Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1900-01-24

GOVERNOR SC0FIELD.
yorable mention on most all sides, the
large cities and even remote states 1
taking up the matter. Some said that
Scofield's conservative attitude on the
Philippine question would make him
uncongenial to Mckinney, while one
referred the Oconto lumberman to the
Old Testament verse, which counSelS
a man to beware of his fool friends.
But whether Governor Scotield is
advanced along the vice presidential
line or not, the incident will do Wis
consin proud and secure us larger rec
Ognition in the councils of the party
No doubt, too. it will strengthen the
governor himself, for while he is ayow-
eddy out of the gubernatorial race, 1t
is very difficult for anyone to be COM
pletely out until the convention is
over.
In the meanwhile it is by no means
certain that Mr.. Henry C. Payne will
not be heard from in connection with
the succession to the late Hobart,
whom in some ways he resembles.
Ii is settled that Colonel w. j. An
ders0n will succeed the late Michael
Griffin OH the tax commission. Gov
ernor Scofield much appreciates his
private secretary, whom Upham
brought here in 1894. Colonel Ander-
son is very much of a gentleman and
will do credit to any position be feels
equal to- though from the non Madison
standpoint the appointment is not an
emphatic ten-Strike, as would be the
choice of some hard-headed, expert
enced lawyer Qike Gibson or Curtis, tn
present memberS), or some business
man who had spent long years wrest-
ling with town assessors, county boards
ana city tax commissions. Colonel
Anderson is a former newspaper man,
whose youth was strenuous in getting
a foothold. and only of late years has
opportunity presented to engage in
study to which he is passionately de-
voted. He will soon master all the
books telling of taxation and he is a
keen Judge of men and measures. 1t can
truly he said that the appointment is
more commendable than seven out of
ten appointments in the public service;
I simply point out its nature in order
to maintain the standard of these
weekly letters for frank and disinter-
ested comment on current political do
ingS.
1t is further true that the members
of the tax commission, before General
Grifiin's death-indeed, that gentle
man was the mover in the proposal
made overtures to secure the cOlonefs
services as secretary of the commits
sion. 1t is easy enough to comment
on appointments, as has been done
here. but when one sits down and
seeks to name a better available man,
it is astonishing how few there are!
o
A number of appointments are to be
made this spring. but no changes of
importance are anticipated. One mem
Der of the board of agriculture wants
to retire. The term of Justice Lyon of
the supreme court concludes April 10,
but that gentleman will continue If
he desires, and there is no question but
that he will. Despite his advancing
years he is the most influential and
useful of the five members. He can
no longer be expected to do as much
travelling about the state as the young
er men. but he makes most valuable
office man and advisor. 1t isn't every
state that has the services of an ex-
chief Justice Of the highest court to
engage in the work of supervising it's
phllanthrOpies.
o
The Milwaukee street railway quar-
rel has finally struck the supreme
court The Milwaukee court, endeav-
oring to punish the aldermen for con-
tempt the latter appealed to Madison.
the basal contention being that the jul
dietary Judge Ludwigs court has no
business to interfere with the passing
of an ordinance by the common coun-
ell. At first blush this would seem t.
be sound. The theory of our govern
ment is, of course, that there are three
independent branches and Of equal
rank. The common council represents
the people and it would be sorry day
for the people if this body ever had
its freedom of expressing the popular
will contravened by the within or mall
ice of court. 1t might be inconven-
lent now when councils are so often
Enthusiastically and judges so generally
blamelesS--but In the future. when hon
est. representative councils tried to en-
act the wishes of the citizens, it would
be very inconvenient and irritating, IL
n court had the authority to say: You
must not pass such an ordinance" etc.
A veteran jurist tells me that if Char
lie Quarles Ia brother of our new sem
ator) has disinterestedly made up his
mind that the Milwaukee court has no
jurisdiction in mixing up with the
street car matter, the chances are he
is right, for he is one of the best law
yers of the state. In this case, how
ever it happens that he Is also counsel
for the aldermen and not only wants
to be right. but is extremely sOlicitous
to win his case. The opposing side main
tain that the issue is not at all the in
trusion of the judiciary into the legis-
lative. but contend that the common
council was acting in non-legislatiye
function.
The supreme court has done no more
than set a day for hearing arguments
on the issue of Judge Ludwig's juris-
diction, and we shall have the truth
in residuum by the time Judges Casso-
day, Winslow. Marshall, Bardeen and
Dodge get through with 1t.
-
One of the most noted of our Wis
consin women is living out her career
in Washington. She is Winnie Ream,
who made a happy marriage with
Lieutenant Richard l.. Hoxie of the
United States engineer corps. Their
Washington residence oyerlooks The
bronze statue of Admiral Farragut,
which is the work of her genius. 1t
was pretty sentiment on the pet of
her husband which led to the purchase,
twenty-three years ago, of a home for
his bride overlooking the square which
her genius had beautified. and now,
after an absence of fourteen years.
during which, as an officer OF the en-
gineer corps, he has had many tenn
porary abodes, they are again domi-
ciled there. Her only child is IL
year-old son. Sometimes she steals
away to her studio on Pennsylvania
avenue, and there, unmindful of the
panorama of the street below, she