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

fecting the public interests, 30 that il at any
time in the future further and more strin-
gent exercise Of this reserved power should
be necessary to prevent wrongs on the part OF
understanding Of the subject will be accessible
to the legislature and the people.
In determining how the agency shall be con-
stituted through which the state shall exercise
its control over railroads, as iE all other mat
ters, economy is an object that should be
consideration how this may be efficiently and
vigorously performed, with the least expense
to the people Of the state.
THE CENTENNIAL.
You Will recognize the Importance Of pro-
viding for the adequate representation of Wis
consin at the Centennial Exposition which is
to take place at Philadelphia during the pres
ent year, both as a matter of state pride, and,
for more substantial considerations. The oc-
casion will afford an excellent opportunity to
display the resources and products of the
state, and to attract hither capital and immj
grafton. Nearly al of the states have appropri-
ated liberal sums for the purpose. and Wiscon-
sin should be creditably represented, or not at
all. l submit to your generosity and patriot
ism to appropriate such an amount as shall
seem to you to be sufficient, to be placed in the
hands Of the State Board of Centennial Man
ayers, leaving it to them to determine how it
shall be expended.
/ would call your attention to the present
provisions OF law, under which it is possible
for many officers and employees Of the state to
receive their salary in advance, and. in view
OF the fact that Immediately after 80 receiv-
ing, designations and removals have occurred,
would recommend the passage Of law
making all salaries payable at the end Of each
month or quarter.
THE PROTECTION OF STATE LANDS.
1t has become serious matter to provide
for the protection against trespassers of the
school and university lands, and the tract
known as the st. Croix grant A system
seems to have prevailed by which large dep
were committed, and the state was
left TO secure redress by the collection OF
6tumpage from trespassere. This system is
wrong III principle, and ruinous in practice.
La the nature OF things, the sums collected Ill
the settlements with the trespassers must be
vastly less than the value of the timber
taken. II am correctly advisea, it has come
to be regarded as profitable business to strip
state lands of their timber, and then effect a
settlement. Whatever power rests III the
Governor to reform this practice will be vigor
ousiy exercised, and il it shsll appear that fur
ther legislation is necessary to secure that re-
suit, l cannot urge too strongly upon you the
duty of providing it. The only true policy in
dealing with this subject is to prevent dep
relations and in this work | urgently solicit
your cooperation.
EISH PRoPAdATION.
The artificial propagation of fish is becom-
ing one Of the leading industries OF the coun-
try. The legislature OF 1874 authorized the
governor to appoint three commissioners to
superintend the Matching and distribution Of
the fry Of spawn donated by the United States
to the state. The commissioners were ap-
pointed and entered upon the discharge Of
their trust. The sum Of $4,000 was appro
priated to the commissioners to be expended
Iad ~, II.
second annual report, giving detailed state
ment of their operations for the past year.
Measures designed to increase the food re-
sourc es OF the people are entitled to your care
full consideration. The appropriation Of last
year WAS inadequate to the wants of the COM
missioners in the matter Of state Matching
house. With the facilities Of such an estab-
the money expended will go much
further and yield more satisfactory results. l
therefore recommend that you give the sub
jecta careful examination and such aid as i'll
your judgment the interest OF the state re-
quires.
TASTY LEGIsLATIoN.
There are two evils which, in my opinion,
you should seek equally to avoid. Ore ~
these is unduly prolouging the session, ever
day OF which visits considerable burden up
on the treasury. The other is undue haste in
the dispatch Of business in the closing days of
the session, which leads to the passage of
crude laws, and makes it impossible for the
Governor to exercise proper care III the ex-
animation OF bills that are presented for hts
approval. The remedy for both evils is. it
seems to me, that You should apply yourselves
promptly to the lators before you, and mature
the more important projects Of legislation at
the earliest possible day.
ECONOMY.
l cannot impress upon you too strongly that
in all respects you will best meet the wishes
of the people by strict regard for economy.
In p, issuance of this policy, there is no SAVING
so trif1ing but that it is our duty to realize it
if we can. The business of the state ought to
be transacted with the smallest number Of
agents that can transact it efficiently, and
possibilities for retrenchment ought to be
sought diligently in all departments of the
government, and wherever they may be found
they ought to be improved to the utmost. 1t
has been remarked, with what justice cannot
assume to say, that the expenses incident to
the sessions of the legislature are greater
than warranted by actual necessity. II such
shall appear to be the fact if it shall be found
that there is a single officer or attendant that
can be dispensed with, or any other source of
expenditure that can be closed, earnestly
recommend that you apply the remedy In
all departments of the government, the same
course should be pursued, and in your efforts
to this end, l pledge you my hearty coopera-
ton. The conditions that now surround the
people of this country, call for private and
public economy, and for the reform of any
habits of wasteful or needless expenditure into
which we may have fallen under more pros
porous circumstances.
STATE BOARD OF CHARITIES AND REFORM.
The State Board of Charities and Reform have
prepared very full report of their work for the
year. and in submitting II to you / would call your
attention specially to the passages on appropria-
lions and prison reform. The members of the
board have critically examined the reports and
dition of the state ins1t utioDs under their
vision, and their recommendations are entitled to
great weight. The care of criminals Is an import
ant part of every scheme of good government, but
however rlucb the penal statutes of the state need
systematzing, radical and fundamental changes of
the law should not be made except upon the most
mature deliberstion.
CONCLUSION.
1t is not the part of wisdom to disguise the fact
that the people of this state, in common with those
of all sections of the Union, have suffer ed some
abatement of the prosperity that they have enjoyed
in the past. At the same time it Is 1nanifesy true
that in the relative condition of state there is
abundant cause for coDgratulation and for graft
tude TO the Providence that has made our history
record of uniform progress. We may accept Il az
evidence of the natural advantages of Wisron-
sin, of the solid foundation upon which her indus
trial and commercial interests built, and of the
intelgence and integrity of her citizens, that,
amid the depressing conditions that have overtak-
en- the country, the or, dit OF business has
been only slightly impaired, that our fiscal institu-
tons have, with very few EXCEPTIONS maintained
their solvency, and that labor has generally been
able TO command employment.