The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1877-01-20

CURED 10 be made and returned. and wbatber
the Board of State CGnvassers should not be
clothed with powerto enforce the correction
OF returns which are manifestly erroneous. to
the end that the person who is the choice OF
the electors fer any public Office may in the
irst instance, receive the certificate Of cleo
ton, and not be driven 10 assert his title
thereto by proceeding in court, or before
tribunal having jurisdiction to try his right to
1uch Office"
REGISTRATION OF VOTERS.
Experience tends strongly to the convection
that our present law for the registration Of
voters fails to realize the purpose for which it
WAS enacted and that it should be made more
eth lent, or repealed The facility with which
voters who have not registered can make the
afhdayit required by the statute defeats the
OBJECT OF registration, and Internationally
opens the way for great deal of illegal vot-
ing. 1t Is submitted to your judgment " beth er
some more stringent provision should not Ie
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, calcImining and partial re-
furnishing This work will involve the expend-
lture Of considerable sum of money. 1t ia
probable that the present law gives the Execu-
i've sufficient authority In the premises, but /
prefer that you should make an appropriation
OF such an amount IS you deem proper for the
purpose.
REVISION OF THE STATUTES
The Revisers appointed by the Justices of
the Supreme Court, in pursuance OF chapter
2O3 laws of 1875, to collect and revise the
general laws OF the state, are now engaged
upon the prosecution of that work It will
not lali to occur to you that their labors should
not pc embarrassed by the passage of amend
ments and new laws, except as demanded by
urgent consider atoms
CENTENNIAL EXHIBITION
he international Exhibition in commemo-
ration of the centennial anniversary OF Ameri-
Gao Independence was held in the city OF
Pnlladelphla during the past year. It was a
success that should CRAFTY 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 t1atteriDg ID 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 or the products of the word that have
ever been brought together in any country.
The part taken by Wisconsin in this Exhi-
bltlon was highly creditable to the State. The
Board OF Centennial Managers ave been zeal
GUS In their efforts to have the natural re-
sources and products of the State duly repre-
sented and their efforts were emil entity sue
cessful They will give a detailed report of
their work at an early day, and feel assured
1t 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
eaud dollars OF the sum appropriated for the
use OF the Board VIII 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 a prominent
position in the Women's Pavilion, and in ele :
gence OF de sign, superiority of execution, and
in the skill and taste of their arrangement,
We're excelled by few if any, in that depalt-
ment Our ladies have worked with much
industry; and their labors have been crowned
with gratifying success.
An examination of the awards given BY the
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 x
hi bits received marked attention from all VS.
ltor5, and numerous awards. All in all, oul
people have abundant cause for being salts
lied with the position Wisconsin occupied al
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
tlons of the several railway companies having
lines Ia this State. From this it will appear
that the whole number of miles of railroad in
this State is 2647.G6, an Increase of 141 &c
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 salts
factory IF inf tho q
the state between railroad corporations and
their patrons for the protection Of the latte
against the abuses that caused the Legislature
to invoke the power reserved to it Dy the Con-
stitution. While the existing law provide
that all complaints against the railroads for
extortlon, or discrimination, shall be inyesti-
gated by the proper authorities, and If ascer-
tanned to be well 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 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
LII hAdI 10 huONu DIS Lu0 d. OTOlA ldIQ grant
for the caleadar year 1876, was 81, 531, 81, 900
OF which was expended in exploring the hay
marshes, making the actual expense for pro-
tecting the timber, sc, 591, against $26 267 for
the fifteen months ending January /, 1876 or
this amount $12,771 was charged to the grant
between the Sob 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 rigidIy 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, 900, and it
suggested as proper subject for your consid
Grafton whether they should not be curtaiIed
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
will inevitably occupy an important chapter in
the history Of the Republic. But while we
must all be interested spectators OF the events
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