Year: 1875

|
velopment of the physical energies of our State
we are reminded of the fact that the railway
| The roads of to-day are not those OF yesterday


and the possibilities of the future are far beyond
| the reach of present estimate. The noblest in


telects Of Of modern times, IS yet, have failed It to
tlreless spirit of progress or forbid the proba-
| biity of more wondrous achievements in time to
come. Apparently the railways now con-
| structed are but the main lines of complicated
system of artificial highways ultimately to enrich
and utilize the remotest territory inhabited by
man. The slX-foot gauge has disappeared. The
advantages of speed now contest the merits of
weight and strength. To-day the great and COM
plex question apparently uppermost in the minds
OF engineers Is how to multiply the number and
length of lines by reducing weight, speed and
cost Narrower gauge, less expensive grades,
lighter equipment and more miles of road are the
promised fruit of present inquiry and expert


ment, the final results of which we can only hope
fully await.


Railway legislation, like railway construction,
The almost perfect law for common carriers
the product of ages But in controlling railroads
bylaw we are confronted by new conditions and
are advancing upon comparatively new and un-
tried ground. Our progress, though unhesitat-


ing, should nevertheless be duly guarded and
restrained. Our people have declared that they


will not endure mismanagement or extortion.


But in demanding justice for ourselves let us


be doubly sure that we do no injustice to others.


The power of redress hereafter remains contin-


uously and forever within our reach. The very
existence of that power is a permanent safes
guard against persistent encroachment and abuse.
THE POTTER LAw--MoDIFIcATIoNs.


In the discharge of the specific duties of the
Executive Department the past year have not
regarded the particular provisions of the law of


last winter as in issue. 1t is not my opinion that


this law expressed the best Judgment Of theLeg;,
principles upon which it is founded command
our unqualified appreciation, and can never be
surrendered it must be conceded that the law is


defective in some of its details. The great object
sought to be accomplished by our people is not


the management of railroad property by them
Selves but to prevent its mismanagement by


others. Such should be the purpose and the


limit of legislative action. In so far as the law
accomplishes this end and is means of public
protection its provisions should be sacredly pre-
served. But in so far as it exceeds this purpose
it is necessarily superauous and inexpedient.


In my first annual message submitted to the
Legislature series of propositions embodying
my views as to the general principles and pur-
poses of legislation upon this engrossng topic.
Further experience and reflection have confirmed
the views then expressed. One of these prop
ositions declares that classifcatons of freight
and rates of fare and freight, within the State


should be subject to revision and modification by
State authority. l am still of this opinion. But
| am mot of the opinion that classifications of
freight and rates of fare and freight can be ex-
pediently established by an iron bound and in
vision and modification reserved. The best
features of law in respect to this
branch of the subject are eXempliied in the
establishment of maximum rates of fare. and its


worst features in the unyielding character of its


limitation upon rates of freight. In this last re-
spect l recommend such notifications of the
law as shall remove obvious .imperfections with
out divestng the State. represented by it's
Board of Commissioners, of power of revision
and modification on formal investigation and
complaint, on such other conditions as a due
regard for public interests may seem to require.
Further and more judicious legislation for the
security of corporate debt, for the protection of
shippers from unjust determinations, for restrain
ing speculative expenditures, for preventing the


creation of fictitious capitaI for fnsurfng more
equitable division of earnings, for enforcing more
efficient police regulations, for the encouragement
of continuous and judicious investment in corpo-
rate enterprises, and for requiring more satisface
tory reports from the officers and directors OF
parties has been the subject Of careful and pa
tent consideration by The Railroad Commission
ers of this and other States the past year. and is
earnestly commended to your attention,


In any endeavor to improve upon the existing
legislation also invoke your consideration ofthe
claims OF new and incomplete roads to exemption
from any clearly needless embarrassment Few
none of these roads yet earn a suticlency for
operating expenses and interest upon, borrowed
capital. No public interest requires the imposiT
tion of restrictions upon them of such a nature
as to impair their credit or. their abll-.
ity to complete their projected lines and per-
feet their legitimate connections The,
magnitude of these undertakings is excelled only
by the extent of the public and private interests
ress. The companies embraced by The presents
law in the second and third classes represent
nearly 1000 miles of road. the full completion Of
which promises to open the markets of the world
to productive territory of vast proportions and,
of almost inexhaustibe resources.


Facts like these largely involve the destiny of
the State and fortunes of its people. They ad-
monlsh us of the grave responsibilities imposed
upon us in the enactment and administration OF
law. They should remind us OF the ffiyolity of
political partisanship and the crimlnaIty OF a
personal and selfish ambitions. They especially
commend to us the virtues of prudence, forbear-
ance and mutual confidence. f1G1 sstW rs


GOOD FAITH OF THE STATE. Ia


Interested parties have charged, Willingly or un-
Willingly, that Wisconsin is in favor OF repudiat-
ing the faith of the State and Of confiscating the
properties of railroad companies. This charge it
upon our people. 1t is calumny. gross as it's
groundless. No portion of our population are the
enterprises They unitedy accord to these en-
terprises cheerful and voluntary support.
They are willing their employees shall be lib
ability and the mechanical skill requisite in
their proper management and construction shall
be generously compensated; and that the money
economically expended in their construe tion,F
maintenance or extension shall receive q liberal
reward for its use. Our railway system at
ous wealth still sunber undiscovered unap-
propriated for the want of better facilities of
manufacture and transportation. Wisconsin,
therefore, afford no war upon capital at
home or from abroad. She never has proposed
such war. She proposes none now She asks
only honesty. Justice and the peace of mutual
goodwill. To all men concerned her people say
in sincerity and in truth that every dollar invest
ed in our State shall be lawfully entitled to ITS
lust protection whencesoeyer the danger comes.
In demanding justice for all the State will deny
Justice to none. In forbidding mismanagement5
the State will oppose no restraints upon any
management that is honest and just In this
the moral and hereditary instincts OF ouF
people furnish stronger bond Of good faith
than the judgment of courts or the obligations OF
paper constitutions. Honest capital may be-
timid and easily frightened, yet it il more certain
to seek investment among people whose laws
are at all times shield for the weak and a reli-
ance for the strong. where the wholesome re-N
straints of ju1icious legislation arc felt alike by
the exalted and the humble. the rich. and the
poor. And recommend no enactment of, or ad-
herence to, any law which violates the letter or.
the spirit of this declaration.


CONCLUSION. 2t@i8


Under the Constitution the direct responsible
ity for the details of legislation rests with the
representatives of the people. convenedln senate
and Assembly. But most earnestly assure you
of my cooperation in every effort 10 esIaDlsh
Justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide Ior
the common defense and promote tnej general
welfare Our respective duties to thls end are
enforced by public obligations far superior to the
claims of self, of friends or OF party We are
all capable of error; but no pretense can justify
or excuse a conscious violation OF. our solemn
oaths of office. In the bitter controversies of
the past year i may have sacrificed the sympathy
of friends whom prize and won the enmity of
those who sometimes forget that faithful admin
istration Of law for the protection of the weak is
always the surest protection of the strong. But
work is not for day. Though you and
may perish and our names be forgotten, justice
shall live and the record of duties honestly per-
formed shall prove greater reward than the.
honors OF station or the applause OF men; n p


MADISON, Jan. IA, 1875.