Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1905-05-22

upon Senator McGillivray made his
speech.
McGiIIiVray Speaks.
Senator McGillivray addressed him
self to the whole question of the es-
Enlistment of a railroad commission,
declaring unqualifedly for it, and con-
Guided by speaking particularly in ia
vOr of his amendment to make Rail
road Commissioner J. W. Thomas
member of the proposed commission.
Senator McGillivray's address re-
viewed the history of railroad and in
dustrial progress in America from the
landing of the Pilgrims at Plymouth
Rock. He declared that in his opinion
the best way to control the railroads
was for the government to own the
railroads, but 1--WE can't have that
now" he said, land the next best
thing is to do the best we can and
establish a commission which shall
have power to regulate and see that
justice is done. He must have the
railroads and the people have been
good and kind to them. We recited the
many valuable grants that have been
accorded to the railroads, in land,
rich franchises, bonuses and even
exemption from the payment of taxes.
He declared that the people are not
quarreling with tn railroads because
the corporations made money, for
everyone wants to make money and
wants the corporations to prosper.
"But the people have examined this
question carefully and thoughtfully
for years, and they in their might
have declared that they need and will
have railroad commission, and we
must grant their demand" He dis
cuSsed the question of elective Or ap-
pointive commission and announced
official career resisted attempts to
take from the people the right to
elect public servants, but that in this
question, after studying the matter
with the greatest of careful thought
and inquiry, he felt it his duty to yield
to the judgment of the committee and
favor an elective commission. He said
that subsequent legislators might fini
ii wise to change this provision, but
for the present he believed that it
would be wise to establish an ap-
pointive commission, for the best
men would be appointed and the
senate would refuse to confirm the
appointments unless the best men
were named.
Praise for Mr.. Thomas.
Speaking on the merits of his
amendment Senator McGillivray de-
clared his great admiration personal
ly and as a faithful and energetic of
fetal, for Commissioner Thomas He
referred to the recent report of the
commissioner as to rebates and I'M
paid taxes of railroads as evidencing
the ability with which Commissioner
Thomas had performed the duties re-
CURED of him by the legislature. Sen
ator McGill1vray read from a per-
sonal private letter from Commission
er Thomas in which that official eX
pressed his willingness to serve on the
commission, but indicated strongly
his reluctance to have any amendment
introduced which might endanger the
passage or the effectiveness of the
measure Senator McGillivray also
referred to an opinion from the attor
ney general expressed a week ago that
the proposed amendment would be
constitutional if incorporated into the
bill. In closing Senator McGillivray
said that his two reasons therefore
for the amendment were that it would
give to the proposed commission an
able and experienced man and that it
would save to the state some $4,000 a
year for nearly two years.
Legislature Cannot Appoint.
Senator Hudnall opposed the
amendment for the reason that it
could not be done constitutionally and
would perhaps invalidate the whole
law if adopted. He highly praised
Commissioner Thomas, seconding
every thing in this respect that had
been said by Senator McGillivray. He
announced that if the question We're
upon the confirmation of Commits
siOner Thomas, he doubted whether
| any senator would be FOUND 10 oppose
it. "But the question for us to de-
eide at this time," said Senator Hud-
nall, lis whether Or not the legislature
has the power to legislate man into
an office which it creates. Would
such a law if passed be valid? Would
the adoption OF this amendment en-
danger the validity of the whole law"
He referred to the fundamental prin-
ciple that the legislative, executive
and judicial branches of the govern
ment under our constitution were sep
arate and distinct and that neither
of them could trespass upon the pro
vince of another. He read from the
state constitution that "all other of
fees now existing or to be created by
law shall be elected or appointed as