Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1906-12-12
Work in Progress.


The commission has in progress
number Of important Lines of work,
which can be pushed much more rap
idly in the future on account of the
completion Of the work connected
with the passenger fare cases. The
rates on all the important commodit-
ties are being tabulated and charted
Important readjustments in rates
have been made on the basis of this
work already and much more will be
done in The future. The commissic.4
has gathered considerable infTma-
ton in matters relating to railway
sanitation and station facilities and
conyeniences, with the view of bring
ing about Improvements along these
lines. A thorough investigation of
Pullman and express rates is also in
progress. and some work has been
done on the subject of weighing OF
carload freight.
Railway Accounts Examined.
In order that the commission might
keep itself informed regarding the
relation between the carriers and in
diyidual shippers It has caused an ex-
tended examination of the books of
the companies to be made. A large
number of items have been complied
and will be subjected to a careful ex-
animation by the commission.
Proposed Changes in Law.
One years operation under the Law
has demonstrated the excellent work
which was done In it's preparation
Not a single serious weakness has
been discovered. Only few points
relatively Insignificant, occur to US
which might be worthy of considera-
ton Some of these do not refer to
the railroad commission law at all.
but to other statutes relating to rail.
ways. rhe commission would re-
spectu ly recommend that the exist
ing laws be amended in the following
particulars.
Il. The jurisdiction OF tie com
mission over street railways should
be ei her increased or diminished. I'm
der the construction plIccd upon IL ;
Jaw by the attorney general and by
Ike commission, ii confars Jurisdiction
upon the commission to regulate any
street railway company whose lines
pass beyond the limits Of the city in
which it Is operating. This right OF
regulation extends to the urban bus
mess OF the company as we'll as to
the business of the company outside
Of the limits of tLe city. AS a re-
suit the commiss ion appears to have
q right to requisite the entire business
OF street railway company where
any Of It's liIes extend beyond the
city limits, bit it has no right to reg
ulate the business Of u street railW ay
company whose lines are entirely
within the limits of the city in which
1t is operating 1t would appear 10
the commission that it should either
have power to regulate the business
OF all street railway companies oper-
ating in the state or that such power
should not extend to any of them.
%. The existinG laws Authorize spur
tain parties to build private spur
tracks under certain specified 'es:. &C
tions 2ud VIXEN such spur tracks are
cclnpiS.ci, il they come within the
terms Of the law, 1t is made obllga.
tory on the railroads to connect such
spur track with the side or main
track of the railway company within
the limits of the depot grounds, This
law is silent US to who should stand
the extra expense of making the con
nectlon. and We would suggest that
1t be made explicit ON this point
"3. Assessors now make reports TO
this commission regarding the rail-
WAYS within their respective Jurisdic-
tiOns These reports serve no p Ir-
pose whatever and should be abol-
ished.
-. The office force of the comm!s-
sion is at times inadequate. and We
recommend that the commission be