Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1901-04-29
SAYS GOVERNOR OF STREET CAR
POLICE MEASURE.
SENATE KILLS LENRoOT BILL
Green Wanted it Amended so it Would
not Apply to Milwaukee, but His
Colleagues Voted Down the Entire
Proposition-Portage Levee Appro-
priation Goes Through.
Madison, April "a


Governor La Toilette yesterday We
toed the bill which gave to street car
conductors the authority and power
of police officers. The governor says:
This bill is far-reaching in effect.
It impinges the spirit of the constitu-
ton Of the state. is subversive OF the
fundamental principles of good gov
eminent, and vicious in principle. 1t
authorizes street and other railway
companies doing business in this state
to appoint policemen empowered to
arrest with or without warrant any
person who in their presence shall
commit upon or in or about their
premises any offense against the laws
of the state, or of the ordinances OF
any town, village or municipality, and
clothes them with the authority OF
sheriffs in regard to the arrest or ap-
prehension of such offenders in or
about the premises or appurtenances
of such companies.
Section nine of article thirteen OF
the constitution clearly prohibits the
@ppointment of officers entrusted with
the exercise of governmental powers
by private individuals or corporations.
The appointment itself must be made
by a representative body of the state
or some governmental subdivision or
officer thereof; or the Office must be
filed by an election. The legislature
cannot delegate the power to appoint
or elect otherwise than to public au-
thority.
1T is unsafe and unWise, could it be
legally done. to clothe private inter-
ests with such powers as this bill
seeks to impose. The serious trouble
that sometimes arises between en-
ployers and employees left to. the par
ties themselves, invested with the
power which is here sought to be
given, would inevitably lead to blood
shed and loss of life. Troubles of this
kind which result in violence can
alone be properly adjusted by the
sovereign power of the state or its
political subdivisions. The people OF
this state have never been found want
ing or derelict in duty in this regard.
Their government is strong enough to
protect the rights of all and to do ex-
act justice to all
Lenroot Bill Killed.
The senate yesterday morning
killed the Lenroot franchise bin by a
vote of 16 to Is. The measure pro-
vided that franchises granted to
street railways, electric lighting, gas
or telephone companies should not be
come operative in any city in the state
until after go days from the date OF it's
passage; and if during that period five
per cent. of the voters demand it the
ordinance should be submitted to the
people and be approved by them be-
fore going into effect.
Senator Green said that he was not
Iopposed to the bill being passed pro
vided it did not apply TO the city OF
Milwaukee, and accordingly he offered
an amendment exempting the cream
city from the workings of the act.
Senator Weed thought that if the bill
was bad thing for Milwaukee it was
likewise bad for Oshkosh, and he in
sisted that if there was to be such a
law it should be universal in its appli-
cation. Senator Green's amendme u
was lost, and on the vote being an
nounced he moved that the BILL as it
came from the assembly be noncon-
Cured in The motion carried by the
following vote:
AYES