Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1905-02-25

| anu lOrIluldS Ill compromising the LiCu-
icine. Tie editors IRE, as rule,
against it. and a resolution to that eff
feet was adopted.
The Biggest Bill of All.
| The Hatten railway bill is the recoG-
nized administration measure and as
it becomes familiar is being discussed
freely. Some are frank to say it is
too radical-indeod, they call it the
most radical system ever proposed in
q state; and all admit that it will be
changed in the course of passage.
The feeling is that some commission
will be set up-and possibly an APP
pointive commission, now that APP
prevail by both branches of the legiS-
lature is conceded; but the question
of the powers to be conferred on this
triumvirate is the uncertainty. 1t is
not forgotten that in many states In
the course of time railway commits
sions are apt to pass into the hands OF
railway Influences; and if power lodges
in the commission rather than in the
law itself. it might even happen that
the commission would become an
agency of oppression. The bill per-
mits the commission to make differ
entail rates. in its attempt to meet
existing conditions. and some urge
| that there is danger here.
Senator Hatten points ont that the
| commission shall have the power to
| fix rates, not that it shall be their
duty to do So He adds: 1.-The eS-
sence of the whole bill is this: The
railroads are to make their own rates
| and classifications. as now. and the
| commission is TO act as an arbitrator.
citing a company to appear and after
hearing. correcting or approving of
rate which had been thought to be
unjust, as the case may be-"
Senator Hatten is not understood as
insisting on this or any bill; it is ad-
mitted the quetion is big one. The
senate is constituted in a way to pass
| reasonable measure, but not more.
What may happen is, that the as
sembly will demand drastic meas
ure and the whole issue be left in the
dir III OTu6E llldI llCl
''go to the people"
The railroads have troubles enough
apart from this bill Never were
there more bills, big and little de-
| signed to correct points of manage
ment, rates of fares, labor matters,
etc. than the railway representatives
have to talk out in committee this
year.
Damages for Injuries.
The labOring man IS looking for
more favorable law as regards recov-
cry in case of injury and the many
bills involving negligence actions indi-
cate that this legislature is regarded
as favorable. The cO-emplOye bill in
| terests the engineers, who have Frank
w. Hail. the Madison attorney, at
work on it. Contributory negligence,
under which principle the employe
thinks he is too ofteR shut out from
recovery of damages is in peril, GER
tainly as a complete defense set up by
the employer, the jury being empow-
cred by some of the bills to determine
who was most to blame, and the dam
ages being figured out on that basis.
The bill to exempt from the collec-
ton of debts to the extent of SIS
week is a measure which the retail
grocers of the state are contesting.
The Socialists, as the champion of the
workingman, make it their business
to further bills of this sort. This eff
fort to make the law shield in the
matter of bad debts is forever a sub
ject of legislation This year there is
new phase in the attempt of the
bla cksmith to be awarded lien on
the horse which he shoes until the bill
for the Job is paid for The builder of
house has legal claim of this sort
and all along the line there is natur-
ally a desire to be protected.
University Ambitions.
The bill providing for the support
and improvement of the university is
introduced. Contrary to the old plan,
the new bill provides that a two-fifth
mill tax be levied on all the taxable
property of the state for the support
of the university. President Van Hise
believes that this tax will be sufficient
to provide for all the future needs of
the growing institution. For a num-
Der of years the university authorities
have gone to the legislature each SEES
sion and asked for S265000 for annual
expenses and special appropriations
foreachnew improvement. The change
of system of appropriations was made
when Judge Philo Orion was in the
assembly, his idea being that by a
biennial call for funds. the relation
between university and the people
would be more sensitive. The uni
versity people. Of course. do not relish
this periodic attack on the legislature.
| 1t isn't pleasant to have to beg an,:
| brag about how much the experiment
station has saved the state. etc A
sum automatically raised by taxation
and increasing with the prosperity Of
| the state. is more reasonable and con-
| genial. say the university people.