Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1903-02-05
Al TER
OUR SHADE TREES
AND ALSO FOR THE RIGHT OF
CONDEMNATION,
THE BILL Is INTRODUCED
Sweeping Measure Which Strikes Out
an Important Safeguard From the
Existing Law-Property Owners
Deprived of the Power 10 Save
Trees-Other Business.
Madison, Feb. 8.

Madison, Feb. 8.
Telephone companies desire the
privilege Of slashing shade trees Who'll
! ly regardless of the consent of the
owners and generally of having their
powers and prerogauves largely eA-
tended. in Tie senate last evening
Senator O'Neil introduced a bill grant
! ing them sweeping privileges. The
measure proposes that from the law
OF 1901 the following very important
words shall be stricken:
Nothing contained in this act
shall authorize or empower such tele-
graph, telephone or power transmits
sion company or corporation to in any
manner destroy, trim or otherwise in
jure any shade or ornamental trees
along such lines except by the consent
of the owner"
In short, these companies, if the
amendment prevails, can utterly is-
more owners who may enter protests
to save the trees in front OF Their
properties IRON the ruthless hand OF
the merciless lineman.
The present law provides also how
condemnation proceedings may be in
stltuted for the taking by the tele-
phone companies OF rights, ease
ments or interests over bridges and
streams within the limits Of any pub
lie highway, road, street or alley and
in land only on or within public high
ways, roads, streets or alleys over or
upon which the line is or is to be con-
structed or located" etc. The O'NeiI
bill strikes out this clause entirely
and inserts the word land" in such a
way as to include that species of pri-
yate property which may be taken by
condemnation proceedings as well as
owners rights in highways, etc.
Another provision of the present
law is one requiring that in certain
case poles shall not be placed within
i feet of the boundary line or party
wall of such building This, too, is
omitted, thus permitting TELEPHONE
companies to locoate their poles as
they may see fit.
Other Bills.
Senator Burns introduced a bill
compelling residents to attend as wit
nesses in actions outside of the state.
A bill by Senator Rogers, providing
for the giving to each inmate of the
state prison or refOrmatOry a bible or
new testament and permitting visits
of ministers each Gay TO eonYicts indi-
vidually.
ton for a constitutional amendment
providing for a separate county gov
eminent for Milwaukee county. The
purpose is to combine the city and
county government, estensibly to save
expense.
Governor La Toilette announced the
following appointments, subject to the
confirmation of the senate:
E. E. Mills of Burlington, to be
state oil inspector for the term ending
April /, 1903.
Evan D. Roberts of GAINESVILLE, to
be state veterinarian for the re-
mainder of the term ending June l,
1903.
J. J. Hogan of La Crosse, to be
member of the state fish commits
siOner for the remainder of the term
ending April /, 1907.
Gustave Kuestermann of Green Bay,
to be member of the state board
of control for the term ending April
Is, 1907.
Calvert T. Spensley of Mineral
Point, to be a member of the state
fish commission for the term ending
April 1, 1908.
J. @. Emery of Albion, &c be state
dairy and food commissioner for the
term ending the first Monday in Feb
ruary.
c. A. Harper Of Madison, to be a
member Of the state board of health
for the term ending the first Monday
in February, 1909.
Halford Erickson of Superior. to be
state labor commissioner for the term
ending the first Monday in February,
1905.