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

Certainly every republican is, and
for that matter every citizen ought to
be proud Of Governor Scofeld, their
Executive for the excellent message
delivered to the legislature Of Wiscon-
sin last Thursday. We read it over
very carefully and desire to acknow-
ledge it's par excellence as a state
paper, equal to, if not superior to any
in the history of this State. Clear and
comprehensive in every detail. Strong
in his endorsement Of every promise
made to the people by the republican
party If the promises of the party
are not fulfilled the governor will not
be to blame for his position is even in
advance Of his party. Here is what
he says on the Pass question:
"The two leading political parties
in convention assembled adopted re-
solutions cOndemnatOry of what is
known as the ''pass system" and
demanded the enactment of legiSla-
ton to put an end to it. These resO-
lutionS were SeYerally unanimously
adopted. They are to be taken, al
though differing somewhat in form
and scope, as expressive of the popular
sentiment upon the general subject,
and L earnestly recommend that legiS-
latiOn be enacted giving full effect to
the popular Will as thus expressed.
The theory of the resolutions is
that the acceptance by members of
the Legislature or other public serv-
ants, executive or judicial, of such
faV0rS from corporations is calculated
to influence them in their action by
placing them under sense of personal
obligation, and therefore is prejudicial
to the public interest. In this view
neither declaration in my judgment
IS sufficiently broad to reach and Grad
icate the evil complained of.
1t is we'll known that it has been
the custom for many years for the
railway companies of the State to
send to all members of the Legislature
and public officials generally, annual
passes for themselves. This, to some
extent, has been true as to express,
telegraph and Sleeping-car companies.
The universally of the custom, and
the fact that in the distribution of
annual passes to the members of the
Legislature no discrimination has
been shown, has tended, it is believed,
to minimize any possible sense of
fayorltlSm or personal obligations on
the part of the recipients The real
field for favor, and therefore of per-
sOnal obligation, has been in the
granting Of transportation upon the
request OF public officials to conStitu-
entS, favorS not granted as a matter
OF course, and therefore possible of
being construed as having been dis
tributed with Interior purposes, either
to influence the recipients in future
action or to reward them for past
action.
1t has seemed to me that the popu-
lar will upon the subject can only be
expressed by legislation which will
destroy the system root and branch,
and eliminate from it, at least so far
as State officials are concerned. as far
as it can be done by legislation, the
possibility Of any fayors directly or
indirectly in the matter. Therefore.
| believe that the legislation should
not be restricted to the giving of
passes by the corporations Indicated.
or their acceptance by a public official
for his own use, but that the prOhibi-
tlon should extend to any person upon
the request of public officials. In
this view the law should prohibit the
granting OF passes, or the acceptance
OF passes or franks. to or by public
officials, and also the granting of
transportation or franks, or facilities
OF any kind, to any person, directly or
indirectly, upon the request of any
public official. One Of the platform
declarations is sufficiently broad to
extend the prohibition to the granting
to, or acceptance by, mayors. alder
men and other public officials of mu-
inequalities.
All that | have said upon the sub
Ject in its relation to State officials
certainly applies to all municipal au-
thoritieS who have duties to perform.
legislative or otherwise, with refer
ence to local franchises.
| recommend that an adequate con-
StltutlOnal amendment be submitted
to the people in order that, if adopted
the prohibition shall be a part of the
permanent law of the state, beyond
reach Of legislative modification or
repeal: and that there be promptly
enacted legislation covering the same
ground, to be in force until it shall
nave been superseded by cOnstitu-
tional amendment"
His suggestions for every depart
ment are wise and worthy of promul-
CATION and we sincerely hope the leg
stature will try and carry out the
suggestions made by the governor.