1 82 THE GRANGER MOVEMENT 



retained a majority of one in the Senate. 1 One other factor 

 must be noted among the influences leading to the railroad 

 legislation of 1874; in the autumn of 1873, a number of leading 

 railroad companies were impolitic enough to raise the rates for 

 the transportation of agricultural products, in the face of an 

 abundant harvest and in spite of complaints that the rates were 

 already too high. 2 



The victory of the Reform party in 1873 involved the defeat 

 of Governor Washburn, who, as has been seen, had been recom- 

 mending railroad legislation for several years; but the governor- 

 elect, W. R. Taylor, was a prominent Granger and in his first 

 annual message took an even stronger position in favor of laws 

 to curb the railroad companies. 3 Advice was also received by 

 the legislature from the state grange which held its annual 

 session in January. 4 This was in the form of a resolution recom- 

 mending an increase in the tax on gross receipts of railroads 

 from three to five per cent and the appointment of " Com- 

 missioners with full power to regulate and prevent unjust dis- 

 crimination or excessive tariff rates and to enquire into the condi- 

 tion of Railways chartered by the State Government, and to 

 report facts on which to base future and judicious legislation." 

 By order of the grange, copies of this resolution were sent to the 

 lieutenant-governor, and to the speaker of the Assembly; and 

 it may be taken as an authoritative exposition of the kind of 

 railroad legislation desired by the leaders of the Patrons of 

 Husbandry. 5 



The numerous railroad bills which were introduced at this 

 session were referred to a joint committee, which finally presented 

 the results of its labors to both houses in the form of a bill to 

 prohibit any rates higher than those in force during the first 



1 Chicago Tribune, November 17, 1873, p. 3. 



2 Wisconsin Railroad Commission, Reports, i. 84; Cincinnati Semi-Weekly 

 Gazette, September 16, 1873, p. 7; Prairie Farmer, xliv. 300 (September 20, 1873); 

 Maynard, Patrons of Husbandry in Wisconsin (Ms.); Grant City (Wisconsin) 

 Herald, September 25, 1873; Wester Farmer, September 27, 1873. 



3 Senate Journal, 1874, appendix, pp. 3-23. 



4 Wisconsin State Grange, Proceedings, ii (January, 1874). 



6 Maynard, Patrons of Husbandry in Wisconsin (Ms.), 52-56; Senate Journal, 

 1874, pp. 164-166. 



