Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1907-02-27
RATE DECISION THE
ABSORBING TOPIC
Legislature May Not "Lay
Down. ON Two-Cent
Fare Deal.
MANY HAVE BILLS ON SUBJECT
Senatorial Battle Is Shifted in
Several of the Measures
introduced.
Death of Gen. Bryant Removes Famil-
lar Political Landmark-Assem-
blyman Hughes Anti
Tights Bill.

Madison, Wis, Feb. 26.-The one
absorbing topic OF the week in the
legislative chambers has been the &C.
ton of the railroad commission re-
ducing the passenger fares on the prin-
cipal roads OF the state from 3 TO pa
cents. For the noaee the big public
utility measure, which Is 10 tremen-
dousy enlat go The scope and author
lty of the commission, has been for
gotten. The effect of the decision has
been to produce a reIaxation-a de-
moralizattoH il one viii. on the Iegis-
latiye minG and sentiElent has not yet
crvstallized Euon it.
On account of Washington's birth
day the two houses cut IN uneventful
week rather short. and, Asving r->.
several days to think over the fare
proposition at home, 1t should be easier
to now get line on the minds OF the
members. The consensus OF opinion
seems 10 be that all the various two
cent bills Introduced at this session
lation attempted In the face of the de-
cision. But ii would he far from safe
to assume that this will be the upshot
of 1t all. The state has been greatly
wrought up on the 2-cent fare idea.
and it is keeping within the bounds
Of truth to say that the act OF com
mission in reducing fares but half a
cent came as quite surprise to the
mass Of the people and produced not
a little disappointment. This feeling
hnds most expression i'll the more pop
uiar branch Of the assembly.
Considerable Mutfering.
There IS much muttering here. and
some at tie members who presented
2-cent fare measures may not consent
70 seeing their pets uncerenl0nlously
thrown into the legislative junk heap.
There IS apt to he some lmpassloned
oratory on the subject, at any rate.
and new issue be created for the
next campaign IL nothing more The
more stolid body OF the senate seems
disposed to stand by the commission,
and this fact coupled with the alacrIty
Of the railroads to comply with the
order of the commission may put the
desired quietus on the agitation. 1t
appears to he safe presumption that
the railroads and the commission ar
rived ut an agreement on some main
points Of contention Mt least. The ac-
ton Of the railroads in quietly ncquI-
escng in he commissions order Is OF
course WIS.,. Were they to put up a
hostile front nothing short OF 2-cent
legislation would probably result. The
Democrats and Social Democrats. with
not II few Republicans. are still ex-
pected TO contest for the lower fare
But says Rev. Carl Thompson,
leader of the Social Democrats. "the
present system OF private ownership
and regulation is a failure II people
can ride for as low as one cent mile
in Mexico. Japan Germany and other
countries where government owner
ship OF railroads T. practically Il fact.
II Is folly 10 say that In wealthy
state like Wisconsin people could not
be carried for . cents with proper man-
agement OF the roads"
Time Is Slipping Away.
The legislature is getting FESTIVE
over the fact that time is fast slipping
By. yet the legislative hopper Is not
very productive. And more time Is
being spent debating how to get more
work done. The senate wants earlier
sessions in the morning; the assembly
is willing. but also wants evening SEES
sions. the idea being to thus get in
committee meetings both fOrenOons
and afternoons. Regular evening SEES
sions Of both houses would be quite an
innovation, but the members seem TO
think Il the session is TO be shortened
some action OF this kind must be re-
sorted TO.
The death of General George Z. Bry-
ant last week temporarily delayed the
wheels of legislation. In his going
passed one of the most potent factors
in Wisconsin politics for generation.
As soldier, Judge. member OF both
houses of the Legislature and 1.-THE dis.
coyerer OF IaFollette" he filed a large
place in the affairs OF the common