Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1877-01-18
WHOLE NO. 1860.
:. Private Secretary be authenticated
hereby.
SUPREME COURT.

resolution, no. 10, adopted by the
J Legislature of 1876, proposing to
amend section 4, of article VII of the
Constitution of the State of Wisconsin
, providing for the addition of two JUS
| tees to the Supreme Court. Should
it be deemed best to submit this ques-
ton to tie people, the proposed
amendment will require your assent al
the present session.
PUBLICATION OF SESSION LAWS.
A change seems desirable in the
provision of the act relating to the
printing of the session laws, which
declares that no volume shall exceed
one thousand pages The laws OF
1876 exceeded by few pages the
number to which volume is limited,
and in consequence it became neces.
sary to publish them in two volumes,
at an additional cost to the State OF
| $4,000. 1t would seem that some dis
erection might safely be left with the
Secretary of State, or some other Of
ficer
PEDDLERs' LICENSES.
Chapter 395 of the Laws of 1876,
relating to hawkers and peddlers,
ought in my judgement, to be amended
so as to allow all persons to buy and
sell the products of farmers without
being subject to license. 1t cannot
be supposed that the Legislature in
tend to raise a revenue from that
source. 1t has come to my knowledge
that farmers who were on their way
to market with products from their
farms, and who have bought from
their neighbors to fill up their wagons,
have been arrested and fined for ped
ding without license This is gross
ly unjust, and the law should be so
amended as to afford no pretext for
such proceeding
NoTARIEs PUBLIC.
1t often occurs that notaries public
continue TO transact business in that
capacity after the expiration of the
term for which they were appointed.
At every session of the Legislature
there are a number of bills introduced
to legalze acts done under these cir.
cumstances. Very serious conse-
quences are likely to occur from the
loose practice that now prevails. |
recommend that a law be passed re.
curing the Secretary of State to give
notaries not less than two weeks no.
tice of the time at which their COM
missions will expire.
| STATIONARY AND SUPPLIES
So much of chapter 2ll of'the Laws
of 1874, respecting the advertising for
proposals to furnish stationary and
other supplies, as requires publication
in New York papers, ought to be re-
pealed. The cost is considerable and
no corresponding benefit is realized
The publication in this State and in
two Chicago papers answers every
necessary purpose.
! LUMBER.
1t would afford statistics of consid.
cradle value, if law were passed
compelling persons cutting logs in
this State to report to the lumber in
spector for the district the number of
feet cut, and requiring inspectors to
consolidate such reports and forward
them to the proper authorities of the
State.
| INTERNATIONAL PRISON CONGRESS.
A request has been received from
the American Science Association
urging this State to send delegate
to the International Prison Congress,
which will convene at Stockholm by
invitation of the Swedish Govern
ment, In August 1877. Should it be
thought best to have Wisconsin offic-
tally represented in the Congress, it
will be necessary for you to authorize
the formal acorediting Of the delegate.
ELECTION AND RETURNS.
The present election has fully dem
| onstrated that our election laws are
deficient, and especially so respecting
the powers and duties Of county can
vassers and the State Board of Can
vassers. It would be difficult to cx-
press my opinion more forciby than
by quoting the language CT the Su-
preme Court in the case Of The State
ca rel nc Din D. The Board of State
CdnudSSerS and the Secretary of State
! (36Wis., 698.) "The State carefully
guards against excess of election re-
turns, but fails to provide adeqeate
means fer supplying deficiencies and
correcting errors therein, II Is well
worthy the consideration of the Leg
islature whether these tabular state
ments should not be required to be
made and returned, and whether the
Board of State Canvassers should not
be clothed with power to enforce the
correction of returns which are mani
testify erroneous, to the end that the
person who is the choice Of the elect
ors for any public office may, in the
first instance, receive the certificate
of election, and not be driven to as
sert bis title thereto by proceeding
in court, or before a tribunal having
Jurisdiction TO try his right to such
office"
REGISTRATION OF VOTERS.
| Experience tends strongly to the
conviction that our present law for
the registration of voters fails to rea-
lie the purpose for which it was en-
acted, and that it should be made
more efficient, or repealed. The ia
oility with which voters who have not
registered can make the affidavit re-
quired by the statute defeats the OBJ
iect of registration and unquestiona-
bly, opens the way for great deal of
illegal voting. 1t is submitted to your
Indictment whether some more stFin-
cent provision should not be enacted
for the protection OF the purity OF the
ballot box
THE CAPITOL.
The Capitol is in urgent need of re-
pairs, and the Senate and Assembly
chambers require painting. oaloimin-
ing and partial refurnishing. This
work will involve the expenditure Of
considerable sum of money. 1t ia
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