Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1903-05-21
CROW BOUNTY
BILL VETOED
GOVERNOR ACTS TO PROTECT
LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
RIORDAN AND EATON HIT
Formers Wholesale Dam Measure and
Latter's Favor to Interurban Roads
Knocked Out by the Executive
New Grow Proposition, Giving
Counties Option.
Ma olson, May 10


Gov. La Toilette sent three import
ant yetoes to the Legislature last
night, one on the crow bill, one on Sen
ator Riordan's dam bill, which would
dispose in wholesale of the right to
build dams on the Wisconsin river for
a distance of 40 miles, and one on the
Eaton bill to compel towns, through
which interurban car lines run, to ex-
pend the money which these roads pay
in license fee taxes for the lighting
and improvement Of the roads. This
last would have compelled towns IN
the county to buy electricity from
these companies and was perhaps a
neatly concocted scheme by which
these roads would have paid back into
their treasures the license moneys
they pay to the towns and thus III
crease the taxes on the farmers in all
places where this class of roads exists.
The governor was pointed in his de-
scription Of the purposes Of the bill.
Wants Local Government.
In the veto Of the crow bounty bill
the governor says:
This bill involves the payment by
the county of tax in the form of a
bounty for the killing of crows and
hawks. 1t is distinguishable from the
existing laws respecting the payment
of bounties for killing certain wild ami
mails, IN that such laws provide for the
payment by the state of bounty equal
in amount to that paid by the county.
1T seems to me that the state legis-
lature ought not extend the existing
bounty system by imposing a further
tax upon counties without making it
optional with the county government
through its board Of supervisors wheth-
er such bounty shall be paid.
"The special subject of legislation
herein dealt with is one peculiarly for
local action, as required in each coun-
ty. The tax sought TO be imposed
might prove quite burdensome t.
counties already heavily taxed I am
advised that in one of the counties Of
this state the county board under reso
luton for paying like bounties within
one year found it desirable to repeal
or abrogate the same, because of the
large sums required to paid thereun-
der. Those whom it is proposed shall
pay the bounties provided by the terms
of this bill ought to be permitted to de-
eide whether such tax shall be imposed
upOn them.
I am firmly convinced that it is a
mistaken policy to encroach by state
legislation upon local government
where the subjects pertain so especial
ly to local interests, and where the en-
penses must be borne by local taxa
ton. | would recommend such modi-
fication of this bill at this session as
shall make it optional for the county
board Of any county in the state to pay
the bounties herein provided, when
ever a majority of the members so de-
termine"
County Crow Bill.
A new bill was introduced in the as
sembly, in accordance with Governor
La Follette's suggestion, to give coun
ties the right to give bounties on
crows.
Accept invitation to Drive.
The invitation of Mayor Groves. on
behalf Of the Madison Park and
Pleasure Drive association, to so on a
drive Thursday morning was extend
ed and a joint resolution accepting it
was passed in both houses.
Gray Wolf Bill Killed.
Senator Riordan's bill to reorganize
the game warden SyStpm of the state
disguised as bill to compel counties
to pay a bounty for the killing Of
wolves, was slaughtered in the as