Page:The Wisconsin idea (IA cu31924032449252).pdf/63

 What was to prevent the railroad from raising the rates in order to provide for the increased taxes? Some protection was necessary, so in 1903 a bill was introduced based upon the Iowa plan, whereby the commission made a schedule of rates for the railroads to follow. This bill was the cause of a severe battle in the legislature, but was finally defeated. The railroad question was made the issue of the next campaign, and the leaders determined to make the most perfect law possible. The Iowa plan was abandoned and the country was scoured for advice; the regulative law of all the different states and of foreign countries was closely scrutinized. No more patient study was ever given to any one bill in the history of the state. The leader in all this research was Senator W. H. Hatton, a man of large business interests and great ability. He introduced a new principle and laid down the thesis that it was as much the duty of the state to furnish transportation facilities as it ever had been to make roads or build bridges, and that if the function was delegated to any one, it was the duty of the state to regulate it so that the agent should be required to furnish adequate service, at reasonable rates without discrimination. When the legislature opened Mr. Hatton was appointed chairman of the senate committee on railroads and began his long and patient struggle for the passage of the bill in spite of practically a hostile majority. During this entire