River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1883-01-18

out delay, cause the channel Of the Lower Fox
river. between Lake Winnebago and the upper
government dam al Appleton. 70 be restored 10 lls
natural width and capacity, and SHAH canse sucn
changes and alterations to be made in the dams at
Menasha and Appleton, not inconsistent with Sc
curity TO navigation. as may be necessary 70 reduce
to and maintain the waters Of Like Ninnebago anu
Little Buttes des Mortes, respectively. at then
natural height: and a sufficient amount OF said
sum appropriated is made Immediately available.
Ii only remains now for the secretary Of war,
through the engineer department, TO carry out the
plan as agreed upon and authorized by !aw. II IS
hoped that action will not longer be delayed. and
that the plan adopted will afford adequate protee-
ton against injury from overflow, aud that, too.
without detriment to any other locality or prop
erty.
Under the provisions Of law enacted by the last
legisiature.the supreme court named Hon. N u. Van
Slyke aud Hon John Winans. ard the State Hiss
totical society named Hon. L. W. Reyes as coiilI
missioheTs with certain Of Il State officers named
therein, TO contract for the construction OF capi-
tol extension. The board has performed this duty
with much care, ard the extensions are berg
erected in thorough aud substantial manner AID
viii be ready for occupancy within the present
year. There has been expended OF the appropria-
ton this year the sum Of $49,2lT.S9 fer work al
ready completed, the State retaining as a guaranty
for the fulhlInent Of the contract, Is per cent Of
the estimated cost Of the work done.
AGRICULTURAL
This is the foremost interest in our State, and
merits your most consderato attention. The So
cietes which have been organized for the advance
nent OF the various branches Of agriculture should
be literally sustained The time has arrived when
means should be pro yided for gathering accurate
monthly crop aud live stock reports during the
growing season, and complete labor statistics, and
their prompt circulation among the people. For
this purpose | would recommend that YOU provide
for State hureaa OF agricultural and labor sta
dstics.
Tie State Agricultural society has been of mate
rial value to the farmers Of the Sate yet its intu
enee for good could be largely increased If It re-
ceiyed that encouragement which It's Importance
demands The society is now embarrassed by in
dehtedness amounting TO some $1,000, caused in a
measure by clause in the act of last winter. sppro
prating s., 900 upon certain conditions which the
society failed to comply with. / recommend that
the conditions imposed by the acts appropriating
aid to the State aud Northern Agricultural societies
be removed, and sufficient amount appropriated
to pay the Indebtedness of the former.
The dairy interest of State has grown with
such wonderful rapdty that 1t stands to-day Sec
ond to none in the Union. Our dairy products
have now a national reputation and ate eagerly
sought in the markets. The Wisconsin Dairy1nen's
association accomplishing great good in edncat-
ing farmers 10 better methods and improved ab-
planes; and should bb encouraged by liberal APP
'ep''A'- AMENDMENTS.
TIE people, at the last election, ratified the cons
sttuiiona amendments submitted by the last iegisr
lature, and which amendments have now become q
part of the constitution Of the State. There will
he no general election until 1884. and this Is th
first Of the biennial sessions of the legislature
This makes it necessary that tho appropriations FOL
che, as heretofore.
SPECIAL LEGISLATION.
Since the adoption of the amendment whlct
stands as Article of the constitution, prohibiting
special legislation in the cases therein enumerated
there has been persistent and quite successful eff
fort to evade il. The method most popular Is Il
make grants of powers and privileges to indivdu
ais, their associates and assigns. great man,
such grants of very valuable and important fran
chises and privileges have been made, and made u
a manner which, in my judgment. Is dangerous t
the public interests. These grants were, before tn
adoption of the institutional amendment, usua
conferred upon corporations; when 20 conlerfe'
ihay were subject to repeal Or alteration under tn
Preserved bower" conalned in the constitution
Very many of those which have been granted to in'
dividuals, and which the legislature will douotes
be called upon to grant to individuals, could De oo-
tanned by the organization of coIp orations undel
the general laws. and if so obtained, would b'
taken and held subject to the right of the State t'
revoBe modify. These franchises granted to IN
dividuals become, when accepted, property. They
generally involve the expenditure of more or less
money, and there is great danger that they woult
be held by he courts TO be irrepeaable contracts
and beyond the power of legislative revocation
or control. 1t is papaby unwise to make any
grant of powers, franchises or privilege
which may affect the public interests without re-
serving to the legislature the right to repeal o.
alter the same whenever in its Judgment the pub
lie interest shall SO demand. recommend that ne
such grants be made by special act in cases wher'
the object can be attained under general laws now
existing; or which can be properly enacted ant
that iu all cases where special grant seems to b
Necessary there be inserted in it clause reservin.
the right to at any time revoke or modify it. als'
suggest to you the utility OF considering whether
general law may not be framed under winch cllie
may be organized as efficiently and well as b!
special act. II this can be dcne, it will Diminish
materially special legislation, and will save con
siderable amount to the Teopie
] have thus sought 10 communicate to you brief!
but inteliGibly "ihe condition Of the State. will
such recommendations in the premises as deem
expedient,
i assure you of my cordial and diligent co-opera
ton in every proper effort 10 meet the wants OF Thu
people, and TO secure to them, what they are or
titled to demand, an honest, economical and Ell
cient government. JEREMIAH NJ. RUSK.