Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1905-05-10
WOULD HURT WAGE GARNER
Executive Bases His DisapprovaI of
Reduction upon the Right of the
Debtor and his Family to Enjoy
the Necessary Comforts of Life
Encourages Home Owning.
Madison, May 5

empIlOnS 6SIdDHSn6u by the present
law of SEQ a month for three months,
total of $3.50, to $50 a month or
total OF $40. The present high price
of the necessaries of life, he contends,
would forbid the reduction of the
present exemption. The bill, he be-
lieves, is in violation Of section II
of article one OF the state constitu-
zion. which says that:
''The privilege of the debtor to en-
joy the necessary comforts of life
shall be recognized by wholesome
laws exempting a reasonable amount
of property from seizure or sale fol
the payment of any debt or liability
hereafter contracted
The governor says that this bill ap-
rears to be designed especially to
reach the wage Garner. He believes
that the bill reduces the exemptions
to limit which may deprive the
wage Garner and his family of the
necessary comforts of life. The COVER
nor lays stress upon the Importance
Of men owning their own homes and
cites statistics from the census reports
to show that only a small percentage
of the people of Wisconsin and Mil
Waukee county own their own homes.
Liberal eXemL ION laws, he says, are
an aid to the wage Garner in procur-
ing a home Following is the mes
sage substantially in full:
Wage Garner Affected.
The wage Garner is really the one
affected by this measure. The ex-
emption now fixed is none too liberal
"a the laboring class. The present
high prices of the necessaries of life
would forebid the reduction of the
very reasonable sum of $50 a month
for maintenance and support of the
debtor and his family.
THE trainers of the constitution
recognized the Importance to the
state and good citizenship of reason
able exemption laws. They are
prescribed or made primarily for the
benefit and advantage of neither the
debtor nor creditor class. In i'm
portance they rise above all classes
and affect the best interests of the
SldtC anu It's NAltECllSIAAp' II 10 u ~
that It may be in some instances a
shield 10 the dishonest, but no such
consideration can, at this late day, be
successfully urged against the con-
stitutional provision or any law en-
braced within It's spirit. The con
stitutional provision has stood the test
Of years. The unanimous verdict of.
the best regulated governments of the
world, sanctions wholesome exemp-
ton laws. They have been commend
ed and approved by the courts. In
the decisions they are called humane,
ana for the highest good of the state.
The census of 1900 indicates that
about 1000, 600 working men of the
waee-earning class were out of en-
ployment in this country from four to
six months during the year, and that
nearly one-half of all families in the
United States we're propertyless. The
proportion given for Wisconsin does
not greatly vary from these figures.
Men Should Own Homes.
I'm republic. more than under any
other form Of government, it is i'm
nortant that men should own their
homes. The hour may come when the
stability of the state itself may de-
pend upon those who own the homes
in which they live and shelter their
families. The value of the home is
not matter of so much concern TO
the state The humblest home is as
much 4 pillar Of government as the
costliest mansion. Liberal exemption
laws are an aid TO the wage Garner IN
procuring a home. Neither does IL
necessarily follow that this would De
at the expense of the creditor. The
exemption law is the wage earner's
shield and protection in the hour oil
his greatest crisis. When industrial
depression comes, when men are laid
off. when accident. injury sickness
death falls upon the family, and it is
impossible to pay bills for the time be-
ing. the exemption law holds over
them the protecting arm OF the state
until the hour Of distress goes by. It
prevents judgments and excessive
costs. II gives the unfortunate an
other chance. 1t saves many self
sustaining. seIfrespecting citizen to
the stale, ard places him where he
can ultimately nay his debts, save his
few hundred dollars Of life insurance.
ana lay by enough in time to own his
little home.
section : Of this bill is not within
+ the spirit of the constitution or OF the
decisi. MS upon exemption laws. The
good citizen requires something more
than the means TO supply the i'm
mediate and absolutely necessary
wants Of life. There is a wide differ
Iepce between the necessary com
forts of life promised by The eonstt-
tuition and the provisions of this bill
One who has nothing more than the
I bare necessartes of life is constantly
/ mepaced with the thought Of becoming
public charge The man who Is
once the object Of public charity Is
seldom. if ever again an Independent
/ self-sustaia Eng member Of society
{ The Spirit IS broken. The pride OF
manhood that necessarily and rightful-
I1v. belongs 10 one upon whom the state
must denend for protection and pres
Iervaticn is. broken down for all time
! I can approve no measure which
/ ,,-~,,,15 ,-,, =, y,ysofupsa any such re-