Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1899-01-19

D y.
vcrslcs over timber and other values.
II has seemed to me that the popular will
upon the pass subject says The governor. can
only De expressed by legislation which " III de
stroy The system root and branch. and eluti-
nate from Ii. at least SO far MS state official,
are concerned, as far as u can De done by
Legislation, the possibility Of amy favors di
rectly or Indirectly In the matter. There
fore, ] believe that the legislation should
not De restricted TO the giving OF passes by
300 corporal ions Indicated or their accept
Luc. by Is public Official for his owD use but
tlat the prohibition should extend TO any
/ person upou the request OF public officials.
Ia this yirW the Law should prohlut the
granting Of passes or the acceptance OF
lasscA or franks, 70 or By public officials and
aiso the granting Of transportation or
fFanks. Or facilities of any kind. 20 any per
SON directly or indirectly. upon the request
Ut any public official one Of the platform
declarations Is sufficiently broad TO extend
the prohibition To the granting TO, or ac-
ceptance by. mayors. aldermen and other
public officials ~ municipalities. All that
I have said upon the subject IN It's relation
10 state oliciats certulnly applies 10 all mu-
nlCipa uhorities who have duties to per
form legislative or otherwise, with refer
enCc TO local franchises. recommend thar
an adequate constitutional amendment bc
submitted To the people in order that II
adopted. the prohibition shah be a part of
the permanent law Of the state. beyond
reach OF legislative modification or repeal
ana that there be promptly enacted lecis.
iatlpu covering the same ground. TO be in
force until l. shall have been superseded by
constitutional amendment,
Both the leading political parties in con.
ypntOu also declared for the enactment or
legislation adequate 10 destroy what Is
called the legislative lobby and 10 protect
the members Of each body from malign in
dupnccq. II Is not supposed that IL was
or could ho intended TO preclude. ii IL were
possible 80 TO do by Legislative enactment,
the people from communicating 10 their rep
FnscntatINcs, either at che capital or other
wise. their wishes or wants as 10 legislation.
Every citizen has the right. which cannot be
FtfV
60 oppose legislation ana to present in a
proper manner the reasons for his her
contention. The platform declarations are
evidently not intended 60 Isolate the legis
l8ture from it's constituency. 10 do so would
be To destroy In Il considerable measure its
representative capacity Members of the
lcgisla,ure, Ike the executive, are but agents
of the people. charged with The duty Of ear
rying out. within the limits of the constitu
tion, the VIII of the people properly eX
pressed. The evil sought to be reached Is
60 remove from the Legislature the sup
posed danger OF undue influence resulting
either in the defeat Of needed legislation or
the enactment OF vicious legislation. just
what form efficient legislation for the pur
pose Indicated can take without doing harm
as well good, | confess my inability az thiS
time 10 see. The legislature can pass no law
which viii prevent persons from coming TO
or residing in the capital city during the
session of the Legislature. IL" Legislature
intended 10 protect legislation against not
only corrupt Influences but against inu
encps not strictly corrupt but sinister be
cause secret. These the governor quotes and
adds IL Is quit, clear that the penalty pro
vidcdis Inadequate No greuter oneusc against
our system of government, unless II be trea
son, can welt BE- conceived than the de
lihcr1te corruption of public servants. Such
mn ufpnsy. when proven, ia not adequately
punished By iinp one convicted Of 1t should
be made % bear The degradation OF imprIs
Ounicni. The statutes cNciude from the right
oi suffrage every person convicted of bribery
The enforcement OF a portion Of these stat
utcs, In so tar as they relate so legislation
depend, very greatly upon the go operation
OF members Of the legislature Ordinarily
thr o0euso OF bribery cor improper influence
Is secret Those who bride or are brihed are
not likely 90 tell of II. Those who are I'M
duly or improperly influenced II they are
conscious of b., are not likely 10 give pub
ucity tu the fact. The best deterrent, SO Jar
as ~ relates 60 public officials. is the GER
rainty of prompt exposure and punishment
Each house haas the matter mainly in It's
own hands Every member Of the Legislature
Improperly approached should unhesitatngy
make 1t known as not only an insult to hin
self. an OHCnsc against the people. but an
attack upon the dignity aud honor of the
body of which lace Is q member. Every mem
her oi q body charged with the duties OF leg
i~lltluu. who knows OF the exercise of undue
influence. or has good reason "a believe 1t.
owes a solemn duty 10 himself 20 the PEG
pie. aud to tive house of which he Is mem
her. go make known the fact, aud to set In
motion the invest lguting powers Of the body
7 hr conrralmrut hy u member OF such body
Of the fact 1r Wci grounded suspicion, of
. corruption or attempted corruption. Is not
much less hVlupus ulfcnse against popular
government than the oleusr Of being cor
'uuuy Influenced u is entirely within the
province of each house 60 determine who
/ shall be- admitted 90 The floor and who shall
be- excluded The exercise of that power by
each HOUSE Is evidenced hy the standing rules
Of ruCh body. " Is within the power Of each
body IL Us Within the power of each house
90 modify and strengthen or weaken these
{ rules OF wilt. and mauifcsty the power TO
enforce hem. and the extent of their en-