Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1905-12-08
La TOILETTE TO SENATE,
Governor Accepts Toga and De-
llvers His Message.
SCORES THE RAILWAYS,
wants Insurance Investigation, Readjust-
ment of County Tax Valuations
and New Election Laws.

MADISON, Wis, Dee. 5.-ISpecial.
-Goy. r. Nj. La Toilette accepted the
United States senatorship in his mes.
sage to the special session of the Legis-
nature today and just before the an
houncment read his long message.
Many Recommendations.
This recommends strict laws to com
pei the railways to pay taxes levied by
the state. they to have redress if they
WIN III the courts; insurance investiga-
lion; strengthening of the anti-pass and
capltol commission laws; tax commission
TO De empowered TO readjust the assessed
valuation of counties; ballots that will
make voters choose individually not for
party candidates, and other matters.
The Capitol Building.
1t is in part as follows:
OF the several acts requiring revision
at your hands, one of the most important
is chapter 516, laws of 1905. 1t purports
to provide for the erection of capitol
building by sections, as the needs of the
state may require. Examination Of this
act makes it plain that several of the inn
portant features of the law prescribing
the powers and duties of the commission
are OF very uncertain meaning and nee
eSSarlly require construction. Nothing
should be left to conjecture or be in
raised in the commission as to whether
the matter might not be permitted to lie
over until the regular biennial session of
the Legislature in January, 1907. This,
however, was dismissed as untenable, foe
the reason that the act itself was COM
mand of the Legislature upon the COM
mission to proceed as soon as the condl-
lions imposed upon the city OF Madison
had been complied with.
Strictly construed, the third section
confines this commission to the adoption
of one of the plans presented by the COM
peting architects, and seems to enforce
upon them the duty of proceeding to
build in accordance with such plan with
out material change, might lead to the
construction of a building far from the
best which could be obtained for the
same expenditure of money-the lmme-
date needs of the state for capital
building. The room space would be ell
tirely inadequate.
The space allotted, including approach
es, is not more than is required for floor
space Anything short of that space
would be inadequate. ~
Section appropriates the sum OF SlO,-
600 or so much thereof as may be neces-
sary in procuring a plan for new com
petition for a state capitol. If the plans
sketches and drawings the amount appro-
priated would be ample to secure the
necessary competition and pay tor the
sketch or plan adopted by the commits
sion. In addition thereto the working
plans and detailed drawings must be Sc
cured. The usual charge for this. the
commission is advised, is 49, per cent.
Section Z of act authorizes the con
struction of one section on the westerly
side of the present building with a Gu
bical space of not to exceed Z,OUU,ooo
feet, and a second section, as Well pro-
Al, oh innIndn
than 100000 cubical feet. 1t this au-
thorized structure cost the maximum
amount per cubic foot named in the act,
the total expense of erecting the one
wing would be $S00,O0O, and tor the Two
wings 81 100000. This would make the
cost of working plans and md Oct detall draw Nv.
ings for the one wing, 5000. and for
the two, $46,200. The question has been
raised as to whether there is any appro-
priation which could be drawn upon to
meet this charge.
There should be nothing in the act for
the commission or the court to constfue'
The Legislature should make it all so
definite and certain that there VIII DE no
occasion to question it's meaning.
Railroad Rate Commission Law.
I recommend amendments to chapter
362 of the laws of 1903 in the following
respects:
The Commission should be authorized
TO prescribe a uniform system of keeping
accounts of business transacted i'll Wis
consin by carriers and other persons and
corporations amenable to said chapter
362. and such carriers and corporations
should be required to file with the COM
mission, whenever required by it, reports
of their income from operation from i'll
ira state business as distinguished from
inter state business and the expense of
conducting intra state business for any
designated period; and these reports
should be given in such detail and IN
such manner as the commission shall
prescribe.
I would recommend an amendment ex
Dressly permitting the sale of tickets at
reduced rates to companies of the Wis
consin National guard when attending
the state encampment,. inmates Of sol
diers' homes, students in going to and re-
turning from educational institutions
and bona fde homeseekers, provided.
however, that such tickets may be sold
without discrimination as between per-
sons or classes applying therefor under
l;le circumstances and conditions.
In this connection l would also recon-
mend that the exceptions enumerated in
section 8 be enlarged SO as to permit
railroad companies to issue free trans
portation to former employees disabled III
Tho service and to members of their fam
lilies. and also to the members OF Ianlllies
of deceased employees.
I recommend that subdivision b OF sec
ton II, chapter 362, be so amended as to
give the commission power IN express
fharms to investigate on it's own motion at
tbe same hearing. any or all of the rates
upon a given commodity OF ella, class st OF
frnioht uDon line of railroad from sta-
+;ons designated by the commission.
I recommend that the law be SO amend
ed as to authorize the commission to o pre-
scribe reasonable regulations; ~ ieAeA
ence to dangerous grade crossings.
Railroad Taxes.
After escaping their just taxation for
80 80 rears, the railroads violated their
promises and rfd dpd b to t Pey tax the com
m sBf aga to the Hs state aas to snon The cos
ton Of tie tax. Beaten in the , circuit
court. they have appealed to the supreme rene
dota to protract the litigation
nv Ultimately carrying their cases 70 the