Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-05-14

the loved ones and in sympathy with those
who still mourn, etc.
The following is list of the officers elected
by the Michigan Woman's Suffrage Associa-
ton for the current year: President, Jonas
q. MCGOWAN, Coldwater; First President,
the Rev. DR.. Fisk, Grand Rapids; Second
Vice-President, Mrs John J. BagIey, Detroit;
Third Vice-President, Miss Eliza Leggett,
Wayne County, and seventeen others; Re-
cording Secretary, Mrs n. Geddes, Adrian;
Corresponding Secretary and Treasurer,
George Stickney.
POLITICAL.
The Chicago papers of the 9Th publish the
opinions of Messrs. B. r. Curtis, of Massa-
chusetts, and VIM. M. Erarts, of New York,
as to the constitutionality of the Wisconsin
Railroad law. These opinions were given in
response to an application by the railroad
companies interested, and are to the effect
that the new law is unconstitutional-Mr.
Curtis arguing that the Legislature has no
power to prescribe the remuneration
the railway companies shall receive
for future services that the laws
in question are invalid for the rea-
son that they take the property of the citizen
without giving him any compensation there
for; that they indirectly, at least, invalidate
the obligations of contracts, and that the
power to prescribe schedule of rates for rail-
ways either does not exist in the Legislature
or that it is unlimited, which is, he would have
it, absurd. The burden of Mr.. Evarts'
argument is that the law in question takes the
property of individuals without making any
compensation therefor, and that the provision
of the Constitution of the State of Wisconsin
which reserves the right to repeal or modify
the charter of a corporation cannot be con-
strued to cover a case of virtual confscation.
The New York Legislature at its recent ses-
sion passed Compulsory Education bill.
The Advisory Committee of the Illinois
State Farmers Association met in Bloom
ington on the morning of the 5th, and
organized temporarily by the selection of
W. G. Flagg as President and s. NJ. Smith as
Secretary. Committees were appointed on
Credentials and Permanent Organization. The
interval between the appointment and report
of the former committee was spent in speeches
from different delegates, the general tenor of
which was in favor of a political party. In
the afternoon the Committee on Permanent
Organization reported, recommending that the
temporary officers be made the permanent Off
GERS of the association, which recommendation
was adopted. Mr.. FIagg spoke, taking the
affirmative of the question "Shall this asso-
citation take political action ?' Other dele
gates followed. In the evening Mr.. Flagg,
Chairman of the Conference Committee, sub
mitted report arranging the details for the
calling and meeting of the State Convention at
Springfield on Wednesday, June 10, and also
reaffirming the platform of the Decatur
Farmers Convention of December last. Sew
eral resolutions were offered and tabled, and
the committee adjourned sine die.
The Connecticut Legislature was organized
on the 9th by the election of 7. E. Doolittle
as Speaker of the House. The Governor
message was read in joint convention. 1t
discusses the financial question at some
length, and says the veto by the President of
the Currency bill is a subject for congratula-
ton, and favors a return to specie payments;
urges reform in the revenue system, and views
with apprehension the tendency toward CEN
tralization.
The Indiana farmers are to hold a State
convention at Indianapolis on the 10th of
June.
The Iowa State Republican Cow ention has
been called to meet at Des Moines on Wednes-
day, July 1. The basis of representation will
be the vote cast for Hon. James Beck, Supreme
Judge, at the last general election, to-w1t:
one delegate for every 200 votes and one for
each fraction over 100 votes.
The Michigan State Woman's Suffrage As
ISOLATION met at Lansing on the 9th. About
800 delegates were present Hon. Randolph
Strickland was elected Chairman.
The Ohio Constitutional Convention has
adopted plan for legislative apportionment,
including provision for cumulative voting in
all counties where more than two Representa-
tives or two Senators are to be elected, in
which cases all the votes of any voter may be
concentrated on a single candidate.
In the Michigan Woman's Suffrage Conven-
ton at Lansing on the 9TH officers were elected
and a fund was raised for campaign purposes.
Arrangements were made for county organ
izations in all counties of the State. The
Executive Committee was authorized to en-
ploy speakers and provide for thorough can
vass. Great confidence was expressed in the
success of the canvass.