Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-01-17


the Board of State Canvassers should not b,
clothed with power to enforce the correction
OF returns which are manlfestIy erroneous. tt
the end that the person who is the choice oil
the electors for any public Office may, in the
first instance, receive the certificate of cleo
ton, and not be driven to assert his title
thereto by proceeding in court, Or before a
tribunal having Jurisdiction to try his right tt
such Office
REGISTRATION OF VOTERS.
Experience tends strongly to the conviction
that our present law for the registration Of
voters fails to realize the purpose for which il
was enacted, and that it should be made more
efficient, or repealed. The facility with which
voters who have not registered can make the
affidavit required by the statute defeats the
object of registration, and unquestionably
opens the way for great deal OF illegal vot
ing. 1t il submitted to your judgment whether
some more stringent provision should not be
enacted for the protection Of the purity OF the
ballot-box
| THE CAPITOL.
The Capitol Is in urgent need of many re-
pairs, and the Senate and Assembly chambers
require painting, caclmining and partial re-
furnishing. This work will involve the expend
lture Of a considerable sum of money It ia
probable that the present law gives the Execu-
tive sufficient authority in the premises, but
prefer that you should make an appropriation
or such an amount as you deem proper for the
purpose.
+ REVISION OF THE STATUTES.
The Revisers appointed by the Justices of
the Supreme Court, in pursuance Of chapter
203, laws of 1876. to collect and revise the
| general laws Of the state are now engaged
upon the prosecution Of that work It will
not fail to occur to you that their labors should
not be embarrassed by the passage Of amend
ments and new laws, except az demanded by
urgent considerations.
| CENTENNIAL EXHIBITION.
The International Exhibition in commence
ration OF the centennial anniversary OF Ameri-
can Independence was held in the city of
Philadelphia during the past year. It was q
success that should gratIfy every citizen of
the United States. The products OF our own
country were brought into comparison with
| those Of other and older nations, and the re-
| suit was hattering to our people. Nearly all
| of the civilized nations participated in this
exhibition, and the combined efforts produced
the most extensive and most complete show
ing of the products of the world, that have
ever been brought together in any country
! The part taken by Wisconsin in this Exh-
bition was highly creditable to the State. The
Board of Centennial Managers have been zeal
GUS in their efforts to have the natural re-
sources and products Of the State duly repre-
sented, and their efforts were eminently sue.
cessful. They will give detailed report Of
their work at an early day, and feel assured
it will show judicious expenditure of the
money placed at the disposal of this Board;
and that the State will realize, in the future,
large advantages from it. Some two thou
sand dollars OF the sum appropriated for the
| use OF the Board will remain in the treasury,
after all expenses have been paid The at
tendance from this State, WAS about fifteen
| thousand persons
The active part taken in this enterprise by
the women Of Wisconsin is worthy of high
| praise. Their exhibits occupied prominent
~, &l,o 4
gance OF design, superiority of execution, and
in the SKILL and taste OF their arrangement,
were excelled by few, if any, in that depa1t-
ment Our ladies have worked with much
industry; and their labors have been crowned
with gratifying success.
An examination of the awards given by tho
United States Centennial Commission to our
State and to individual exhibitors from it,
will show that the articles presented were
very superior in quality. The wool growing,
the fruit growing and the dairy interests of
the State were fully represented; and the ex-
hibits received marked attention from all Wis
ltOrs, and numerous awards. All in all, our
people have abundant cause for being salts
fed with the position Wisconsin occupied at
this Grand International Exhibition
RAILROADS.
The report Of the Railroad Commissioner
will put you in possession Of the necessary in
formation concerning the condition and opera
lines in this State. From this it will appear
that the whole number of miles OF railroad in
this State ia 2, 647O6, an increase of 141.20
miles during the year 1876. The law passed
by the last Legislature, emitted an act to
amend chapter 273 Of the laws of 1874,
relating to railroads, has proved, as far as the
knowledge Of onr Executive extends, a satis
factory system Of interposing the authority Of
the state between railroad corporations and
their patrons for the prote ction OF the latter
| against the abuses that caused the Legislature
to invoke the power reserved to it Dy the Con-
stitution. While the existing law provides
| that all complaints against the railroads for
e1tortion, or discrimination, shall be investi"
gated by the proper authorities, and if ascer-
tanned to be we'll founded, shall be prosecuted
at the expense of the state, no such complaints
have been made, and the state has not been
subjected to any expense on that account dur
ing the past year. You have come from all
parts of the state, and are fully acquainted
with the wishes and needs of the people. If
| it is the result of your observation that there
is a demand based on sufficient reasons for
| further provisions to secure the objects of the
| law, or for amendments of any character, you
should not fail to enact them.
THE ST. CRoIx LAND GRANT.
The expense of protecting the lands included
| in what is known as the st. Crox land grant
for the calendar year 1876, was 81, 531, 81, 900
VI S@AH0AiNSSA
marshes, making the actual expense for pro-
tecting the timber, Sc, 531, against $26, 267 for
the fifteen months ending January l, 1876. OF
this amount $12, I'll was charged to the grant
between the 30h of September, 1875 and the
time when the act of the last Legislature went
into effect. Reports from the agents convey
assurances that the law has been rigidly en-
forced, and that no trespasses OF serious ex-
tent have been committed during the past
year.
LEGISLATIVE EXPENSES.
1t seems reasonable to expect at your hands
very considerable reduction of the expenses
of the session, as compared with previous
years. Economy should be consulted in the
number of employees, and every opportunity
for retrenchment should be carefully improved.
The allowances to members, in addition to the
compensation provided by the Constitution,
reach an aggregate of about $40, 600, and it i
suggested as proper subject for your consid
Grafton whether they should not De curtailed.
Bnt the most important saving will be realized
if you will proceed promptly and without in
Permission with the transaction of the business
before you, and thus reduce the length of the
session, every day of which adds considerable
sum to the burdens Of the people.
CONCLUSION.
The year through which We have passed
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