The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1875-01-14

advise the abrOgatiOn of reasonable and ETH
Client safeguard. Most heartily commend every
effort to prevent all corruption and punish all
crime intended TO subvert the honest will OF the
people, But provisions of law which IRE II their
nature offensive, expensive, practically inefficient
or actually void, furnish protection and deserve
no defence. Accordingly recommend repeal OF
such parts Of the present law require preiiml-
nary registration Of electors and the enactment OF
| any compromising provisions that may be deemed
requisite to secure honest expression OF the Will
of electors and faithful andintellgent discharge
! OF the duties OF inspectors at elections.
fsA" TIME OF CLOSING Potts. -
I also renew 10 this place the recommendation OF
my previous message, for more liberal legislation ID
behalf Of working men, by an extension OF the time
now provided by law for closing the tpolls III the
larger cities Experience has clearly established
the fact that large fraction OF laboring popu-
lation are practically denied the privilege OF
the elective franchise under laws that do not per
nit the exercise OF that privilege without peeuni-
airy sacrifice. It is too often the fact, moreover,
that laboring compelled to cast their votes du-
ring hours of the day belonging to their employers,
are subjected to an annoying espionage or an Of
fensiye dictation, wholly inconsistent with that
| freedom OF individual action and opinion upon
which the sacred character OF the ballot depends.
Such reform would tend to preserve rather than
endanger the purity of the ballot box, Tor the OBJ
vious reason that the additional time allowed in-
spectors for receiving votes in crowded precincts,
would furnish the most efficient security possible
against corrupt voting. Another and still more
wholesome result might be anticipated from this
change in the fact that it would wholly remove, on
the part Of candidates for Office all apology for cor
ruptly offering money as pretended compe nsation
to voters for valuable time lost i'll going to and from
the polls. Our system Of government contelnplates
and requires full, free and inexpensive exercise
of the right of suffrage by all qualified electors, Of
whatever class, and every act OF legislation to that
end is sanctioned by every principle Of justice, and
must necessarily prove wholesome in its influence.
CORRUPT USE OF MONEY IN ELECTIONS.
feel confident that you will concur with me In
deprecating the increasing evils, attendant upon
our elk cions, especially manifest in efforts to in
fuence results by corrupt use of money. That
elector who measures the value Of his vote or
his political influence by dollars and cents, is I'M
worthy the respect Of honest men, or the privi-
eges of citizen No legislation is ZOO stringent,
and no penalty too severe for the prevention and
punishment of practices of this class: and I re-
sps ctfully submit to you the propriety of such ad
dtional legislation shall more etfectuay enforce
the spirit and purpose OF existing statutes. The
payment Of money or property at the polls or else
where in consideration of political services or in
duence, AID for the purpose of unduly affecting
the results Of nomination or election, is an
ofense against society, ard should be unhesitat1ng
y condemned by law. $4,000 l
t.N 4-t CANyAssING VOTES. III l.l
The question is worthy Of your consideration,
whether more intelligent provisions should not be
enacted for the security Of the people against any
fraudulent canvass of votes. The restrictions now
imposed upon canyassing boards, by confpjng
them rigidly to the discharge Of simple m1nj9te-
rial duty, cannot be too strongly commended
Most assuredly no judicial discrimination shoud be
permitted the part Of political officers far re-
moved from the source of Information, and likely
to be consciously or unconsciousy governed by
partisan interest. But the power Of revision and
judiciil determination should somewhere exist, to
the end simply that the popular will may never be
defeated thr ouRb the error incompetence or Grim
inal purpose of any subordinate officer Of the law
furthermore recommend such an amendment of
existing statutes on this subject as will remove
from any oanvassing officer now designated by law,
both the opportunity and the temptation for erro-
nsously canvasstng votes cast for against him
self,
"a. INDEPENDENT MILITARY COMPANIES.
The expediency Of encouraging the organization
OF independent military companies Is approved by
continuous legislation, from the foundation Of the
state government until the present time. Under
exigenciss not unlikely TO occur under form Of
government, these organizations frequently furnish
indispensable aid IN the preservation OF order and
the administration of law. The pubic spirit which
inspires their formation, often at large personal
sacrifice the part of both officers and men, de-
serves the highest coInmendation, and earnestly
hope that you will deem 1t wise for the state to con-
tribute more literally to the support Of these
CARNATIONS hereafter, than heretofore for the
son that efficient organization OF she militia can
not he maintained for the mere pittance now de-
voted to that purpose.
.f FISH CULTURE.
BY an act Of the Legislature in 1873 there Was APP
propriated the sum of $500, to be expended under
the direction of the United States Commissioner of
Fisheries, i'll promoting the artificial propagation,
and introduction into this state, Of the better kind
of dsh. That money has been expended as re-
| quired By law. BY an act Of 1874, the sum OF
| $3.50 was appropriated to be expended for like
purpose, under the direction Of three commission
| ers, to be appointed by the Governor. Such COM
| missioners were duly appointed, and / herewith
transmit their report and recommendations III re-
spect to future operation. The United States gov
| eminent annually appropriates considerable sums
| Of In 0TGCuFiOO IF fish which
gratuitously donated TO states provided with SIM
| lar commissioners. Thirteen states arc SC pro
vided, and their respective reports exhibit the
/ most gratifying success in preserving and i'll
| creasing the supply of this most wholesome food
The extent of waters adapted to fisheries in this
| state is immense, and with trlfing expenditure
the quantity and value of this product can be very
! largely increased. I accordingly recommend suit
able appropriation to enable the commissioners &c
successfully carry out the plans presented in then
| report.
| PROTECTION OF RAILWAY EMPLOYEES.
| call your attention to the propriety of passing
some proper statute which shall enable employees o.
railway companies to recover from their employers
damages for injuries sustained in the line of the
duty, caused by the negligence of cO-employes and
| for which the parties injured are not in fault
Such statute would tend to secure the employment
of more cautious and reliable men, and thus AFFORD
greater security to the travelling public. And fol
| liabilities thus increased, the companies should
| receive increased compensation
| WISCONSIN CENTRAL LAND GRANT.
Early last year, application was made to me BY
| the Wisconsin Central Railway Company for al
official cerifcation that certain sections of roao
| belonging to that company had been completed II
the manner prescribed by the act of Congress
granting aid for the construction of this important
| line. believed my duty in this case simply min
istera and to call for action except as to facts
which facts were not disputed In this view wa.
supported by the Attorney General and multi
plcity Of other able counsel. therefore declined
to assume any responsibility as to the disposition
| ofth lan1s by ofhciously deciding questions OF
law CLEARLY belonging Ito cabinet officer of the
United States. After proper investigation, cert6.
Gates accordingly issued declaring the compile
tion of the sections of road referred to- bat
| panied by further statement from me for the In
formation OF the Secretary of the Interior, to the
effect that no part of the line from Portage to
| Stevens Point had been constructed. t
/ DIRECT COMMUNICATIONS WITH LAKE SUPERIOR.
No reasonable doubt is entertained but that this
important portion Of the Central road will be built
at an early day, provided the company Ia permitted
| those notifications Of Its chartered line between
Portage City and Stevens Point which seem to be
required by the common interests of the public
and the company. / am assured and believe that