Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1875-01-21

|
plonage or an offensive dictation wholly incon.
sistent with that freedom Of individual action
and opinion upon which the sacred character oil
the ballot depends. Such a reform would tend
to preserve rather than endanger the purity OF
the ballot box, for the obvious reason that the
additional time allowed inspectors for receiving
votes in crowded preeiRsts would furnish the
wholesome result might I anticipated from this
change in the fact that III would wholly remove,
on the part Of candidates for Office all apology
for corruptly offering money as a pretended COM
pensaton to voters for valuable time lost In 60
| ing TO and from the polls. Our system OF govern
mcnt contcmplates and requires full, free and
inexpensive exercise 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 elections. especially manifest in efforts
| to influence results by "A corrupt nse OF money.
That elector who measures the value of his vote
or his political influence by dollars and cents is
| unworthy the respect of honest men or the priv
| ileges Of a citizen. No legislation Is too strln-
gent and no penalty too severe for the prevention
| and punishment of practices of this class: and
| respectfully submit to you the proprety of such
additional legislation as shall more e1ecjually en-
| force the spirit and purpose of existing statutes
The payment of money or properly at the polls or
elsewhere in consideration of political services
influence, and for the purpose Of unduly affecting
| the results OF nomination or election, is an
| offense 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 people
against any fraudulent canvass of votes. The re-
strictions now imposed upon canvassing boards
by contnng them rigdly to the discharge of
simple ministerial duty cannot be TOO strongly
commended. Most assuredly no judicial dscrim-
nation should be permitted on the part OF poiti.
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 as 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 APP
proved by continuous legislation from the
foundation of the State Government until the
present time Under exigencies not unlikely to
occur under our form of government these
CARNATIONS frequently furnish indispensable aid
in the preservation of order and the administra-
ton of law. The public spirit which ins pires
their formation, often nj large personal sacrifice
on the part OF both officers and men, deserves the
nlgDest commentator, ana earnestly nope 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
not be maintained for the mere pittance now de.
voted to that purpose.
rIsH CULTURE.
By an act OF the Legislature in 1873 there
appropriated the sum of $500, to be expended
under the direction Of the United States Commis-
sioner Of Fisheries. in promoting the artificial
propagation and introduction into this State OF
IN. h.sta t.Ia .xHa Oh
expended a. required 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
Commissioners to be appointed by the Governor.
Such Commissioners were duly appointed
and herewith transmit their report and recon-
meEdanons IN respect TO future operations
The United States Government annually
appropriates considerable sums of money in pro-
curing spawns of fish, which are gratuitousiy do
mated to States provided With similar Commits
sioners. Thirteen States are so 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 trhng expenditure. the guam.
tity and vane of this product can be very largely
increased accordingly recommend a suitable
appropriation to enable the Commissioners TO
successfully carry ont the plans presented in their
report.
PROTECTION 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-
ployers 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 i'll fault. Such statute would tend 10 secure
the employment of more cautious and reliable
men. and Thus afford greater security to the tray
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 certihcaton 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 impor-
tant line believed my duty in this case simply
ministerial, and to call for no action except as to
facts which facts Were not disputed. In this
view was supported by the Attorney General 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 Cabinet
officer Of the United States. After proper inves
tigaton certificates were accordingly issued de
claring the completion of the sections of road re-
ferred to- but accompanied by further state
ment from me for the information of the Secre
tary of the Interior to the effect that 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 portion of the Central Road will
be built at an early day, provided the company Il
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 aud the company. l am
sured and believe that favorable legs lation 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 tins line,
including 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 II communication, by steamers, with
Silver Isle, Isle Royale aud otheryaluable mining
districts in and about Lake Superior, thus insur-
ing valuable and increasing contributions 10 our
general trade and commerce The completion OF
the proposed line from Stevens Point to Portage
c,ullr