Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1892-10-27
THE GOVERNORS ADDRESS.
The Apportionment Bill Before tho Leg.
islature.

MADISON. Wis, Oct. 1s.-The legisla-
ture went into joint session in the AS
sembly chamber. On motion of Sem
ator Mcbride a committee of two
was appointed by President Jonas, of
thesSenate to wait on the governor and
inform him that the two houses
were in session and ready to
receive his message. Senator McBr1de
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
the special session in June last, by
the passage of the act of the LIST
of July for the apportionmnt of the
did not contemplate the possibility of any
occasion arising which should make it my
duty to again convoke this legislature for
further public service. The apportion-
ment then made appeared to me to
conform to the requirements OF the con-
Interpretation, so far as had been then
declared by the supreme court, and
it discretion is given to the legislature,
in the apportionment of members and the
arrangement Of Senate and Assembly dis
tricts, / could not but think it my
legislature exercised the discretion sup
posed to belong to it. l was
we'll assured of your intention
to keep carefully within the strict
limits of your constitutional powers, SO
that neither occasion for just complaint
n OF ifxy rfh
body could arise; but. the supreme
court has recently decided that the
act passed at the special session
fails to conform to the requirements
Of the constitution 6y reason
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
euualities are found in the number OF IN
habitantS III 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
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 apportionment
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 oe
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 l 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 cOnsttutlonallty
of any apportionment, and that none will
desire any ARRANGEMENT or dlVlS-
ion which shall be in any wise un-,
Just or preventive of due proportional
opinions of the electors OF the state. NO
matter how Ubiquitous the effects Wis
the the people of this state by
unfair spportlonments, the fact should
not stimulate dlspOSltlon TO retailate SO
vent in the future like oppression and IN
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 1t should De
well done.
| commend it therefore to your body,
certain that it Will be welcomed as
the proper course to pursue 10
to bring it within the lines OF the
legislative discretion as given by by
the constitution, but also to- ADA.
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 tai III
O'Clock tomorrow morning.
k1lnodS m Sardinia.