Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1905-03-22
REAsOKABLRKEss OF RAILROADS

In his second article to the Saturday
Evening Post, Governor La Toilette
illustrates in the following clear and
cogent manner, how fair and reasonable
the railroads are in their treatment of
the people Of Wisconsin.
The governor says:
The net earnings of the Chicago, Mil
Waakee and st. Paul Railway company
are u, lU9 per mile greater upon its Wis
cousin mileage than for the other states
through which its lines extend The
,set earnings upon this road, per mile. in
Wisconsin in 1904, were equal TO six
psr cent on valuation of S110, 2l6. 600
on It's entire mileage in the state.
Under Wisconsins new law the Tax
commission acting as q State Board of
Assessn mt, but few months ago, as
sessed ehe value of this col ssany's road
IN Wis Jnsin at $40 200, 600. The repre-
sentat.yes Of the railway company ap-
peafed before the Commission and pro.
TESTED against this assessment as too
hlgh, yet they levy transportation tax
upon Wisconsin people which produces
SIX per cent income upon o valuation
o. the same property of about BAG, 600 600
~ L! excess OF the valuation fixed by the
Tax Commission
Inc Chicago and Northwestern Rail-
way company reports 81. 1873 higher net
earnings for every mile on road in Wis
eohsln than It reports per mile upon it's
ROAD IN the other states through which
ILs lines extenQ The net earnings of tho
NoFtn western upon it's total mileage in
LIS s,,a sIste amounts to six per cent on
FII@,U23. 3i6 The recent assessment of
tue road IN Wisconsin by the Tax Com.
MISSION likes its value at 81. SOC. 600 or
f44023, BIG less than the amount upon
when the company compels the people
% wisconsin TO pay six per cent. an.
H1al income, And yet the Chicago and
y northwestern, the Chicago. Milwaukee
ana ana of Faul and other leading roads in
WISCONSIN, have Joined in suit to set
ASIDE the assessment Of their property
as excessive
Let Us reflect for q moment on the
fact that above important truths are
brought to light by the much bedammed
Governor, that the railroad stalwarts in
both parties tried TO defeat last fall. /
Does anyone suppose that if Peck had |
BE- elected he would have done the tax |
payers Of Wisconsin any such good ser
vice IS thisf How many stalwsrt pa.
psrs viii publish these facts to their |
readers?
The more this railroad business Is
pcobed the worse it looks, and the worse |
Light does it pat the men into who en-. |
tered into a conspiracy to defeat gov
ernor who was trying to show the peo. |
pie how they were being defrauded |
Ana still they are at it, led, as usual, by /
the Milwaukee Sentinel Every day !
renders it clearer what kind Of patriots
these railroad retainers are. They |
would see the most fragrant wrongs per
pstratsd On "a people and turn in and |
tight down jLf n4an who would protest !
against these wrongs. A conference
was held in nadisor, q week ago com. /
posed ol s;a]wsr, politicians and editors
in which it was resolved to 6ght against .
the passage os tAe railroad rate commits 7
sion bill
Was there ever greater political stu.
pidity and nuisithfnlness shown in com. /.
bination than p this se,ion Former
Governor Hoard.