The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1867-01-17


also commend to your favorable notice the
the project Of constructing ship canal around
the Falls of Niagara. Any scheme which will
aid in securing cheap transportation
to the people of the northwest, should greatly
interest us and be encouraged.
CORPORATIONS.
The strife which for years past has existed be-
tween portion of our people and various cor
porations of the State has, Iregret to say, in no
wise abated. Complaints of injustice and OPP
preston on the part of railroad companies are
still heard. A portion of our people are still
that unjust determinations are
made by these corporations and demanding the
aid Of legislative enactment to reduce the tar
ifs offreight to more equitable standard The
companies on the other hand, still earnestly
assert that their charges are Just and equitable
That there Is wrong somewhere seems prob.
able. That either party is absolutely right OF
wrong, is yno means certain. To arrive at the
exact merits of the controversy, an extended
and critical examination of facts and figures il
required, which no legislature in this State has
vet provided for. This strife is in every way
4os.Ilc 10 the interests of all concerned. 1t in
creases the distruSt with which the people al
ways look upon corporations, and thereby di
mlnlshes their success and impairs their useful
ness. 1t consumes the time of each legislature
in useless and never-ending disputes. 1t repels
the investment of railroad capital within oul
borders. 1t is productive only of bad results
and should be stopped immediately Ifthe rail
roadcompanies are in the wrong, eitherin whole
or in part, the fact should be ascertained, ant
the wrong corrected by proper legislation. The
people have for years past demanded investi
cation, and the corporations invite the same
asserting that honest impartial investigation
Is what they want, and that they will abide by
its award.
Past legislatures have, either from want o
time or facilities for obtaining the requisite in
formation, failed to arrive at at any satsfacto
ry conclusion on the subject. Each succeeding
legislature, therefore, finds itself just where it
predecessor commenced, and before definite &C
ton can be had, the day ofadjournment arrives
and the strife is continued another wear.
know of no better plan for procuring the dati
necessary to intelligent action, than by the ap
polntment OF a committee from your body. O
by the appointment of commission to inyes
tlgate thoroughly and carefully the whole aues
ton, and to submit the result of such inyestiga
ton to his or succeeding legislature. Tki
investigation is due to the corporations, 70
While 1t is your duty to compel on their part
strict observance of the restrictions which tn
State has placed, it is none the less your dut,
to protect them in the exercise of their legiti.
mate franchises. Itisiespecially due to the PEG
pie, and it is your peculiar province, as thei
chosen guardians, to stand between them ant
injustice and oppression, from whatever sourc
it may come, and am confident you will dis
charge this duty without fear or favor.
The subject is important and replete will
difficulties, and should command your early
earnest attention, that exact justice may b,
done.
IMMIGRATION
Now that the war has been brought to sue
cessful issue, and among all classes through
out Europe confidence in the permanence O
our institutions has been fully restored tn,
ho IL
our shores in constantly increasing volume
Almost without exception these people brins
with them habits of honest industry; most o
them bring moderate amounts of capital =
many are skilled in the mechanic arts, and al
are moved by strong desire to better thei
condltlon, and to secure for themselves home
and comfortable surroundings Immediate
steps should be taken to induce as many a.
possible OF their number to settle within thu
borders Of this State. Our countless acres O
uncultivated land, our numerous water priv
leges unimproved, our almost inexhaustibl,
store OF mineral wealth yet hidden in the earth
together with our easy access to the market
of the world, offer to the immigrant advant
ages scarcely to be found elsewhere. If prop
er means are adopted to convey to them cor
rect information as to our resources and geo
graphical position, little else, think, need b,
done. To this end suggest the organization
of a Board of immigration, to be composed n
charge the duty efficiently, in addition to thei
present trusts. l am confident that such ;
BOARD can render very great service to tn
State, with the annual expenditure of a small
amount of money.
The speedy settlement of portion of ou
STATE mas been greatly retarded by reason O
the withdrawal from market ofthe lands grant
ed by the general government in aid of inter
nal improvements.
Efforts have been made to secure a compIet,
and creditable representation of the varied re
sources, mineral, Agricultural, and mechanic
al, OF our State, at the Paris Exposition, to be-
held tins year, that all nations may more thor
oughiy understand our great wealth and in
dustry.
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS, ETC,
Under the provisions of a Joint resolutio,
number g, 1866, the question whether or not {
convention to revise the Constitution should
assemble, was submitted to the people at tn,
last general election, and by them decided il
the negative.
The Legislature of1S65, by joint resolution
proposed an amendment to the constitution
providing for the payment of a salary of thre,
hundred and fifty dollars per annum. witt
mileage, to each member of the legislature
The resolution was ratified by the legislature
OF 1876, but no authority was given for its sub
mission TO the people for their approval This
authority should be supplied during the nres
ent session. The wishes of the people sbould
not be thus thWarted by an oversight, and tC
prevent recurrence, | submit the propriety
OF the passage of general law, AUTHORIZING the
Secretary Of State to give notice in such cases
as suggested by him.
REVISED STATUTES.
No provision was made by the last Iegisla-
ture for the cOditication or revision of the stat
utes: 1t was thought this should not be done
until the question whether or not a constitu-
tional convention should be held, was deter
mined, because. if decided in the affirmative,
the statutes could not be properly codified or
revised until 1t had completed its labors. I
respectfully call your attention to this subject.
being fully impressed with its urgent necessi
W. Ii responsible parties will undertake the
work as private enterprise, with the under
standing that the State shall purchase GER
tam number OF copies, advise the adoption of
this plan.
SPECIAL LEGISLATION.
I again call attention to the constantly
growing evil of special legislation.
During the session Of the last legislature
mere were hVe hundred and eighty-seyen pri-
yate and local laws enacted. Most of these
avs were unnecessary, as the object sought by
mem could have been better attained under
me provisions of then existing general laws
over two hundred acts of incorporation were
passed, creating corporations without banking
powers, IN plain violation of the clause in the
State constitution, which provides ''that cor
)oratlons without banking powers NAV he
ormed under general laws, but shall not be
treated by special act, except for municipal
purposes, and in cases where, in the Judgment
II the legislature, the objects of the corpora
ion cannot be attained under the general
avs" and in face of the fact that such gen
raj law as the constitution contemplates. did
men exist on the statute books. If that gene
al law is defective, it should be amended at
nee, and all future corporate companies, ex-
ept perhaps railroad and insurance. comne1-
ed to organize under its provisions. 1t has
lot been unusual forlegislatures to graveiy in
Jude in acts of incorporation section stating
hat lin the judgment of the legislature the
he objects of the incorporation cannot be at
aimed under general laws" An examination
t the great majority of these acts would con
ince any man that their objects could yery
asily have been attained under existing pen.
raj laws: Such legislation is an evasion of the |
and should cease If Won will |
omply strictly with the clause of the c0nsti- |
utIon above quoted, and will leave to the sew
raj boards of supervisors, and to the state
OIlrtS, all business entrusted 10 +bo.,. =