Office of the Commissioner of Railroads

The Office of the Commissioner of Railroads is the independent regulatory agency responsible for regulating railroads located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin.[1]

Office of the Commissioner of Railroads
Agency overview
JurisdictionWisconsin
Headquarters4822 Madison Yards Way; Madison, Wisconsin 53707-7854
Agency executive
Websitehttp://ocr.wi.gov

The commissioner was originally much involved in fare setting for the railroads in Wisconsin. The Office of the Commissioner of Railroads is now largely focused on issues of safety. It is the state agency with primary responsibility for making determinations of the adequacy of warning devices at railroad crossings, along with other railroad related regulations. These duties include:

  • Installation of new highway/rail crossings
  • Alteration of existing crossings
  • Closing or consolidating existing crossings
  • Repair of rough crossings
  • Determining adequate railroad fences and
  • Exemptions from railroad track clearance laws

The commissioner's office consists of one full-time commissioner appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Wisconsin State Senate for a six-year term.[2] The current commissioner is Don Vruwink. The commissioner is assisted by a staff of four, as of January 29, 2021.[3]

History

Wisconsin regulation of railroads began with the 1874 passage of the "Potter Law" ("An act relating to Railroads, Express and Telegraph Companies in the State of Wisconsin," later Chapter 273 of the laws of 1874) regulating the freight rates charged by railroads, a central concern of the Grangers movement. The bill was introduced by Republican State Senator Robert L. D. Potter and passed with the support of Governor William Robert Taylor's coalition of Democrats (such as George Howard Paul), reform Republicans, and Grangers (the "Reform party"), which had secured the election of Taylor as governor in 1873. The Board of Railroad Commissioners thus created consisted of three commissioners: John Wesley Hoyt, George Howard Paul, and J. H. Osborn.[4] When the law was challenged by powerful interests led by politician, financier and railroad owner Alexander Mitchell, a compromise with Mitchell was eventually worked out; but the reform coalition was nonetheless defeated in the 1875 election and the Potter Law was repealed in favor of a much weaker substitute body.

Commissioners
Order Commissioner Took office Left office Notes
- John W. Hoyt April 29, 1874 March 10, 1876 Appointed under the original 1874 law.[5]
George H. Paul April 29, 1874 March 10, 1876 Appointed under the original 1874 law.[5]
Joseph H. Osborn April 29, 1874 March 10, 1876 Appointed under the original 1874 law.[5]
1 Dana C. Lamb March 10, 1876 February 1, 1878 Appointed under the revised 1876 law.[5]
2 A. J. Turner February 1, 1878 February 15, 1882 Appointed under the revised 1876 law.[5]
3 Nils P. Haugen February 15, 1882 January 3, 1887 Elected under the 1881 law.[5]
4 Atley Peterson January 3, 1887 January 5, 1891 Elected[5]
5 Thomas Thompson January 5, 1891 January 7, 1895 Elected[5]
6 Duncan J. McKenzie January 7, 1895 January 2, 1899 Elected[5]
7 Graham L. Rice January 2, 1899 January 5, 1903 Elected[5]
8 John W. Thomas January 5, 1903 January 7, 1907 Elected[5]

Notes
  1. "About Us", Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Railroads.
  2. "Wisconsin Legislature: 15.06(1)(ar)".
  3. https://ocr.wi.gov/
  4. Bashford, R. M., ed. The Legislative Manual of the State of Wisconsin: Comprising the Constitutions of the United States and of the State of Wisconsin, Jefferson's Manual, Forms and Laws for the Regulation of Business; also, lists and tables for reference, etc. Fourteenth Annual Edition. Madison: Atwood and Culver, Printers and Stereotypers, 1875; p. 204
  5. "State Government". The Blue Book of the State of Wisconsin, 1911 (Report). State of Wisconsin. 1911. p. 542. Retrieved July 9, 2022.
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