The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1875-01-21
on. exemption from ordinary taxation on that &C.

ifclguA ilUte, organized without TIC CiafN- o1-
! islation as 70 the taxation Of public corpora
uoEs seems TO have been founded pom the theory
that the exercise OF any valuable rancnise within
the State implies obligation In the burdens as
well in the blessings OF government The ex-
emption of earnings FROM telegraph lines, express
companies, sleeping-car and colored freight
lines il apparently Inconsistent with this or any
other theory Of equitable taxation. Possibly the
local tax upon elevator property Is now sufficient
ly large exclude II from this list OF dscrimina
lions, but the foreign sieeping-car and coIored
freight lines above named. a. well a. telegraph
and express companies, pay TAX merely nom
inaf.
As 70 the latter corporations. complaints are
frequently made that the fees charged are dis
eliminating excessive, and that the public are
often compelled 10 endure losses ar inconvenience
fe- which the Laws afford adequate remedy.
" lille am in possession Of no facts Of sufficient
authority To warrant recommendation OF spe-
cIhc legislation. suggest such aciion on your
part ar shall be necessary to bring these corpora
tions clearly within the range OF public super
vision. and that in order to more definite deter
mnation Of the relation Of these compauis: TO the
public the Board OF Railroad Commissioners De
instructed to report 10 The next Legislature any
and all material facts within reach concerning
their organization and management.
TIE ELECTION LAWS.
Again / call the attention Of the legislative de-
partment TO the costly and complicated machinery
FOR conducting elections in this State. More than
81. 90 were required from the general fund the
last wear Tor the single item Of election blanks.
and the local expense incident to registration IN
all the election precincts throughout the State
amounting TO many thousand dollars mo!e-in
my opinion far exceeds the benefits derived. II
is charitable 10 suppose that the object sought 10
be attained IL the purity OF the ballot-box.
Bat IL Is difficult to see how this purpose
il essentially promoted by the exist
ing requirements Of the act. In its
application TO towns some OF its provisions are
especially expensive, superfiuous and obnoxious.
The average number OF the voting population OF
each town i. considerably less than 20 and the
changes in the registry list from year TO year
so in-ignihcantiy email In comparison with the
I al .frfa
necessity for those slow and tortuous approaches
TO the ballot-box sometimes deemed expedient
| in less conservative communities. The quail.
| fcations Of electors are clearly and
wisely prescribed by the State Constitution
| The iInpTactieable character of some
Of the provisions OF the existing Registry Law are
/ the natural and manifest consequences of an
| effort 10 attach 10 those qualifications super
| abundant conditions not contemplated BY that
Instrument. and in clear violation of it spirit
Under the law. IL L. one l. denied the right
| of suffrage RhO accompanies his ballot with the
| appropriate proof OF qualification, and under
/ the law, as IL IL, large numbers fail TO comply
| with the requirement Of previous registry. ad
wise the abrogation of no reasonable and efficient
| safeguard. Most heartily commend every effor
| to prevent ali corruption and all crime in
| tended 10 subyert the honest VIII OF the people
| BHt provisions Of law which are IN their nature
| offensive expensive, practically inefficient oil
| effectually void furnish no protection and de
| serve no defense Accordingly | recommend
| repeal Of such parts of the present law as re
| quire preliminary registration Of electors. ant
| the enactment of any eompensating provisions
/ that may be deemed requisite TO secure an hon
est expression of the will of electors and faith
ful and intelligent discharge Of the duties of IN
| spectors at elections.
| TIME or CLOSING POLLS.
| | also renew in this place the recommendation
I OF my previous message for more liberal legisla
| ton in behalf Of workingmen, BY an extension
Closing the PoiIs IN the larger cities
| Experience has nearly established the fac
that large fraction Of our laboring popula
Of the elective franchise under laws that d,
! not permit the exercise of that privilege without
| pccuniary sacrifice. IL il too often the TACT
| moreover, that laboring men compelled to Gas
| their votes during hours of the day belonging Il
| their employers are subject TO an ANNOYING es
| plonage an offensive dictation wholly incon
| sistent with that freedom Of individual actor
| and opinion upon which the sacred character o
| the ballot depends. Such reform would teut
/ to preserve rather than endangCr the purity o.
