Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1857-01-24


been a mere dead letter, and special char
ters have been passed at every session, in
large numbers. 1.-THE general law be de-
fective, it should be amended and perfect
ed, and, hereafter, all plank road COM
panies compelled to organize under it
provisions.
The special charters Of rail and plank roads
alone, occupy over three hundred and fifty
pages of the laws of 1853, and the volumes
Of session laws of each succeeding year
have been burthened by them.
The attention of the legislature is large
~ occupied by local matters, over which
the county boards of supervisors for the
several counties have concurrent jurisdic-
lion, and upon which those bodies are far
better prepared to act Understandings, and
in accordance with the wishes and interests
of the people Immediately affected by such
legislature, than the legislature can be. !
would therefore, recommend, as a matter of
economy on the part of the State, and
expedcncy on the part of the several lccal-
tiles requiring such legislation, that it be
left to the action Of the local legislature
The county board of supervisors.
The legislature have also entertained
business such as vacating streets and vii
lage plats the disposition of which is at
least equally within the jurisdiction Of the
courts. The right Of the Legislature to ex-
ercise this power is doubtful, and | consid-
err its exercise, conceding that the power
exists, unwise and unsafe, without previous
notice to the parties interested.
Entertaining these views, | would earn
estly recommend that t. e Legislature act
upon no measures, the purpose of which
can be attained underground laws; (Which
come within the jurisdiction of the County
Boards Of Supervisors,or any the of Courts
of the State; or which may be properly
disposed of the Secretary of State, acting
in the capacity of State Auditor as hereaf-
ter recommended. By adopting this course
the State will avoid, not only the expenses
of protracted sessions of the Legislature,
but save large sum arising from the pub
LEGATION Of mass of laws of no interest or
consequence to any but few private indi-
viduals Several years experience in the
legislation of the State, have fully satisfied
me that the only practicable method of Sc
curing short sessions, and consequent re-
duction in the public expenditures, is to be
found in faithfully carrying out the views
here briefly suggested.
The legislature, should they deem it ex
pedient, to adopt any Of the general laws
herein recommended, might in some in
instruct the revisers of the Statutes
to incorporate them in their report, thus
obyiating the necessity of consuming the
time Of the present session in passing upon
such acts in detail.
AMENDING THE LAWS.
Another evil which We may be appro
priately mentioned in this connection, is
the propensity manifested by past Legisla-
lures for continually amending, repeating,
and re-enacting the general laws Of the
State, leading to great confusion and uncer-
tainty in the laws, and giving rise to fire.
quent and unnecessary litigation. The gen
eral statutes should only be amended when
there is manifest defect to be remedied,
or manifest good to be accomplished
thereby.
STATE AUDITOR.
Section two of article four Of the Consti-
tuition provides that the Secretary of State
shall be sea ofScio Auditor evidently in
tending that the Legislature should confer
upon that officer general authority to an
i l,11 olo &c al
the State. Notwithstanding this prosis-
ion, however, the Legislature have, in most
instances, exercised this entire power them
selves.
The following are respectively the num-
Der Of Acts of appropriation passed during
the last four sessions:
Session of 1858 27s
ISIS sss q
Much time is occupied in acting upon
these appropriations, materially protract-
ing the sessions, while very great proper
ton of such claims would properly come
under the disposition of the Auditor. /
would therefore recommend, that power be
conferred on the Secretary of State to au-
dit and allow all accounts due may be ac-
curate!y ascertained by compution, and in
such other cases as may seem to you advis-
able, placing that officer under such addi-
tional restraints and guards as will secure
the State against an abuse of trust thus
confdcd. By adopting this course, legisla-
tive expenditure would be sensibly dimin-
shed, and the public interests better pro-
tected than under the present system.
STATIONERY AND POSTAGE.
The expenses for stationary and postage
furnished to the several State officers, and
to the legislature, has greatly increased du-
ling the past few years, and various abuses
are growing up under the present system.
1t would be a matter of economy, and at
the same time probably quite satisfactory
to the persons entitled to these pcrquisites,
to receive, in lieu thereof, a sum of money
sufficient TO make their own purchases
The quality Of stationery purchased for the
State is almost invariably complained Of
by those receiving it. All complaints of
this character ynioht he fins ohviated and