Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1892-10-26
THE GOVERNORS ADDRESS.
This Apportionment Bill Before the Leg
islRture.

Ths Apportionment Bill Before the Leg
islature.
MADISON, Wis, Oct. 18.-The legisla-
tre went into joint session in the AS
sanbly chamber. On motion of Sem
aor Mcbride committee Of two
vas appointed by President Jonas, of
the Senate to wait on the governor and
inform him that the two houses
were in session and ready to
receive his message. Senator Mcbride
and Judge Mead, of Washburn,
were appointed as such committee.
The committee retired and returned
with the governor. He was received
with applause and then, from the
speakers desk, read his message, as fol-
lows:
FELLOW CITIZENS OF THE SENATE AND
ASSEMBLY: When you completed the
the special session in June last, by
the passage of the act of the LIST
of July for the appOrtiOnmnt of the
state into Senate and Assembly districts,
did not contemplate the possibility OF any
occasion arising which should make 1t my
duty to again convoke this legislature for
further public service. The, appOrton-
ment then made appeared to me to
conform to the requirements OF the con-
StltutiOn and to have met every rule OF It's
Interpretation, so far as had been then
declared by the supreme court, and
if discretion is given to the legislature,
in the appOrtionment of members and the
arrangement of Senate and Assembly dis
trictS / could not but think 1t my
duty TO approve the manner III which the
legislature exercised the discretion sup
posed to belong. to it. was
to keep carefully within the strict
limits of your constitutional powers, SO
that neither occasion for just complaint
could exist or any necessity for further
action on the part OF your
body S could roca but Gacdt the S S1Prembe e
act passed at the special session
fails to conform to the requirements
of the constitution, by reason
of diSDrOpOruOn III population IN
some Senate and Assembly districts, but
mainly, as it would appear, because III the
division of some counties entitled TO two or
more Assembly districts, unnecessary in
capabilities are found IN the number of in
habitantS in such districts.
| have been unable to see any course
open to the executive except to reconvene
the legislature as the only body having
constitutional authority to make proper
provision for the election OF another
legislature and the continuance OF the
political government of the state. This
has been the more imperative BECAUSE, by
the same rules and principles Which have
now been announced by the court,
no apportionment ever made in
the state since the adoption of
the constitution has been constitutional or
valid, and therefore no appOruOnment
whatever remains available to the electors
of the state. Indeed, upon careful
comparison of your last act for the
appOrtionment of the state into Senate and
Assembly districts, with every similar act
which has preceded it, it is gratifying to be
able 10 say that no other shows so small
proportiOnable inequalities Of population
in the arrangement of either Senate or
Assembly districts, or appears so fair and
just.
But | am sure every member OF your
body and, trust, every citizen of the state,
will agree in desiring that no Ques-
ton shall exist about the cOnStitutOnality
of any apportionment, and that none will
desire any ARRANGEMENT or diviS-
just Or preventive of due proportional
representation in the legislature of the
opinions of the electors Of the state. No
matter how Ubiquitous the effects Wis
tied during so many. years upon
the. people of this state by
not stimulate disposition to retaliate so
much as a desire to SO legislate as to pre-
vent in the future like oppression and in
justice.
You will also doubtless find it necessary
to make, for the pending election, some
special provisions amendatory to the gen
eral law shortening the time now
fixed for filing nomination papers, the CIV
ing of notices and the performance of some
official acts, and, perhaps, in other
particulars which will suggest themselves
to you: and although circumstances make
an early completion of your business de-
sirable, it is still more SO that it should be
we'll done.
commend it therefore to your body,
certain that it VIII be welcomed as
the proper course to pursue. TO
carefully review your former act, not only
to bring it within the lines of the
legislative discretion as given by
the constitution, but also to add,
if possible, by every circum-
stance of patient consideration in
its enactment, the assurance to all of its
business and fairness toward every inter-
est in the state.
After listening to the governors mes
sage the legislature adjourned till 10
o'clock tomorrow morning.