The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1907-01-18

| no reason exists why decent corpora
ton living up to their contracts should
| have their franchises revoked at any
| particular time. An important sug-
gestion is that a new commission be
created to regulate gas rates. The
| idea is to- have body like that Of
Massachusetts, which would ascertain
the valuation of gas properties and
then after figuring fair profit regu-
late the rate accordingly. The first
plan to make the state pay all the sal
aries of such commission will be
abandoned and part payment will be
effected by charging a fee for exami-
nation. This was done because of the
opposition of rural members, who hold
that since they get no benefits from
such commission they should not be
made to bear any of the burden of
maintaining it. 1t is understood the
Democrats will oppose such measure
and will favor having the tax commits
sion ascertain the value Of gas prop
critics, which it is now doing.
Two-Cent Fare Rumor.
A rumor which has all the appear
ance of a sub rosa announcement from
the effect that the long desired two
cent passenger fare on railroads is
soon to be reality. Two-cent fare
bills have popped up at every session
for many years only to be uncere
moniously knocked on the head Two
years ago, however, the much buff
feted child had waXed so strong that
it was thought advisable to treat it
with more respect. For a time it
looked as if the measure might pass,
but the railroads won a temporary vic
tory by having the business left to the
newly created rate commission. In
the meantime the rate commission and
tax commission have made exhaustive
investigation of the valuation and
earnings Of the roads and is under
stood to be prepared to act Railroad
Commissioner Thomas some time be-
fore retiring also recommended that
q two-cent fare be imposed on all
roads earning $500 a mile per annum.
1t is understood that the rate commits
sion is prepared to put such an order
into effect. but is willing to let the
legislature have the credit if it de-
sires it and it is probable that be-
fore any action is taken there will be
a thorough going over of the ground
by the commission and the railroad
committees of the two houses, so that
whatever action is taken shall be as
effective as possible from the legal
point of view.
Not Mentioned in Message.
The fact that Governor Davidson's
message had no mention of the two
cent proposition has led to some
criticism of the document, but 1t is
understood the governor knew of the
contemplated action Of the commission
and was willing to give that body a
free hand. The impression seems to
prevail that the time is ripe for this
change and that there will be less op-
position than usual to the measure this
winter. The first two-cent bill to
come up was presented the other day
by Assemblyman Turner, of Portage
county, and provides for such rate on
roads earning $1,000 mile. 1t is like
~ that other bills will also come in
and that out of them some composite
measure will be created and recon-
mended by the committee.
Takes Step Backward.
1t seems trifie paradOXical that
in state which has taken such adj
vanced ground for the publication of
politics as has Wisconsin there should
be a disposition ON the part of a con-
siderable portion of the legislature to
take a backward step. Yet so must
the measure be regarded which was
introduced by Senator Sanborn pro-
1iding for taking all legislative en-
ployes from under the jurisdiction of
the state civil service commission. 1t
appears that the legislature built more
wisely than it knew two years ago
when it passed the civil service law
at least so the friends of civil serv-
ice reform would say-as it does not
seem to have been the intent to put
these positions out of reach of the
members who have found them so con-
venient for the payment of political
debts or the giving Of nice berths to
members of their families or other
relatives. The attorney general has
ruled, however. that these places must
be assigned Oh the basis of merit alone
and the commission is going ahead on
that assumption and giving examina,
tons to all cOners.
Will Have Hard Shedding.
That Senator Sanborn, who has
been so conspicuous a fighter for re-
form in past sessions, should be will
ing to father such a measure caused
some comment and that the session
should start IN with measure-it
was the first introduced in either
house-was pointed out as unfortun-
ate but it was important that the
point should be settled at once that
organization might be effected. How
ever, indications are that the measure
will have hard Shedding and it's pas
sage in the assembly is exceedingly
Doubtful as Sneaker Ekern is under