Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-01-19

force until it shall have bean superseded by
constitutional amendment
Both the leading political parties in con-
yention also declared for the enactment OF
legislation adequate TO destroy what is
called the legislative lobby and to protect
the members OF each body from malign in
nuenceS. 1t is not supposed that it was
or could be intended 10 preclude if it were
possible so TO do by legislative enactment
the people from communicating to their rep
resentatlyes, either at the capital or other
wise, their wishes or wants as to legislation
Every citizen has the right, which cannot be
taken away from him or her, TO ask for or
| to oppose legislation. and to present in a
proper manner the reasons for his or her
contention The platform declarations are
evidently not intended to isolate the legis-
| iature from its constituency To do so would
be to destroy in considerable measure its
representative capacity. Members of the
! legislature, like the executive are but agents
| OF the people. charged with the duty of car
| rying out. within the limits of the conStitu-
! ton. the will of the people properly eN-
| pressed. The evil sought to be reached is
TO 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 we'll good. | confess my inability at this
! time TO see. The legislature can pass no law
which Will prevent persons from coming to
| or residing in the capital city during the
| session of the legislature. The legislature
1 many years ago passed laws, still in force,
| intended to protect legislation against not
| only corrupt Influences but against influ-
| enceS not strictly corrupt, but sinister be-
| cause secret These the governor quotes and
| adds 1t is quite clear that the penalty pro
| vidediS inadequate. No greater ofenSe against
| our system of government, unless it be trea-
| son, can well be conceived than the de
| liberate corruption of public servants Such
an offense. when proven, is not adequately
| punished by fine. One convicted of it should
be made to bear the degradation of imprs-
onment The statutes exclude from the right
OF suffrage every person convicted OF bribery.
The enforcement of a portion of these stat
uteS, in so far as they relate to legislation
depends very greatly upon the cooperation
| of members of the legislature. Ordinarily
the offense of bribery or improper influence
is secret. Those who bride or are bribed are
not likely to tell of it. Those who are I'M
duly or improperly influenced, if they are
conscious of it, are not likely to give pub
| hcity to the fact. The best deterrent, 50 far
as it relates to public officials, is the GER
tainty of prompt exposure and punishment
Each house has the matter mainly in It's
own hands. Every member of the legislature
| improperly approached should unhesitatingy
make it known as not only an insult to him
self, an offense against the people, but an
attack upon the dignity and honor of the
body of which he is member Every mem
Der of body charged with the duties of leg
islation, who knows of the exercise of undue
influence, or has good reason to believe it
owes a solemn duty to himself to the PEG
pie, and to the house of which he is mem
Der, to make known the fact, and to set il
IhOIIol the nNeSIISdIlnS powers Oh the DOGS
The concealment by member OF such a body
of the fact, or wellgrounded suspicion, OF
corruption or attempted corruption, is moi
. a much less heinous offense against popular
government than the ofTenSe of being cor
ruptly influenced. 1t is entirely within the
province of each house to determine who
shall be admitted to the floor and who shall
be excluded. The exercise of that power by
each house is evidenced by the standing rule.
of each body. 1t is within the power of eacl
body. 1t is within the power of each house
StrpnOThpn weaken
rules at will, and manifestly the power tt
enforce them, and the extent of their en-
forcement rests with each house. After all
aside from the fearless exercise of the power:
given to each house to protect it's honor
and dignity, and legislation against undue Of
improper influence. the Surest safeguard i:
to be found in an enlightened public opinion
among the people and the election of men tt
public trust beyond question of undoubte(
integrity and of ability to enable them tc
detect the approach of insdious influence
and to spurn it. ] am not aware of an,
ground for impeachment of legislative in
|, tegrity. ] necessarily leave the whole mat
ter to your honorable body to devise sucl
} further measures, if any are deemed neces
Sary, as to you may seem best, with the as
surance of my earnest cooperation within
the limits of my constitutional authority II
the premises.
! After declaring that in time of genera
prosperity like this, there is more need fo
watchfuiness of public expenditures thar
, when a general financial stringency makes
! the necessity for economy to each an indi
vidual matter. Gov. Scofield concludes
document of remarkable length and com
pleteness.