Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-01-21


by combining them rigidly to the discharge of a
simple ministerial duty cannot be too strongly
commended. Most assuredly no judicial dlscrlm
lnatlOn should be permitted on the part OF polll-
cal officers far removed from the source of
information and likely to be consciously
or unconsciOusly governed by partisan in
terest. But the power of revision and Judicial de
termination should somewhere exist, TO the end
simply that the popular will may never be de-
feated through the error, incompetence, or crimi-
nal purpose of any subordinate officer OF the law.
| furthermore recommend such an amendment of
existing statutes on this subject will remove
from any canVassing officer now designated by
law both the opportunity and the temptation for
enormously canvassing votes cast for or against
himself.
INDEPENDENT MILITARY COMPANIES.
The eXpediencY Of encouraging the OrganiZa-
ton Of Independent military companies Is ap
proved by continuous legislation from the
foundation of the State Government until the
present time. Under exigencies not unlikely 10
occur under our form of government these or
CARNATIONS frequently furnish indispensable aid
IN the preservation OF order and the administra-
ton of law. The public spirit which inspires
their formation often at large personal sacrifice
on the part Of both officers and men. deserves the
highest commentator, and earnestly hope that
you will deem it wise for the State to contribute
more literally to the support of these OrganiZa-
tions hereafter than heretofore, for the reason
that an efficient organization Of the militia can
not be maintained for the mere pittance now de-
voted TO that purpose.
FISH CULTURE.
BY an act of the Legislature in 1873 there was
appropriated the sum of $500, to be expended
under the direction of the United States Commas
sioner of Fisheries, in promoting the artificial
propagation and introduction into this State of
the better kinds of fish. That money has been
expended as required by law. By act of 1874
the sum of $3.50 was appropriated TO be expended
for like purpose, under the direction of three
Commissioners to be appointed by the Governor.
Such Commissioners duly appointed,
and [ herewith transmit their report and recon-
The United States Government annually
appropriates considerable sums of money in pro-
curing spawns of fish, which are gratuitously do
mated to States provided with similar Commits
siOners. Thirteen States provided, and
their respective reports exhibit the most crafty
ing success in preserving and increasing the sup
ply of this most wholesome food. The extent of
waters adapted to fisheries in this State is i'm
mense, and, with trifling expenditure, the guam
tity and value of this product can be very largely
increased l accordingly recommend suitable
appropriation to enable the Commissioners to
successfully carry out the plans presented in their
report.
PROTECTION OF RAILWAY EMPLOYEES.
call your attention to the propriety of passing
some proper statute which shall enable employees
Of railway companies to recover from their en-
poyers damages for injuries sustained in the line
of their duty, caused by the negligence of CO.
employees and for which the parties injured are
not in fault. Such a statute would tend to secure
men, and thus afford greater security to the trav-
cling public. And for liabilities thus increased
the companies should receive increased compen-
satiOn.
WISCONSIN CENTRAL LAND GRANT.
Early last year application was made to me by
the Wisconsin Central Railway Company for an
official certication that certain sections of road
belonging to that company had been completed
in the manner prescribed by the act of Congress
granting aid for the construction of this tmpor-
tant line. l believed my duty in this case simply
ministerial, and to call for no action except to
facts, which facts were not disputed. In this
view was supported by the Acknowledgement and
a multiplicity of other able counsel. / therefore
declined to assume any responsibility as to the
disposition Of the lands by officially deciding
questions Of law clearly belonging to a Cabinet
officer of the United States. After proper inves-
tigatiOn certificates were accordingly issued de-
claring the completion Of the sections of road re-
ferred to, but accompanied by q further state
ment from me for the information of the Secre-
ary Of the Interior to the effect that no part of the
line from Portage to Stevens Point had been con-
struCted.
DIRECT CoMMU NIcATION WITH LAKE SUPERIOR
No reasonable doubt is entertained but that
this important port ton of the Central Road will
be built at an early day. provided the company is
permitted those notifications of its chartered
line between Portage City and Stevens Point
which seem to be required by the common inter-
ests of the public and the company. I am as
sured and believe that favorable legislation in the
respect suggested would also enable the company
to sooner complete its line from Stevens Point to
Ashland only about fifty miles of which now re-
main unbuilt, and thus render Immediately
and fully available the whole of this line,
including more than 400 miles of new
road The interest of the public in this
result should not be under-estimated [
am informed upon intelligent authority that one
of the immediate results would be to establish
regular lines of communication, by steamers, with
Silver ISLE Isle ROyale, and other valuable mining
districts in and about Lake Superior, thus insur-
ing valuable and increasing contributions to our
general trade and commerce. The completion of
the proposed line from Stevens Point to Portage
City would especially tend to promote the pros
perity OF portions OF the State now most IN want
of more adequate facilities for mutual exchange
of natural products. 1t would open a new and
valuable market for the agricultural productions
of the central and southern counties of the State
and also furnish a new and better market for the
hard and soft lumber Of our northern forests.
The timber lands belonging to the Central Com
pany would thus be largely enhanced in value
both TO the company and to actual settlers; the
development of the vast mineral wealth of the
north would be encouraged and more amply re-
warded, and new impulse be given to the pros
perity Of the prairie districts of Wisconsin,
whose progress in both manufacturing and agri-
cultural industry is now largely impeded for the
want of cheaper building and manufacturing
materials, cheaper fuel and a diminished cost Of
transporting its surplus products to distant mar
ketS.
THE DEMAND FOR CHEAPER FUEL.
The natural and probable extension of the Cen
trail Road southwark from Madison would also
afford the central and southern portions of our
State the advantages of direct connection with the
extensive coal beds of Illinois. The rapid adj
yancement of our manufacturing interests during
the past few years, the preference manifested for
the use of steam a mOtive-power and the in
creasing demand for cheaper fuel, particularly in
the sparsely-tlmbered portions Of the State, rem
der the encouragement of increased facilities in
this respect a question Of great prac-
teal consequence to large proportion of
our most enterprlsing population. The
number of tons of coal imported into Wisconsin
by rail the past year, as shown by the reports of
railroad companies, nearly equaled one-third the
weight of all merchandise by rail, and repre-
sented productive force beyond the poss biity
of even an appropriate estimate. Any legitimate
action on your part to cheaper tkis valuable prod
uct and encourage the further development of
our manufacturing industry cannot fail to COM
mand the general appreciation OF the people.
Roads that will add so much TO the convenience,
the comfort, and to the material prosperity of
our State are entitled'to great encouragement at
your hands.
ADJUDICATION OF EXECUTIVE DUTIES.
In the administration of the Executive Depart
ment Of the Government legal questions of grave
character frequently arise demanding prompt and
final decision. The issuance of certificates to
the Wisconsin Central Railway Company last
year and recent demand for patents of land by
the North Wisconsin Company, strongly contest
ed by other parties, examples of the legal
problems which the Executive is often called
upon TO determine under circumstances which in
vest an erroneous dilatory conclusion with
grave consequences to all the interests involved.
l submit to you the prOpriety of pro-
viding for such amendment of our laws as
shall be necessary to permit the direct reference
of intricate legal and clearly exceptional ques
tlOns OF this character to the Supreme Court for
immediate and final adjudication. While the
proceeding suggested would apparently coufIict
no info If +ba rNI,1,1i