Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1899-01-18
THE GOVERNORS MESSAGE.


legislature demonstrates that he posses
ses the wisdom to profit by experience
and the msnliness and courage to urge
5 the passage of laws based upon plsnks
in the republican platform, which were
admittedly placed there as a result of
the agitation of that wing of the party
which, in the past, has been strongly
critical of the governors attitude on
certain public issues One is impelle d
to give credit in the fullest measure to
Governor Scotield for the message in it's
entirety, with one exception, to which
we refer later. 1t is message deserv-
ing the closest study of both Legislators
and people. 1t is plain, terse, vigorous
aud unequivocal. The layman can I'M
derstand it without the assistance OF the
attorney general. In it the republican
platform finds the governor, as it should,
not only a strong advocate tut an ''ad-
vance agent" of the principles enunci-
ated therein.
Those who so loudly and venomously,
attacked the platform with the authors
of the planks so attacked) demagogic
and populistic, will surely accept the
governors hearty endorsement as suffii-
Gent proof of their temporary inability.
through prejudice, to appreciate good
sound republican doctrine.
Specifically, the message recommends
a. revision on business basis of the
system of bookkeeping in all state de-
partments and institutions, as well as of
financial methods as a whole. The de-
tailed recommendations made two years
ago by the Milwaukee Sentinel in this
connection, find full endorsement; (2)
presentation to the legislature, bi-en-
nially, of detailed estimates of expendi-
lures and revenue, required to meet
said estimate; (3) message from the re-
firing governor for the information of
his successor; "a correction of the
"glaring inconsistencies" in the system
of taxation of railroad, express, sleeping
car, insurance and other corporations;
(5) abolition of the land Office, recon-
mended by ex State Treasurer Peterson,
RS being, in the governors opinion,
''entirely unnecessary and inexcusably
burdensome to the people," co. state
troops to be reorganized on the same
basis as the United States forces (7)
sanctity of the trust funds to be pre-
served inviolate; (8) the bureau of
labor statistics TO be rescued from it's
old-time condition of innocuous desue-
tude to one of usefulness. This depart
ment to control and issue census and
blue book statistics; (9) the present
''salutary" caucus law to apply to the
entire state, the preliminary caucus to
be abolished and the date for the nomi.
mating caucus to be fixed, for all parties,
on the same day; (10) that the pass
system be legislated out of existence,
root and branch" Here, as in several
other respects, the governor is, rightly,
IN advance of the platform; (11) that
the penalty for corrupt lobbying be
made more severe. Child labor, insurance
of the capitol, the state agricultural So
ciety, the work and reports of the prison
labor, forestry, natural history, survey,
free library and tax commissions receive
due notice. The needs, as the governor
sees them, of our public school system,
are briefly but emphatically enumerated.
Space prevents further and extended
comment at this time.
The superhuous reiteration of con-
CALCULATIONS to the state, on the exist
ing pleasant relations with the great
transportation companies" as "defi"
to those who are alleged to have at
tempted to prove that "these interests
are inimical to each other" is to be re-
GREETED. It's purpose and superhuity
are so obvious, and faint a message
otherwise strong in subject matter and
free from the slightest reproach to
splenic effort or sacrifice of dignity and
treatment. We would, at this time, ad
vance the opinion that Governor SEQ
fields expressed doubts to the contrary
Notwithstanding, there is no reason
why the legislature cannot, at this SEES
sion, decide what "increase, if any,
in the license fees charged to certain
corporations" should be levied thereon
to meet the anticipated excess of expen-
ditures over revenue during the ensuing
biennial period, amounting to upwards
of 100000, for which provision must
be made by texstion. 1t can, as easily
and justly, be approximately estimated,
at this time, in the case of the corpora
tions referred to, as in that of tbs bust
ness man or farmer. The legislature
should not adopt this suggestion for de-
lay.