Albuquerque evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1911-1914, 1912-01-01
In Discussing Progressive Pol
icies, LaFOllette Endorses
Work Begun by Clifford
PinchOt and Eis Bureau.
WISCONSIN HAS GAINED
IN MONEY AND PEOPLE
Senator Declares That New
Order of Things Did Not
Drive Capital Out but Gave
oN It More Confidence.

~ It More Confidence.
rni1 --
,otdy Evsnann nsrula A. p. r.sasea wirsl
n,r Flint Mich, Jan. i.-"How Wis
Z consin Has Prospered Under Its Pro-
gressivc Administration. was the
subject Of an address by Senator La
Folietse here TODAY. The speaker
said that progressive legislation IN
Wisconsin has not been destructive,
as its enemies predicted. Instead"
said he, 'of driving capital out OF
the state. IL has attracted capital
more than other states II has made
investments safe for all instead of
speculative for few. II has been
conservative and constructive as we'll
as progressive. Not one OF these pro-
Rrcssive laws has been overturned by
the supreme court OF the state and
not one has been carried into tee
federal courts"
Continuing. Senator LaEollette said;
THE general business In Wisconsin
concluaively shows that instead Of
being retarded BY progressive leslsla-
ton. Wisconsin has advanced flnan-
cially and commercially more rapidly
than the country taken as whole
During ten years of progressive
legislation the expenses OF the state
have increased but the burden of
taxes on the people has decreased.
The property af the state Is paying 2
per cent less taxes in proportion to rs
value than Il did ten years ago"
senator LaFollette praised the poll
Icy OF Clifford f'inchot. with respect
20 Alaska, and said;
The problem before ua u not 70
hoard our resources, but 10 develop
them Ia much a way that the bene-
fits nowing from development viii
inure not % a few men. but 20 the
rightful nwnera--ali the people Of the
United states With the experience
OF ths past. the waste OF these res
sources, the turning OF them over TO
Speculation and monopoly. would be
crime against the people OF the
United STATES.
10 permit the Inorganic -Guggen-
helm combination TO remain in con-
erOl Of the railroads of Alaska means
that all the men cured there with
pick and shovel and pack Will, I'm the
end, be completely at the mercy OF
MoFgan and NuBgentNim. Every
pound Of coal they mine will pay such
Hihute 60 the monopoly-owned trans
ortation company as II chooses to
tpeot.
Alaska was purchased with the
pple's money. taken from the com
MON fund IN the treasury. Whatever
VI profit. whatever Of advantage In
Any way accrues from that purchase
teiongs TO all the people. Congress
first duty "a the people--the owners
of these magnificent coal fields and
other deposits OF mineral wealth, ~
TO provide for their proper develop
ment; and. az in the case Of a prl-
yatc corporation. so In the case Of
public ownership. the first step TO be
uuderiaken should be the creation
OF proper transportation facilities.
whereby a market may be afforded
for the resources The wharves,
docks, railroads and terminals iH
Alasks should at once be built by the
government for the same business
reasons that would move a private
corporation 10 erect them"
The speaker went into details Of
the results accomplished, and said:
Having brought the steam rail-
roads Of Wisconsin under state con-
troll, We proceeded 90 extend the con-
trOi OF the railroad commission over
ali the other public utilities In the
commonwealth.
Wisconsin Is teaching the lesson
thai both the people and the invest
ors IN public utilities may be bene-
fitted Dy our system Of regulation.
This Is SO simply because the regula-
tfOn rs thorough and scientific. Wa
tered stock and balloon bonds get no
consideration. And as the commits
sion knows the corts, Il knows exactly
tho lowest point 90 which rates can
be reduced. II even raises rates
when they are below the cost line.
including reasonable profits.