Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1921-03-18
Rail CROSSINGS
BILL in SENATE.
Senator Bennett Tells of Heavy
Death Toll of AutoiSts in
the Past Year.
WANTS ROADS TO PAY COSTS
Attorneys for Carriers Opposed To
Grade Crossing Separation-Claim
Legislation Would Bankrupt
the Lines.

people were killed on grace cross
ings of highways and railroads il
the United States during the past year
than the American casualties during
the Revolutionary war, Senator ]. Hen
ry Bennett, Viroqua, has launched his
attack before the legislature for the
passage of bill which will compebthe
railroads of Wisconsin to bear the ex-
pense of this separation. The senate
is to consider the bill this week.
In this fight Senator. Bennett has
switched his position from that OF two
years ago, but he says that the APP
palling los of life by automobile pas
sengers at railroad crossings has con-
WINGED him of the necessity of some
legislation on the subject. The fight
for the grade crossing separation bill
is a grapple between the Vernon coun-
ty senator on one side and an array of
railroad attorneys and officials on the
other, who declare that such legisla-
tion would bankrupt the lines. Sena-
tor Bennett, in statement, says that
he will demand a full attendance OF
''The tremendous Increase in the
number of automobiles licensed and
driven upon the highways brings about
an entirely new and different economic
condition than heretofore obtained,
said Senator Bennett. 1.-THE Increase
in the total number of automobiles
and trucks during the single year 1870
is so vast that we can scarcely COM
prehend it.
1.-THE number of crossing accidents
and lives lost in Wisconsin increased
during 1920 over. 1919. Covering the
whole United States it is found that
a larger number of persons were killed
in 1920 than in any previous year. In
1919 1869 people were fatally injured
in automobile accidents. In 1920 the
number was approximately 10000. In
1921 the number of killed will be in
creased. 1t is said by the secretary
of the highway commission that 70 per
cent of the people killed or injured at
grade crossings are motorists. Three
times as many American citizens were
killed at grade crossings during the
past three years than were killed dur
ing the Revolutionary war. The Amer
ican casualties in the principal battles
of the Revolutionary war were less
than 1000 and the grade crossings
killed or injured in the United States
in the past three years more than 90
900 men, womenand children.
'In point of Embarrassing accidents
Wisconsin holds nineteenth place
among her sister states. Wisconsin
has $50 grade crossings on her state
trunk highway system alone. Under
this bill, if it is enacted into law, the
dangerous grade crossings in Wiscon-
sin may be eliminated, the expense
thereof charged to the railroads and
the railroads will distribute the cost
over the widest possible area, diffusing
the expense throughout the entire Uni
ted States. Wisconsin should get it's
share of benefits, if there are any
benefits to be obtained, under the
Esch- Cummins law, and the only bene-
fit which it seems to me we can OBJ.
tain, practically speaking, is to let the
United States pay the expense of these
separations.
81 would not propose that all of Wis
consin grade crossings be separated in
one year-that may be worked out by
the railroad commission in order of
the dangerousneSs of the crossings
eliminated. But the expense under
this changed situation should be borne
entirely by the railroads, and by them
in turn passed on to the commerce of
the country"
Legislatures and the general pub
lie have come to realize said Henry
Killilea, in a statement for the rail-
roads, ''that in the separation of grade
crossings the interests of the railroads,
the state, the municipalities and the
public are a unit and have apportioned
the cost of the work on a percentage
basis. The wisdom Of this policy is
very apparent. 1t produces a feeling
of common interest between the rail-
roads and the municipality, each
realizes the mutual benefits to be de-
rived and it tends to the cultivation of
a spirit of willingness and harmony in
promoting this necessary work. We
believe an examination of the authori-
ties and precedents shows conclusively
that the only apportionment that can
in Justice or wisdom be made is one on
the percentage basis"
Assemblyman B. III. Mahon Milwau-
kee will introduce bill providing for
uniform textbooks in schools.
HEARING on Income Tax Bills.
Announcement has been made that
all income tax bills will be given
hearing by the legislative committee
on March "a BY that time it will be
possible for the finance committee of
the legislature to determine exactly
what funds are needed to meet the ex-
penses of the state. The tax situation
is the most critical problem which
this legislature has to deal with and
until it has been settled little progress
can be made with the other legisla-
ton. Many protests against increases
in rates are expected.
SoIons Ask Raise.
Members of the Wisconsin legis-
lature have not given up the fight
which has been waged for the
past % years to secure an increase
in their salaries. The senate has
5,-onoo6 tha CznrwinSki hill nro