Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1905-01-16

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has been $50 recently witnessed in this
state as to be known to all men. l
recommend the odoption of law
prohibiting, under severe penalties,
any corporation, or other employer,
from interfering, in any manner, with
the free and independent exercise of
the right of suffrage on the part OF
any employee.
Municipal Government.
One of the greatest problems Of
today is that of municipal govern
ment. The urban population lis con-
stantly increasing. In 1900 our total
population was a trif1e over two mil
lion. OF this number 875,868 were
living in cities. We have 81 incpr-
porated cities in this state. Cues
lions affecting SO large a percentage
of our people are therefore of deep
concern to us.
1t is a matter of common knowledge
that great evils exist in most of our
city governments, and none have
reached a standard that is in any
sense ideal. In many, official cor
ruption has been the cause of their de-
ficiencies, in others, lack of system
and cumbersome and complicated
| charters have been the chief source Of
difficulty.
There should be some simple and
adequate remedy afforded to a city to
relieve itself of it's dishonest and un-
faithful public servants.
1t may be that it will he impractical
during the time you are in session to
make sufficient investigation of these
matters to enact proper legislation
I would recommend that commission
be created whose duty it shall be to
carefully investigate these questions
and report it's conclusions with prop
er1y framed legislation covering them,
to the next legislature.
The Civil Service.
To transact the public business of
the state and of the several counties
and cities therein, requires the SER
vices of many men in many different
capacities. The people elect the
state officers, the county officers, and
the principal officers of the cities.
But these officers have to call to their
assistance large numbers, who, under
one designation CIR another, are ex-
pected to perform the labor of admin.
istering the government. The ques-
ton of how these several subordinate
officials shall be selected and with
what tenure they shall hold their re-
spective positions, is of great public
importance. 1t cannot properly be
ignored. We shall fail in the dis
charge of our full duty to the state if
we do not deal with the matter wisely
and efficiently.
civil service law which shall be APP
piled to all employees in the service of
the state, the counties and the cities,
outside of the elective officers and
such subordinates as may necessarily
sustain confidential relations with
their chiefs. Civil service reform
laws have now been in force twenty
years in the federal service, and in
the states of Massachusetts and New
York. At first they were decried as
un-American, but they have demon
strated their value and have steadily
been extended, strengthened, and I'M
proved until now they are admitted to
be truly American and thoroughly
practical.
Charitable and Penal Institutions.
The report of the state board of con-
troll, in setting forth the needs of the
state institutions, directs attention to
the crowded condition of many of
them, and the pressing need for more
room. The economic management OF
these institutions would be greatly
aided by increasing the acreage of the
farms connected with some of them.
The labor upon these farms is per
formed by the inmates, who, in this
manner, contribute to their own sup
port and that of their associates.
Wherever it is possible to give to
those in any of these institutions this
work upon the farm it's beneficial and
wholesome effects mark Improvement
in health and mind, and character as
well.
Woman Upon Board of Control
The Legislature of 1901, in partial
conformity to the recommendations of
the executive, provided for the ap-
pointment of women as members of
the board of university regents and of
the normal school regents Of the
state. I would respectfully submit
that the same reasons that obtain for
women being represented upon the
educational boards of the state, may
be even more strongly urged for plac-
ing woman upon the board of con
troll which has charge of the charit-
able and penal institutions of the
state
recommend that the law be SO