Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1883-01-18
AMENDMENTS

The people ct the last election ratified the con
stItutIonaI amendments submitted by the last
| legislature and which amendments have now be
come part OF the constitution Of the state There
VIII be no general election until 1884 and this is
the first Of the biennial sessions of the Legislature
FMS makes II necessary that the appropriations
Tor state purposes should be for two years instead
| IL one as heretofore
PHARMACY
The Board Of Pharmacy was organized under
The act OF the last Legislature by the selection,
tica! society, OF I. H Spence, \. IL HOLSTER, f
itoOlnson, A Conrath and Z. B. HeimStreet, and
they have entered upon their work. and 1 believe
! he law has operated very satisfactory 10 the
druggists throughout the state.
SPECIAL LEGISLATION.
Since the adoption of the amendment which
stands as article of the constitution, prohibiting
special legislation in the cases therein enumerated
there has been persistent and quite successful
effort to evade it The method most popular Is to
make grants powers and privileges to individuals
their associates and assigns. a great many such
grants OF very valuable and important franchises
ana privileges nave been made, and made IN
manner which, in my Judgment, is dangerous to
the public interests
These grants were, before the adoption of tho
constitutional amendment, usually conferred up
on corporations; when so conferred they were sub
| iect to repeal or alteration under the reserved
power" contained in the constitution. Very many
| OF those which have been granted to individuals
and which the legislature will doubtless be called
upon to grant to individuals could be obtained by
| the organization of corporations under the gen
'.ral laws, and if so obtained would be taken and
held subject to the right of the state to revoke
modify. These franchises granted to individuals
| become, when accepted, property. They generally
involve the expenditure of more or less money,
and there is great danger that they would be held
by the courts to be irrepealable contracts and be-
yond the power Of legislative revocation or con-
troll 1t is palpably unwise to make any grant of
powers, frachiSeS or privileges which may affect
the public interests without reSerying to the legiS
latUre the right to repeal alter the same when
ever in its judgment the public interest shall so
demand.
| recommend that no such grants be made by
special act in cases where the object can be at
| tanned under general laws now existing, or which
| can be properly enacted, and that in all cases
where special grant seems to be necessary, there
be inserted in il clause reservng the right TO al
| any time revoke or modify it.
| also suggest to you the utility of considering
| whether a general law may not be framed under
which cities may be organized as efficiently and
well by special act If this can be done it will
! diminish materially special legislation. and viii
save a considerable amount to the people.
| CONCLUSION.
! have thus sought to communicate to you brief
| Y but intelligibly 1.-THE condition of the state,
| With such recommendations in the premises as
| deem eXpedient,
| assure you Of my cordial and diligent cooper.
GtiOn in every proper effort to meet the wants Of
| The people, and to secure to them what they are
| entitled to demand en- honest economical and eff
| hcient government. JEREMIAH NJ. RUSH
| Executive CHAMBER,
| MADISON WIS, Jan II. 1888