The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1907-07-19
NEARLY ALL ROADS AFFECTED
They viii Not Make a Fight on
the New Rate UntiI 1t Is
Tried for Awhile.
Governor Signs Bill Appropriating
100000 for Soldiers Monu-
ment at Vicksburg-Insur-
ance Regulation Bills.

Madison, Wis, July 16.-The pas
sage of two-cent passenger fare bill
after once being defeated in the SEN
ate because of the announcement of
the Western Passenger association
that ON July 10 they would make a
reduction in passenger rates for inter-
state trips in Illinois, Minnesota. Iowa
and Missouri ON the two-cent basis,
but discriminating against Wisconsin,
was the most significant scene yet en-
acted in the legislature.
Almost half of the members had re-
turned to their homes expecting that
the question of two-cent fare was
dead. The Wednesday morning pa
pers last week contained the an
nouncement Of the reduction in the
other states, except Wisconsin. This
caused storm of protest and as soon
AS the senate convened Senator Wright
introduced a resolution, which passed,
requesting the assembly to return the
Turner two-cent fare bill, which it had
killed two weeks before, after having
sailed through the assembly with a
safe margin.
Senate Passes Drastic Bill.
The measure as returned provided
for two-cent rate on all roads earn
ing $1,000 gross per mile. An amend
ment was Incorporated cutting down
the earning amount to $500, which
will take in nearly all the roads in
Wisconsin, The bill passed by vote
of 13 to 10.
But a second fight was already
awaiting it in the assembly. J. 2.
Peterson, of Polk county, asked that
the bill be killed, which was refused
by vote Of q to 81. Then an amend
ment was adopted prohibiting the
charging of more than 2 cents mile
when the passenger purchases his
ticket Of the conductor The bill was
finally passed and was sent to the
Governor Friday morning.
Governor Will Sign Bill.
The governor will sign the two-cent
fare bill passed by the legislature and
on Aug. Is, unless restrained by In
junction, it will go into effect
This seems certain owing to the
fact that his private secretary. Colonel
0. G. MunsOn, of Viroqua, who is also
a senator. made the fight in favor of
this legislation. This would indicate
that the governor had already con-
sented to the passage Of the bill and
will sign it on the first opportunity.
1t was reported from the enrolling
room today and is now before the
governor.
TwO- Cent Sure to Come.
a two-cent rate was to be estab-
lished in the state within the next
three months at any rate, according
to the interview .Assemblyman l. NJ
Ingram recently had with the rate
commission. The voluntary announce
ment of the Burlington road that it
would reduce it's passenger charges to
two cents on all of it's lines has led
the commission to the belief that it
was only a question of few days
when other roads would fall into
line.
Some of the members of the legisla,
ture showed considerable timidity in
voting on the bill and many who
claimed they were in favor of two
cent rate, voted against it, because
they believed the rate commission
suit Of the activity of the legislature.
The more conservative men interested
in legislation, however, are of the
opinion that the commission will not
take the reduction of rates as an In
suit, but merely attribute it to changed
conditions since the two and one-half
cent rate was ordered. and the result
Of 4 popular demand which is now
sweeping the country.
May Not Fight Reduction.
Although there are some half Gozen
Of railroad attorneys in Madison. no
one Of them has received informa-
ton from their road that the rate will
be contested in Wisconsin courts. In
fact one of the men SaIu he believed
the larger roads would prefer to see
the plan operate for a few months
and then determine whether the re-
duction made by the states was too
much.
An interesting feature Of the fight
was that with the exception of the
Democrats the other parties were ti-
vided. The So-called stalwart wing OF
the party was split, the more radical
nuShinO tho nloa sire fbrnJ1oh while
in the half breed camp Ingram was
fighting for the passage of the meas
ure and Speaker Ekern was asking
that it be defeated
Favors Soldiers Monuments.
Governor Davidson has signed the
bill appropriating 100000 for the
erection of soldiers monument at
Vicksburg. Senator Bird of the senate
and Assemhlymen Ties and McG.egor