Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1905-12-06
lMOLltT1E READS HIS OWN MESSAGE
Recommends -Four Important Changes in
Railroad Tax Statute.
PAYMENTS ARE DELAYED BY LITIGATION
Over Million Dollars Now Due the Stat
and Money Is Needed
PUsLIc cORpOHATIONs ANO INsURANcI
Executive Favors an InvestigatiOn OF
the Methods Of LObbies Main
tained BY PabIic Service
Companies.


MADISON. Wis. Dec. s.--GOvernor Rob- |
ert NJ. LaFollette appeared today before !
the joint body OF the Wisconsin legislature |
called In extraordinary session and per-
sonally read hts message. lie was cordially !
received.
A large crowd gathered. including a num-
ber Of students of the university and many
Madison men and women. well as nearly
all OF the state officials and employees. Gov
ornor LaFollette read his message from
printed copy
The governors message is a lengthy docu-
nlent and contains over forty pages OF
closely printed matter.
-Four recommendations are made in the
message regarding the revision Of the rail-
road rate commission law. In the first
he recommends, that the commission be au-
thorized 10 preecribe a uniform system OF
keeping accounts of the business trans
acted IN Wisconsin by the railroads and
that all roads should be required to file
with the commission from time to time
reports Of their income. He wants sep
arate accounts kept OF the business done
by the railroads in this state and In other
states, as well as an account showing the
value of each railroad in the state. The
second recommendation provides that the
law be so amended that special mileage
tickets, continuation tickets. excursion
tickets and party tickets can be issued at
less than the regular rates for National
Guard and Grand Army of the Republic
encampments, students. homeseekers etc.
This third recommendation provides for
additional power by the commission to in
vestigate rates. His fourth recommenda-
tion would give the commission the right
20 decide what safeguards shall be erected
at any railroad crossing in this state.
Regarding railroad tR1es, the governor
says that sl,144.Se9.SO in railroad taxes .are
now due the state, the payment OF which
has been held up by litigation. He says
that the holding up of Just taxes by the
railroads is a serious embarrassment to the
state. and had thhe taxes been paid the
state tax levy would not have been neces-
sary. He recommends that legislation be
enacted at once which In the future will
compel the .prornpt pnxaert of ali railroad
taxes. leaving the railroad the right 10
recover such taxes II 1T shall be found
that they were unjust or wronguily col
lected what the governor wants is. first
the payment OF railroad taxes and litlga-
ton afterwards II necessary, instead OF
litigation first and payment last he
holds is now the case.
Primary Election Law.
The governor pays considerable attention
20 the primary election law and points out
that the strongest point that can be made
by the opposition TO its enactment is the
fact that a candidae may be nominated
under the present law by less than ma
iority vote. He suggests that provision DE
made. by amending the law, so as to en-
able the voter at the primary to indicate
upon the ballot his frst and second choice
for aIot,e
In the event that no candidate had re-
ceived a majority OF the first choice votes.
then the second choice votes could be
counted, resulting in nomination by ma
jority vote. The plan recommended is that
used in Australia and provides that IT, after
the ballots have heen counted, no candi-
date has an absolute majority OF the first
choice votes. then the ballots cast for the
candidate receiving the least number OF
votes oh the list are assorted with refer.
ence to second choices as TO the remaining
candidates. II no one then receives a
majority OF first and second choice ball
lots a similar assortment OF ballots of the
lowest remaining candidate is made on the
basis Of second choice and added to the
votes for their candidates. and so on until
some candidate has majority Of first and
second choices With this amendment the
governor thinks the primary law would be
much stronger
Corporations ana Insurance.
The Investigation OF public corporations
and insurance companies Is one OF the
most important features of the message.
lie takes the railroads TO task for main
taining what he calls expensive Hobbies and
for resisting the prompt payment OF taxes.
..The people OF wisconsin have at least as
rood a right TO know Just what money has
been expended by the railroads and other
public service corporations Of this state in
Nsaiaries, in lobbying. In political cam
naigns and legislative entertainment" he
saws "as the people Of New York have to
know the same facts with respect 10 the
ilfe insurance companies of that state. 1t
il no more a betrayal OF a trust relation
for the president Of a life insurance COM
pany to pay himself salary amounting TO
a plunderiug OF policy-holders than for a
railroad president TO pay himself salary
in excess OF the value OF the services he
renders to the railroad company"
lie suggests that a legislative investiga-
tion which would uncover all facts with re-
latlon to this important subject will re-
ouire much time and labor, but that no
money 80 expended would be wasted. Ev-
cry fact as 70 the expenditures which have
a bearing upon the transportation rates
win be OF material aid TO the railroad com
mission. He thinks such an investigation
would be wholesome In It's public lesson
lie discusses AZ length the Insurance
scandals OF New York and is bitter in his
denunclation OF those companies which have
been caught by the Investigation. lie
quotes much OF the evidence that has beer
unearthed and compares by figures the
Northwestern Mutual Life OF milwaukee,
with the eastern corporations. 1T has yet
10 be intimated" he SAYS that the North.
western h guilty Of any such irregularities
as have been found TO exist In the New
York companies. Its invitation. recently
published eourting Investigation. would IN,
dicate that II has nothing 10 conceal. Th'
subject Of insurance legislation and ex
penditures OF public service corporations
opens up such a wide field. and there Il
such need for a thorough investigation thai
recommend that a committee. with !