Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1905-12-05

GOV. la TOILETTE WILL
ACCEPT SENATORSHIP,

| Madison, Wis, Dec. 5.--After reaiiuf
| MS message to the Legislature, GOV. Ia
| toilette made q statement that he
| would accept the United States sena.
torship TO which he was elected by the
legislature at the last session.
Gov La Follet,e's resignation win
take effect during the present special
session OF The legislature or az the end
or the session.
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
Madison, Wis. Dec. 5.-Gov. Robert
NJ. Lafollette appeared today before the
Joint body of the Wisconsin legislature
called in extraordinary session. and
personally read his message. He was
cordially received. A large crowd was
In attendance.
The governors message is u lengthy
document aud contains over A. pages
OF closely printed matter
Four recommendation are made lin
the message regarding the revision Of
the railroad rate commission law.
IN the hrst he recommends that the
commission be authorized to prescribe
uniform system OF keeping accounts
of the business transacted I'm Wiscon-
sin by the railroads and that an roads
should be required to file with the CONS
mission from time TO time reports of
their income. He wants separate ac-
counts kept OF the business done BE-
the roads IN this state and I'm other
states, as well as an account showing
the value of each railroad in this state.
His second recommendation provides
that the law be SO amended that spec
ial mileage tickets, communication tick
cts, excursion tickets and party tick
cts can be issued at less than the regu-
lfsp a. for. ...t
A, r. encampments. students, home
Hts third Instrumentation provides
for additional power by the Commis-
sion to investigate rates.
His third recommendation provides
for additional power by the commits
sion to investigate rates.
His fourth recommendation gives the
commission power to decide what safe
guards shall be erected at any railroad
crossing In this state.
Regarding railroad taxes, the gov
ernor says that $l.144.399 In railroad
taxes are now due the state, the pay
ment of Whit has been held up by
litigation. He says that the holding
up of Just taxes by the railroads is
serious embarrassment to the state and
had the taxes been paid the state tax
levy would not have been necessary.
He recommends that legislation be en-
acted at once which In the future VIII
the prompt payment Of all rail- |
road taxes. leaving the railroad the |
right TO recover such taxes II 1t shall |
be found that they We're unjust or |
wrOngfully collected.
The governor pays considerable at |
tention to the primary election law and |
points out that the strongest point that |
can be made by the opposition to this |
Enactment Is the fact that a candidate |
may be nominated under the present |
aw by less than a majority vote. He |
suggests that provision be made by !
amending the Jaw 50 as 20 enable the 1
voter at the primary to indicate upon I
he ballot his first and second choice
ri the candidates presented for each
liiice. In the event that no candidate
las received q majority OF the first
'hoice then the second choice votes
'ould be counted. resulting in "A nomi-
lation by majority vote The plan
recommended is that used in Australia.
GOV. Lafollette takes the railroads TO
ask for maintaining what he calls eX-
'ensive Hobbies ana for resisting the
'rompt payment Of taxes
he says.
The people of Wisconsin have at
east as good a right t. know Just what
money has been expended by the rail-
Dads and other public service COR
orations Of this state in salaries IN
obbying, In political campaigns and
.gislative entertainment, as the peo-
lie of New York have to know the
nme facts with respect to the life in
urance companies Of that state" He
uggests that a legislative investiga-
ION which would uncover all facts
18th relation to this important SUBJ
'ct VIII require much time and labor.
ut that no money so expended would
c wasted.
lie discusses at length the Insurance
'andals of New York and Is bitter I'm
Is denuncigton OF those companies
hlch have been caught by the eastern
lvestigation.