150 WISCONSIN" ACADEMY SCIENCES, ARTS, AND LETTERS. 



bunal that should stand on its own basis, not being the mere crea- 

 ture of some other department. 



Our Commissioners ought to be the courts of last resort in rail- 

 road matters, and no more amenable to the State Legislature than 

 the judiciary is now. Mr. Windom's proposition for a Railroad 

 Bureau is in the right direction, bat it is not radical enough as he 

 has up to this time developed it. The first work of such a commis- 

 sion would be an investigation of all the elements which figure in 

 the sums on which it is claimed dividends should be paid out of the 

 rates assessed, and the remorseless rejection of all the no-property 

 which is now confouuded with property, when such rejection can 

 with justice be done. Then a proper basis will be laid for a just as- 

 sessment of rates. We have long been running a reckless race, 

 careless how we loit our rights, or who picked them up. It will 

 be a long way back to the corr^^ct position. But courage, persist- 

 ence and honesty will take us there. 



