The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1907-07-25
GOVERNOR SIGNS
2-CENT FARE ACT.
EXECUTIVE APPROVES MEASURE
DESPITE PROTESTS FROM ALL
g PARTS OF WISCONSIN.
PASSENGERS NOT TO PROFIT
Railroads Will Start Long War During
Which Time Cheap Mileage Books
Will Be Cut Off.

MADISON, Wis, July 16.-ISpecial.l
Coy. James Q. Davidson signed the
2-cent fare bill this morning.
1t was expected that he would do so
although he had been deluged with pro
tests against approving it from pubiicists
and politicians and economists from al
parts of the state.
Slap at Commission.
John Barnes, president of the railroad
rate commission is in Milwaukee,
Neither Mr.. Erickson nor Mr.. Meyer,
the other members OF the commission,
Will submit to an interview in regard to
ihe enactment of the law, but it is known
positively that they feel it as q drcc,
slap at the commission.
The act goes into effect on. August II
and will apply to all roads showing q
gross earning Of $500 a mile.
Central VIII Fight
Ii has been stated that the Wisconsin
Central road will fight the law in the
courts and if so Will probably block the
enforcement for two or three years. H.
o." meantime the rate fixed by the com
u. sSlOn Of ~ cents q mile will bc Il
tha.iAf blL Tue bbb ill4st' ldII4lN bD9A0 iiNa
$40 and the Communication rates between
large centers viii undoubtedly be discDu-
tnued, so that the rate Of fare paid b.
tie average traveller msy be in excess OF
that enjoyed since the recent ruling OF
the commission.
Two Courses for Roads.
Twc-cent fare laws have been enacted
in all the surrounding states but the rBl.
roads have already started legal proceed
IugN to anuul them. Ia Missouri, Illinois
and Iowa they are allowing the 2.cnu.
fare rate TO be enforced for three month.
ending with September. During this tim.
1t viii be determined whether the road.
can afford TO carry passengers for iIaj
2-ccnt fare or not. II not, then ll.
old rate OF ) cents per mile Will be re-
lnstUted. In Minnesota the COmpanic.
have already Instituted proceedings To
auuul the law.
What course the railroads will pursu.
as regards Wisconsin is still uudptcr
mined aud probably viii not be definitely
settled for some days II they C.IS-
tu.9 state with Minnesota they viii uu
doubleday start proceedings nj once aHJ
cuJulu the enforcement OF the l-Crul tar
law. If they class II with Iowa and Il.-
MOI, they VIII allow the 2.Ccul rate lu ~
into force, for say three months, after
winch the courts will determine wAethr
the amount Oh travel warrants the redUo
ton,
Davidson Defines Position
GOV. Davidson stated his position IN
regard to it most positively 10 "a uumbc,
OF legislators and newspaper men in his
office late Monday evening. The bill
was sent to the executive office that aft
crnoon at about ) o'clock, but he did not
read it until the evening when he re
turned to the office alter supper. II was
IN pile Of less important measures which
he was going over and rs he glanced it
over he smiled "Ah the 2Ccnt fare bill, 90
he said, and laid it on one side. When
asked if he would sign it that he replied
in a soft negative. But just before clos
ing the office that night he engaged IN
conversation with n number oi callers
during which he expressed himself heart.
lily il favor Of the measure.
No Slap at Commission, He Says
THE railroads" he said. have
brought this all upon themselves II
they had not acted as they did in regard
To interstate trulic and rcchcckng Of
baggage at the state line | would not
lave signed the bill, But the people are
indignant at the manner in which the
companies have tailed 10 comply with
the spirit ui Ire order of the rate com
mission and they want this law II do
not regard this law as a slap nj the rate
comm ~s,Ou. 40 one has higher regard
for the commission than / have.
STOuld not da anything to hamper their
work. But ness facts aud conditions
have come 70 .gat recently | cannot
allow the poupiu II this state who
started all the reform agitation aud who
have treated tAu railroads fairly 10 be
Disseminated against by the roads.
Neither do take any stock in the
argument that the enforcement OF =