Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-05-19
Wisconsin Legislature Finally
Passes Measure Providing
For Railway Commission
BIG VICTORY FOR LAFoLLETrE
After Fight Lasting Four Months
the Opposition Admits Defeat and
Ratio Commission Bill is Passed -
LaFoIIette Will Now Accept sena-
torship.

last nlpnl unanimously pdSSeu boN. l-eI
Follette's railroad rate commission
bill. After stubbornly contesting ev-
cry inch of ground for nearly four
months the opponents to the COVER
nors idea yielded and Joined the pro-
cession.
During the nine hours of debate
Thursday they steadily maintained
their position but the white flag was
run up last night when a large num-
Der of amendments proposed by Sena-
tor Whitehead to the committee bill
were voted down one by one. The sur
prise was sprung when the question
of expressing the bill came UP and ev-
cry senator voted in the affirmative.
This action was greeted with a storm
Of applause, by the large audience
present. and Senator Kreutzer, stall
wart, Immediately moved suspension
of the rules and the bill was put on
its final passage. This was done, and
the great fight of the session was
over.
The bill will now go to the assem-
bly, which will withdraw the measure
it passed and concur with the senate.
Gov. LaFollette will sign it Immediate
~.
The bill provides for three commits
sioners to be appointed by the COVER
ncr by and with the advice and con-
sent of the senate. The term of office
is to be six years. the first commits
sioners to be appointed for two. four,
and SIX years, respectively
Affects All Roads in State
The salary is fixed at $4,000 year
and the expenses of travel. The COM
mission is required to have its office
in the capitol and each member is re-
quired to devote his entire time to the
duties of the office.
The bill applies to all railroads and
common carriers in the state Of Wis
consin. Every railroad company can
make its own rates, the commission
acting as a board Of review upon the
rates SO fixed.
The railroad companies are required
to file schedules of all rates, fares
and charges of every kind in force in
the state with the commission, and also
to keep copies on file In every railway
station for the use Of the public.
No advance can be made in the pub
lished tariffs until ten days after the
new tariff schedule is in the hands of
the commission. Reductions, however,
can be made in less time.
Any person may make complaint to
the commission against any existing
schedule, and if, within ten days after
notice, the railway company does not
change the rate the commission may
order a hearing between the railroad
company and the complainant.
Full Power Over Rates.
The commission is given full powec
to enforce attendance of witnesses and
production of books, papers, and all
necessary information at such hearing.
If, on investigation, the commission
finds that the rate is unreasonable or
unjustly discriminatory, 1t is given the
power to fix reasonable rate, which
will go into effect within twenty days
after the service Of a copy on the rail-
road company
If either party is dissatisfied with
the decision he may institute inJunc-
ton proceedings, preventing the rate
from going into effect pending deter
mination of it's justice by court.
All Determinations are prohibited by
the bill but commodity rates and rates
for the concentration of materials and
smaller matters necessary for the de-
velopment of the manufacturing and
AGRICULTURAL interests of the state are
permitted.
The bill provides that there shall
be only one classification of freight in
this state and this shall be uniform
on all railroads, and shall be the same
for state as for interstate traffic.
La Toilette Will Resign.
The passage of the bill will leave
the governor free to accept the sena-
torship which he took conditionally on
the passage of the senate measure. 1t
will also hurry the work of the legis-
laiure, which will probably adjourn in
two weeks
Governor LaFollette will then resign
and go on the platform for the sum-
mer, having made 100 engagements for
lectures all over the country. On July
q he will speak with w. j. Bryan at
Nebraska City.
Gov. and Mrs. La Toilette were both
in the executive office last night and
were besieged with congratulations by
members Of all parties. It is conceded
that the governor has gained inn
in prestige by the passage of
the bill.
II am highly pleased" he said. "The
example of Wisconsin cannot fail to
have great influence on the coun-
try