| the ballot-box. for the obviou. reason that III,
additional time allowed inspectors for receiving
votes, in crowded precincts, would furnish the
| most efficient security possible agains
| corrupt voting. Another and still mort
| wholesome result might be anticipated from thi
/ change in the fact that IL would wholly remove
on the part OF candidates for Office. all apology
| for corruptly offering money as a pretended com
pensation to voters for valuable time lost in go
| Ing TO and from the polls Our system of govern
/ ment contcmplates and requires a full, free ant
inexpensive exercise ofthe right of suffrage By al
| qualified electors, OF whatever class, and every
| act Of legislation 10 that end is sanctioned BY
every principle of justice, and must necess arily
| prove wholesome in its influence
| CORRUPT USE OF MONEY IN ELECTIONS.
feel confident that you will concur with mS
/ in deprecating the increasing evils attendant
upon our elections especially manifest in efforts
| TO infinenec results by corrupt use of money
| That electpr who measures the value of his vote
| or his political influence by dollars and cents i;
! unworthy the respect of honest men or the priv
ileges of a citizen No legislation is too strin
gent and no penalty too severe for the prevention
and punishment of practices Of this class: and
respectfully submit to you The propriety OF suef
additional Legislation shall more efectually en-
force the spirit and purpose of existing statutes
| The payment of money or property at the polls o.
elsewhere in consideration of political services o.
influence and for the purpose Of unduly afiectin!
the results of nomination or election. al
| ofense against society, and should be unhesitat
| ingly condemned by law.
cANyAssING VOTES.
| The question Is worthy of your consideration
whether more intelligent provisions of law should
not be enacted for the security of the peopl,
| against any fraudulent canvass Of votes The re
| strictions now imposed upon canvassing boards
| by couhning them reidly to the discharge of 6
| simple ministerial duty cannot be too strongly
/ commended. Most assuredly no judicial discrim
ination should be permitted on the part of politi
| cal officers far removed from the source o
| 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 enc
| simply that the popular will may never be de-
! feated through the error, Incompetence, crim
nal purpose of any subordinate officer OF the law
! | furthermore recommend such an amendment OF
existing statutes ON this subject as will remove
! from any canvassing officer now designated by
| law both the opportunity and the temptation foi
enormously canYassing votes cast for or against
| himself.
| INDEPENDENT MILITARY COMPANIES.
| The expedency of encouraging the organiza
ton OF Independent military companies is ap
proved by continuous legislation from tht
| foundation of the State Government until The
! present time. Under exigencics not unlikely u
| occur under our form of government these or
| CARNATIONS frequently furnish indispensable aid
| in the preservation of order and the adminstra
/ ton of law, The public spirit which inspire.
their formation. often at large personal sacrifice
on the part Of both officers and men, deserves the
/ highest communication. aud earnestly hope that
you will deem 1t 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 wa.
/ appropriated the sum of $500, 10 be expended
under the direction of the United States Commls
sloner Of Fisheries, in promoting the artificial
| propagation and Introduction into this State OF
| the better kinds Of fish. That money has beer
| expended as required by law. By an act of 1871
/ the sum OF $3.50 WIS appropriated 10 be expended
! for like purpose, under the direction of three
| Commissioners to be appointed by the Governor
| such Commissioners were duly appointed
and ! herewith transmit their report and recon-
mendations In respect to future operators
| The United States Government annually
| appropriates considerable sums of money in pro
curing spawns of fish, which gratuitously do
mated TO States provided with similar Commits
sioners. Thirteen States are so provided. and
their respective reports exhibit the most gratify
ing success in preserving and increasing the sup
! ply Of this most wholesome food. The extent al
waters adapted to fisheries in this State is i'm,
mense, and, with trihing expenditure. the quan
tity and value OF this product be very largely
appropriation 20 enable the Commissioners Ia
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-.
pioNers 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
the employment of more cautious and reliable
men and thus afford greater security to the trav-
eiing 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 certihcaiion 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 lnpor-
iant line: believed my duty in this case simply
ministerial, and 20 call for action except as to
facts, which facts were not disputed In this
view was suppOrtedhy the Attorney General and
multiplicity OF other able counsel. | therefore
declined 10 ASSUME any responsibility as TO the
disposition of the lands by officially deciding
questions Of law clearly belonging to Cabinet
ofneer of the United States. After proper inves-
tgailon certificates were accordingly isshed de-
clai1ng the completion Of the sections of road re-
ferred to- but accompanied by further state
meni nom me for the Information of the Secre-
tary OF the Interior the effect that no part of the
structed 49,
DIRECT COMMUNICATION WITH LAKE SUPERIOR.
no reasonable doubt is entertained but that
TINS important portion of the Central Road will
De onlit AZ an early day, provided the company
permitted those podi6cati0ps Of its chsr,.rad