The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1871-03-30
VETO OF THE CHIPPEWA DELLS
BILL.
STATE OF WISCONSIN,
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
MADISON, March %, 1871.

hAD1oON, HIdlCH ~, To- L.
To the Honorable, the A8SemBM:
No. 1, A., An act entitled "an act to
incorporate the Chippewa River Improve
ment and Booming Company" has been
presented to me for signature. am
compelled, by the strongest considera-
tions of duty to withhold executive APP
proval, and return the bill to your hon
orable body, in which it originated.
The bill confers upon number of per-
sons named therein as corporators impor
tant and valuable franchises. | read
from journal of the proceedings of your
honorable body, on pages $50 and $40,
the sworn testimony of one of these cor
porators, in which he avoWs that he did
indirectly attempt to purchase the vote
of member of the Assembly in favor
of the passage of this bill, and that for
such purchase, if affected, he proposed
to furnish the means. This avowel is
fully corroborated by the uncontr&dicted
testimony of another witness on page $50
and S3T of your journals. Notwithstand
inc this fact, established by his own evil
dence, the bill is sent to the Executive
for approval with his name remaining
therein as one of the corporators to re-
ceiYe and enjoy the benefits of the pro-
visions of the bill
No word of condemnation has been
officially expressed by the Legislature
against this breach of the privileges of
your honorable body and the person con
fessedly guilty thereof has been invested
with every privilege he sought; and to OBJ.
tain which he stood ready to use, and
tried to use such corrupt means. Instead
of being punished, he has been rewarded.
Instead of being rebuked, he has been by
inference commended by the granting,
Immediately upon the disclosure of his
corrupt conduct, of franchise, which it
is claimed win result in great advantage
to himself.
cannot believe that this would have
been done had not the heat and excite.
ment of the contest on this bill proven.
ted calm consideration of these grave
bearings of the case know that you
are not willing to even seem to encour-
age corruption You would uot even
seem to say that when parties come and
ask fo: special and valuable privileges, the
fact that they seek to use the most rep,
rehensible means will not iniure their
application If such construction can be
placed upon the acts Of a legislature, it
is an advertisement to the world that
corruption is not held in adherence. Is
not the honor CT the State at stake in
this matter? Is it not our duty to con
denim, in the strongest terms, such con-
duct on the part of any person who is an
applicant for favors or special rights?
Is it not our duty to deny such favors
when sought b. such means?
BY the laws Of this State (revised stat
utes chapter nine), it is made breach of
the privileges of your body, punishable
as contempt, to give or offer bride to
a member, or to attempt by any corrupt
means, directly or indirectly, to control
or influence member in giving his vote.
1t is also declared a misdemeanor and
punishable by fine or Imprisonment By
other statutes of this State, still more
stringent In their provisions acts of the
kind admitted in the testimony referred
to, are classed among the gravest offenses
against public policy and punishable
with severe penalties
In addition to the evidence disclosed
upon your journal, am advised by a
communication presented to me, signed
by torty-one members of the Legislature,
that in their opinion, formed upon
knowledge as members, the bill has been
aided in its passage by bribery and cor.
ruptlon, and that, under the circumstan-
ces, it would be I" a reproach to the good
name and reputation of the Legislature,
an outrage on individual rights and a
disgrace to the State to suffer the bill TO
become law"
In additional proof has been this day
presented to me- that undue and corrupt
means have been sought to be used by
the statement of a member of the present
Senate to the effect that he was pproach-
ed by one interested in the bill and direct
ly offered the sum of two thousand dol
lars if he would favor 1T and vote for its
passage. To his honor be it said that
be was incompatible.
With such statements and the publish
ed proofs before me, I cannot affix nv
name to the bill. This is the first time
to my knowledge, in many years, that
SUCH charges have been made, and deem
it my duty to take such official action as
will tend to deter, in the future, any men
from endeavoring to influence the course
OF legislation by corrupt and criminal
means
| deeply regret that this painful duty
has devolved upon me. | regret it. be
cause the corporator, whose conduct am
forced to condemn, has been for MANY
years valuable personal friend. re.
greet 1t, because, among those who are
anxious for the passage Of this bill, are
many personal friends, for whom enter
tain high regard. The more do re-
greet it, because my action will bring
deep disappointment to many who have
favored the bill from the purest motives
and strongest convictions of It's Justice
q To-