Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1879-03-12
Legislature of 1879.

The Wisconsin Legislature of 1879
adjourned sine aie at IL o'clock las.
w ednesday, after session OF 81 days.
The session was much shorter than las,
year, which lasted II days. The
whole number Of acts passed by1 the
Legislature of 1879 were 256, of which
large part were laws of local char
acter. The most important measures
OF general nature which were enacted
are given in the following extract clip
ped from the Madison Journal:
The annual tax levy was s24S 900
against S405, 900 in 1878. There was
appropriated SIS 600 to the inventors
the Oshkosh steam wagon. A law
Was enacted, providing that tramps
should be either sentenced to six
months hard labor in the county jail
where arrested, or be put in close con-
fnement on bread and water for 30
days, iu the discretion of the Judge; or.
in ease of relusal to work. 10 be sent to
State Prison for term not exceeding
two years The bounty on wolf scaJps
was repealed. The cities of Seymour,
In Outagamie county, and Ahnapee,
In kawaunee county, were Incorporate
ed. Two new counties were erected.
viz: price" and "Marinette;" the
boundary of the county of New was
established, but it was made a portion
of Shawano, until the census Of 1880
shall show that there are 1000 or
more inhabitants in the proposed new
county. Provision was made for the
publication and distribution of the tow
laws OF the State; this compilation
will be particularly useful in the lay
ing out of roads, especial pains being
made TO give all necessary forms 10
this most important branch of town
law. An act was passed, looking to
the completion Of the Sturgeon Bay
Ship Canal by obliging the company
to finish their work before being award
ed State land therefor. The Governor
Is by one act. authorized to request
competing owners of electric lights to
place their machlues on exhibition in
Caption, Tor inspection by the mex,
Legislature, the State, however, not
being bound to purchase any zone OF the
competing machines; nor to be at any
expense incident to their exhibition
The Capital PARK Com MISSION was abo-
lished, thus leaving the care of the
park in the hands of the Governor
The Supreme Court having declared
unconstitutional those portions of the
assessment law which regulated the re-
assessment Of properly after litigation
an act was passed amending the obno1
lous sections, but not otherwise chung
ing the general features of the law
Provision was made for regulating aud
to certain degree restricting the aduI
teration of food, drugs. etc. A Board
of Emigration was established. to con-
slst OF tive persons, of whom the Cover
nor and Secretary. Of State, shall be
eo:-obicao members; the sum Of S.. 500,
for salary of Secretary etc.. is tie max
impm appropriation for the Board, and
an Office is to be established in the Cap
ltol The Statute revisors had thought
that there were no more soldiers or
phans under age 10 the Stare, so had
abolished the Board of Trustees Of the
Orphan Asylum; but it being discover
ed that there were some eight or ten
orphans yet under age. an act was pass
ed le-establishing the Board till Deem.
Der, 1879. to provide for the care
thereof in private families; expenses
are limited to 5000; all these orphans
will become of age by the time stated.