Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1901-01-16
THE GOVERNORS MESSAGE.

lature, on Thursday last Whilst prece-
dent has been established, by previous
governors themselves reading their Off
cial messages, such occasions have been
rare. We are of opinion, not only that
the practice has positive advantages but
that still further arc possible. If GUS
tcm exacted such personal appearance
and delivery of his annual message by
the governor, and also allowed question
and answer By the legislature and COVER
nor as to the exact intent and purport of
this word, phrase or paragraph, much
misconception and intentional misre
presentation might be avoided by public
and official record of fact, instead of
impressions derived from private con-
struction or interview Indeed, the
CENsoP is Of the opinion that under pro
guards and on joint request of
senate and assembly, occasional official
and public conferences between governor
and legislature, would promote the pub
lie veal in more ways than one. Mis-
placed emphasis or intonation even may
convey to the nearer an impression of
the meaning entirely opposite to that
intended by the writer. Simple ommis-
sion of one or both viii fail to convey
the true intent or significance. No one
can know the meaning as does
the writer, All who heard Governor
La Toilette deliver his own message
will acknowledge the aid such personal
delivery was to them in grasping the
spirit of every sentence First impress
sions are important. Wrong or right,
they are usually hard to modify or re-
move. 1t u.s. therefore, of moment that
they be right, not wrong. We have yet
to hear or read an adverse criticism of
the message to which we give liberal
space in our news columns today.
No empty sounds or words-no plat
tudes-no attempts by TT wiles of
casuistry, to evade the question at issue
or to hide the real opinion and purpose
of the writer of the message behind a
cloud Of interminable and inextricable
phraseology, does the message contain.
From end to end, it is plain TO the com
prehension of the every day citizen. 1t
is replete wit riginal or pertinent sug-
gestions as to Improvement in existing
precise or in clear and specific outline,
of needed legislation. In fine Cover.
nor La Follette's message for 1901 will
take its place among the sblest and very
best state papers in the archives of
Wisconsin.
The partisan and factional attempts
Of legislature and governor, to place
the one upon the other, the responsible
ity COR unjustifiable expenditures, INSULT
cient appropriations for legitimate needs
and inevitable resulting deficiencies,
and the developments and perpetuation
of grossly unbcsiuess-Eke practices to
cover the same, were ruthlessly exposed
and condemned, and remedy proposed.
The gross inequality of the taxation Of
real estate at a, 30 percent Of its market
value as compared with 14.6 percent
only of the market value Of personal
property was vigorously pointed out as
demanding immediate correction
The governor empnatieally insists that
our district schools shall receive further
aid necessary from the state to insure
their healthy growth and highest devel-
opment, even if the aid to the higher
branches of our public school system be
kepi where 1t is now, or If it must be,
part thereof diverted to the cause of
the common schools.
AS the foundation of our system of
party government the primary election
law was treated at length. Every citi-
zen will find in the message such an ex-
position of this question as will convince
him not only of the sufficiency of the
plan proposed, but such as will stir
within him determination to strive
until attained, for the enactment of a
law, which will place the choice of a
candidate for Office, in his own hands
and control, and not in caucus and con-
vention to be traded and dickered with,
like piece of merchandise.
Relative to the need of thorough and
fundamental revision of ouf present 3ys-
tenn of assessment and taxation, which
every state in the Union is graphing
with, the governor is as clear and Wig
orous as in his treatment of Other ques
tons Contrary to general expectations
the tax commission has Justified its ex-
istence by report specific in statistics
and sufficient in the exactness of its
economic argument and demonstration
and definiteness in conclusion to afford
data for legislation at the present session,
up to the point reached by the commits
sion in its labors The governor bases
lis recommendations for proposed leg
islation largely rpon the report of the
commission, supplemented by statistics
provided by the Wisconsin bureau of
statistics He urges equality and justice
and no discrimination for or against any
individual or corporation Assembly
man Halls facts and arguments gather
ed after years of effort and study and
embodied in the bill introduced by him,
but killed by the last legislature, find