Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1898-03-17
fl k0nS6nSiGdl Law.

Unnecessary and foolish laws are
not uncommon. Legislators are too
often chosen without regard to fitness
or ability And when incompetent
men get into office they are so anxious
to attract attention to themselves that
tines are apt to do something ridicu-
ious.
In the passage Of chapter 35s, laws
of 1897, the Wisconsin Legislature
made a record for fool legislation
seldom equaled, For complete asini-
nifty it deserve to ranks with the bills
to legalize the records in the Regis
ters Office and to require uudertakers
to be present at the time Of the death
Of the persons whose bodies they
bury.
Sections and Z of chapter S5S,
laws OF 1897, are rs follows:
SECTION I. Every person who shall be a
candidate before any convention or at any
election for any state county. city, town
ship, district municipal ONCE. or for senator
or for member of the assembly in the legis-
lature OF Wisconsin, or for senator or repre-
sentative in congress Of the United states,
shall, within thirty days after the election
held To hll such ONCE make out and file with
the ofilcer empowered by law to issue the
certificate of election 10 such ONCE OF place.
and duplicate thereof with the register Of
deeds for the county In which such candi-
date resides, a statement in writing. which
statement and duplicate shall be subscribed
and sworn to pv such candidate before an
ofiicer author zed TO administer oaths. set
ting forth in detail all sums OF money con-
tributed disbursed. expended or promised
by him. and. to the best of his knowledge
and belief by any other persons or person
In his behalf. wholly or in part in endeavor-
ing 10 secure or In any way in connection
with his nomination or election 10 such
ONCE or place or in connection with the
election OF any other persons at said cleo
zion and showing the dates when and the
persons 70 whom, and the purposes for
which all said sums were paid expended or
promised Such statement shall set orth
that the same is As full and explicit as aua-
ant is able To make II
SECTION Any person failing to comply
with the provisions OF the foregoing section
OF this act. shall be deemed guilty OF mis-
demeanor, and upon conviction thereof.
shan be punished by fine OF not less than
one hundred dollars nor more than five
hnna. "a dollars.
II the law had been framed To apply
to important offices only. those offices
that offer temptation for the inn
proper use OF money, it might be de-
Tended. But to require candidates
for every Office. however insignificant.
to file statement Of expenses or alb
sense of expense is ludicrous Think
Of all the school officers and candi-
dates for school offices showerino
their two or three hundred sworn
statements upon Register Rogers
every year, and of all the candidates
for constable, both the successful and
the defeated candidates, and III the
candidates for town offices. supervis-
ors, assessors. clerks, treaSurers. etc.
DONG Inc same thing II the law is
enforced there soon viii have TO be an
addition TO the court house to hold il
all And who is to pay Tor the regis
ter for filing and taking care 81 all
this matter the candidates or the
eountyo Perhaps some wise 'cgisla-
tor Hill devise 'legalize the records
scheme that viii make the county pay
the cost.
1t is not like lat many j. Ne
viii pay any attention 20 the law. 1t
ought 10 fail At least SO far as minor
offices are concerned. But. ia the
other hand, il IS not safe to di,re2
the law. rhe .ow penalty il 500
and any enc Who .ailS g nlii lis re-
qoirements Is 1t the mercy II every
Spitefui enemy
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