The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1905-01-19
THE GOVERNOR S MESSAGE.

of this state. III mas even b''i "7'''' &"
that il is the longest executive message
ever delivered to any law making body
in this country. Copies OF the iocu
ment in pamphlet form were handed TO
the senators aud assemblymen Inc
pamphlet contains ia pages. The
average number Of words to the page Il
over 400. Therefore, the total number
of words in the document II approx
mately -. OO0
While long official documents are not
unfrequently dull, dry as,dn-t unread
able and unintere-ting, Governor La
Follettea long communication to the
legislature il readable instructive and
interesting. Although il requires about
two hours to read the document 1t can
be perused with pleasure and profit ut
one sitting with undivided attention
and unhagging interest. This Is more
than can be said Of the average
executive communication emanhtihg
from the pen Of republican official,
The message il therefore NOR" remark
able for it, quality than for its length.
While il discusses "A number ui I'M
portant subjects voluIuinousy and treats
others well nigh eXhaustiycly, It shows
no tendency toward yefbo-lty or pro.
lIity of style The governor couche7
his thoughts in concise, pointed, per
splcuous language IIi- wide, mature
knowledge. his thorough grasp Of point
zeal subjects hi- iacilc. rhetorical pen
all these things enable hlm to marshal
facts with the facility Characteristic Of
a spicy, racy. high grade controversial
writer
The governor is siill stanchly opposed
10 an elective railway commission, in
spite Of the fact that he has, tor year,
favored the selection Of candidates Tor
Office, from aldermen 10 the executive
head of the state, 10y the direct vote OF
the electors at primary elections While
the governor opposition to an elective
commission apparently presents an cle-
ment Of Inconsistency, 1t Is IN reality no
more inconsistent with the principles
that La Toilette has defended for year-
than the practice Of electing United
States senators il inconsistent with re-
pnblican institutions II il no more
inconsistent than the appointment of
federal Judges and other hugh officials
by the president by and with the advice
and consent Of the senate i-lnconastcni
with the principles e4pou-"d by the
founders Of the government and enun.
ciated in the Declaration Of Ind".
pendence.
An abridged version Of the governor 4
ineAsage wl- read on lhur-day lH-t week
before Joint session OF the senateand
the assembly, which Was held IN tho
assembly chamber at . o'clock The
governor himself read the shortened
message in conformity with his practice
on similar occasions during the four
years Of his incumbency
A considerable part of the message Il
devoted TO the Discussion OF railway
regulation The governor recommends
the creation Of an appuintivc railway
commission and suggests that confirm
tiOns Of nominations nude hy the
g. g
appoin,iye body may be- required from
the assembly ~ we'll ~ from the mem
bers Of the higher house OF the leglela
ture The commission is 10 b. en-
powered 70 iN transportation rates In"
document under consideration also
recommends the pa--nge of hw
authorizing the state railroad commits
Hioner To examine and investigate the
books and records Of railway colnpanio4,
without giving previous notice 20 ia"
companies 10 ascertain whether thrN
have complied with the requirements 81
law The work done ~ the utilroad
commisrioncr during the past wear uu
der the law enacted IN l1Ua authorizing
the commissioner 10 "Nanln" railway
records II commended 10y the governor
The message recommends Tho enact
n.vni - a law proyliuR for the taxa
tion Of All credits This recommcnut
tiOn II based on the decision of the state
supreme court declaring that create
arr property and are therefore. justly
taxable The adoption II a constitution
al amendment authorizing tho legi.la
ture to enact "a law providing for an in
come tax j. recommended IN 1908 the
Legislature passed u resolution whlrh
provided for the -uhmi.-l0u % such au
amendment, a. the olcgtur, 81 the tate
Bat article XII oi the state constitution
provides that -ach proposed amend
men,s shall be referred 10 the ien-la-
ture to be chosen At the neXi general
election and shall be published for
three months previous to the time If
holding such election owing a. an
oversight on the part Of the SECRETARY II
state this constitutional requirement
war not complied with The error va.
not disc yered until shortly before ia,
election. when il was TOO late ~ publish
the proposed amendment Hence AL
ntepe leading 10 the final adoption ~ ~
lection 81 such an amendment must i,
taken over again
Some changes in the present bankinf
law are suggested The condition o
the charitable, refofmatofy and pena
institutions q the state il discussed