The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1876-01-20

nished and to be furnished to the several state
institutions In this connection, your at
tention is directed to that part OF
the directors report referring to the money
deposited by the warden with the Corn Ex-
change Bank Of Waupun. cannot gree with
the directors that the salaries OF ali officers
and employees of the prison be left to the de-
termination of their board
The manufacturing business OF the prison,
during the past fiscal year, has not resulted in
financial success, and am OF the opinion
that it's continuance is unjust to our mechan-
les and opposed to the best interests OF the
state. Prison goods have been sold during
the year at q small percentage above the cost
of raw material, and the convict work thus i'm
properly brought in competition with the hon.
est labor OF the state. At the last session of
the legislature a resolution was introduced
the object OF which was to secure the appoint,
ment OF commissioners to investigate and re-
port whether more advantageous place for
the location of the State Prison could not be
selected. l would recommend the passage of
&, resolution authorizing the appointment of
commissioners to Investigate the advantages
CT changing the location Of the prison and the
employment Of the convicts.
THE APPoRTIoNMENT.
1t will be your duty to redivide the state in
re Senate and Assembly districts, according to
the census taken during the past year. In
doing this, your aim should be to secure equal
Ivy III PopIidtiOn. cOutlSQlCy OF territory ana
identity Of interests; and considerations Of
partIsal advantage should not be permitted
to defea hese objects.
CENSUS AND IMMIGRATION.
The ce 5uE, provided for by the last legsla.
ture, has en- completed, and lie published as
an append to the report of the Secretary of
State Fir u this, it appears that the popula-
ton OF the gate is 1856 29, an increase OF
1872 O59 since the last previous enumeration in
1870. The natural attractions which Wiscon-
sin possesses LII SO high degree are doubtless
the main influence that has operated to pro-
mote the growth Of the state, but second only
to this is the policy of encouraging immigrants
from other lands to find homes within our
limits. The question is commended to your
solution, whether any further legislation il
desirable to realize this policy, and to attract
to our state the frugal and industrious men
and women, many thousands of whom are
yearly landed upon the shores OF the new
world.
THE STATE CANVASS.
The Secretary of State, State Treasurer and
Attorney General are made, by law, state
board of carYaesers, to receive, open and
count the certified atements of the votes
given In the different counties. When these
officers are themselves candidates. this pro-
vision devoIves upon them very delicate
duty from which they would undoubtedly lie
glad to be Seieved- | therefore recommend
the passage Of an act providing that when
any member of the state board Of canyassers
is candidate he shall SO adyic g the Chief
Justice Of the Supreme Court, and the Chief
Justice shall thereupon designate Judge OF
the circuit court to act in his stead.
RAILROADS
The present condition OF the railway inter
ests IN the state, and the existing laws affect
ing that system, are earnestly recommended
70 the consideration of the Legislature. With
the exception of the line from Portage to Ste
DA;vN IA st he al,
the state received q land grant, which is now
IN process OF construction, no railways are
being built within the limits of the state.
While the central and eastern portions of the
state are well supplied with these facilities,
the southwestern and northern portions are
almost wholly without them. None of the
companies ownings or operating lines within
the state have paid dividends to their stock
holders for the past two wears. The line from
Milwaukee to ManitowOc, and thence to APP
pleton, has recently been sold under judicial
proceedings growing out of a failure to pay in
terest on their first mortgage bonds, those
citizens and municipal corporations of the
state who had contributed largely to it's con-
struction, losing their investment.
With the exception of the Chicago milwau-
kee and st. Paul, the Chicago and Northwest
ern, the Mineral Point and the Western Union
railroads, none OF tho companies have paid
interest on their bonds during the past year,
and during that year the existing laws restrict
ing the companies in the amounts they shall
charge and receive in compensation for SER
vices rendered have been enforced. The power
OF the Legislature to make and enforce these
restrictions has been distinctly affirmed by the
Supreme Court, Their decision is now under
revision by the Supreme Court OF the United
States, and it is believed that the decision @:
cur own Supreme Court will be affirmed. It
will be admitted by all that this power is one
Of vital Importance, requiring for it's exercise
great care and Judgment.
1t cannot be denied that the existing laws,
passed in the exercise Of this power, have,
either justly or unjustly, impaired the credit
of the state and of it's individual citizens in the
commercial and financial centers of the world.
With immense resources undeveloped and
consequent need Of capital from sources where
it is in excess, the people find capital repealed
by Legislation which would seem to be 80 far
in conflict with the rights of capital as to put
the best interests of the people themselves
hazard.
That such legislation should have excited
unfayorable comment is not strange. That
capital has been invested in the building of
railroads; that they are in daily use in the ser
vice Of the people; that such use pays nothing
to its owners; that the owners are compelled
by law to permit such use, and are deprived
by law of the right to say what they shall re-
ceiye for it, are facts patent to all obsel vers
1t must not be forgotten; On the other hand,
fore this legislation was had, the companies
were extortionate in their charges, un Just in
their determinations and arbitrary and op-
pressive in the exercise Of their chartered
powers; that the true interests Of the people
are promoted by these statutes, and that their
continued existence is indispensable to the
protection of their rights
Can there be found medium in legislation
which shall fully protect the rights and inter-
ests OF the people, and at the same time be
just to capital 1 believe that such may be
found, and it's Importance will Justify the
earnest efforts of both the legislature and ex-
ecutive.
Certain fundamental principles must be kept
con stantly III view in preparing such legisla-
ton:
l. The rights Of the people against corpor-
atoms, as against all others, must be protected
by efficient laws. No extortion, no unjust dis
ordinations, no arbitrary acts Of oppression
must be permitted. The remedy for such acts
must be speedy, and the punishment sure
2. 1t must also be remembered that such
corporations are Indispensable to the material
prosperity OF the state. 1t is not desirable
that these great properties should be owned
by thssstate. They are too large to be owned
by single individuals That corporations
should continue to own and manage them
seems neces sity. They must have the same
protection from the laws that other citizens
have.
The state cannot afford to be unjust TO any