The Ladysmith news and Ingram news. [volume] (Ladysmith, Wis.) 1905-1906, 1905-12-09

corporated villages maintaining their
own bridges was attacked in the courts
on the ground that it violated the pro-
visions of section l. article 8, of the con
stitution, providing that the rule Of tax
alton shall be uniform. However, the
supreme court in several cases upheld the
law, / am advised that the act is also
giving the county boards and the district
attorney much trouble on account of the
uncertainty OF some of it's provisions:
much trouble and possibly of expensive
| litigation to many municipalities The
statute should be carefully revised in the
light of the supreme court decisions upon
the subject.
! Grain and Warehouse Commission.
At the last session, the Legislature en-
acted chapters 10 and BIT, creating q
grain and warehouse commission for the
state of Wisconsin, and providing for
licensing and regulating warehouses and
elevators, and Tor the storage, weighing
and inspection of grain in the city of
Superior, and conditionally at other
points in said state.
[ would recommend that the act be
carefully considered, and such amend
ments thereto enacted as will make the
legislative intent clear, and afford RENE
dy for the evils complained of, to the full
extent of the constitutional power of the
state.
Chapter 468, Laws of 1905.
For some years, until the present fiscal
year. the university has received it's sup
port from the general fund and money
has thus been available at the beginning
of each fiscal year for current expenses.
1t may be wise to amend chapter 46S so
as to authorize a transfer in 1906 SINH
lar to that made this year.
Corporations and Insurance.
From time to time these public service
corporations set up the claim that their
business was private business; that any
inquiry upon the part of anyone on the
outside was an impudent and meddle-
some intrusion. They can no longer
maintain this fallacy.
For many years there has been a con-
test on in Wisconsin, between public in
terest on the one hand, and the railway
companies on the other. The people have
sought to secure fair and just transpor-
tation charge for passengers and for
freight. For years the railroads have re-
sisted this legislation. That the amount
of money necessary to meet these ex-
nenses has come from the treasures Of
the railway corporations mas Deen often
asserted by the press of the state. A
legislative investigation which uncovers
all facts with relation to this important
subject will require much time and labor.
No dollar OF the money required TO
prosecute such an investigation VIII De
wasted.
1t is a shocking disclosure of the de-
moralized business integrity OF the coun-
try when the admissions of the highest
officials entrusted with the savings which
the people have invested in life insurance
and charged with the management OF
these funds show habitual violation OF
their trust to enrich themselves at the
expense of policy holders.
The subjects of insurance legislation
and expenditures Of public service cor
porations open up such wide held,
and there is such need for thorough IN
vestigation that [ recommend that a
committee, with power to summon Wit
nesses, examine books, and with all pow
er necessary to investigate expenditures
and methods of doing business be ap-
pointed and instructed to make com
plete report to the governor on or De-
fore November 1, 1906, who shall trans
nit the same to the Legislature at It's
next session with any recommendations
he may make thereon.
Permit me to say in closing that 1
am sure you will conclude that busl-
ness of this session as promptly as IL
may safely be dispatched with due rec
>ognition to its great Importance
ROBERT NJ. LA FOLLEIIE'