Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1907-11-27
speclal Corresnondenee.

.
not dying out. DIR. Jordan got a great
roast in the Star for his opinion on
arbitration. The gist of 1t was that
DR.. Jordan was here On flying trip
and therefore did not have time to
get any Of the facts, |. e. did not know
what he was talking about. Well
that is just exactly what l think of the
big wigs who make hasty visits mere
and while here are under the wing OF
some official to show them things that
will cause them to say nice things and
then publish them broadcast. They
are permitted to see only such things
as are favorable to the situation as it
exists here. | came here to see all
good and bad-and to stay year. l
take the daily papers and hear the
opinions Of the middle and lower
classes of the people; and l think l
will at the end be in better position
| to form a true estimate of things than
a person who is here only a week or
so and then consorts only with the
"tophs.'
! The Herald (oppositiOn) of Septem-
Der 10 says editorially: On replying
to deputation yesterday the premier
laid a great deal of stress upon the i'm
possibility OF authorizing any new
constructions until at least the main
trunk (of government owned railway
/ is completed. What is prostrating the
railway enterprise of the colony, and
ldepriving so many localities of rail
ways to which they are entitled for
the sufficient reason that such con-
lstruetion would promptly prove profit
able. is that the public works expendi-
ture is largely upon political lines. Of
the II lines to which Sir Joseph Ward
refers the bulk are in the districts
which do not need them and where
they capros be expected to pay. If
the government were wise it would
speedily finish every construction
that is unlikely when opened to assist
the railway department to pay fair
wages for fair work as well as all
other expenses, such as interest on
cost, sinking fund, and maintenance
THESE improbable Ties might far
better be CIT shor. off where they are
than extended to any imaginary pay
| ing point" If this were done the
government would have something to
spare for commencing new and neces-
sary constructions"
In regard to management quote
from same paper OF date Sept. 20:
1.-THE government doesnot sufficiently
realize the position into which the
railway service has been pushed by
the steady development of the country
continued unintg~nittently through a
series of prosper5as years. 1t was
long argued by the departmental au
thorities that there was ample rolling
stock to meet all reasonable require
ments, but it was finally admitted that
the rolling-stock was quite made
quate, that the increase In trade had
exceeded the provision made for ex
pansion, and that nothing effective
could be done unless parliament
which always votes whatever supplies
the cabinet asks for-voted sufficient
sum to enable the department to pro
vide largely increased equipment
This precedent is apparently being re
peated in the matter of stating. Sir
Joseph Ward minimizes the feeling ex
listing in the service as he previously
minimized the need for more trucks
| The plain facts are that the railway
business has SO enormously increased
that it has quite got beyond the equip
ment and stating which once handled
lit with comparative ease, and which
have not been increased in proportion
to the increased demands made upon
them. The government is
tonly to blame in so far as it has
blinded itself to the dimensions Of the
difficulty and has thus allowed the
plant and the staff to become more
and more insufficient and inadequate
by failing to make sustained and am
pile provision for the sustained anC
permanent growth of railway bust
ness"
The present premier, Sir JOSEPH
Ward, who is the actual ruler of the
country, has held the Office about two
Years. They have a parliament com
posed of an upper and lower house o
delegates elected by the people, bu
Il can't see that they are there for any
purpose other than to pass the meas
ures proposed by the premier. The!
are elected to vote for o.
against all his measures. ]
at any time a majority voe'
against him he Immediately dissolve'
parliament and new election is held
I don't see the use of going to all tn
! expense Of paying three or four hun
bred men $500 a year each, merely t
come and make speeches and thel
vote as they are told to or get fired.
/ The man whom the present premie'
succeeded was Dick" Seldom, WHIT
held the office for thirteen years tt
the day Of his sudden death on {
steamer returning from Australia. HI
appears TO have been very shrewt
politician managing the politica
workers with an iron hand. He was