bill
was received.
Five Bills Pissed
The senate passed five bills, includ