Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1905-10-24
ANTI-PASS CASE NOW RESTS
WITH CHARLES N. WEBB
Famous Case Now in His Hand For
RuIing-StateA Awaits His
Answer.

/ SOOAC OA UIC uliuOE UuIC<>S III CIUlSS OF Ol
the state. The editor of nearly every
one of the smaller papers In the
state, most OF them weeklies. bold
some Office in the city 10 which be
lives. Some OF them are city clerks:
some are mayors; others members OF
tire companies or OF the school boards;
others are justices OF the peace OF
notaries pubiic.s Nest Of the editors
holding such Office do not care to give
up the Office. as they are men OF pro.
minence In the town in which they
live, and are looked up to to assist Ia
looking after the towns Interests,
which duty they are particularly well
able to perform thoughs their being
editors OF home papers with such in
terests at heart. In spite Of this, the
newspaper. men are denied the mile
age earned by them in good adyertis-
ing space. and pay for which they have
been accustomed to take in mileage.
Contrary TO this heing to the advant-
age OF the officer in the case, this has
always been to the advantage OF the
railway companies. Ii the law holds
good, these officers must give up their
offices or their transportation.
Argues Against the Law.
Attorney Park entered the motion
to suspend Judgment, and supported
his theory as to the uuconstitution-
ality OF the measure by laying down
for consideration two points: first,
that 1t was not within the intention
OF the legislation to include purely
ministerial Offices; second, that II the
legislature did intend to include nom
legislative and non-political ;on1ces In
the measure. itexceeded its right even
under police power, according to the
twelfth section OF article of the state
constitution.
In DeleHse oi the Law.
In defense of the law, Assistant
Attorney General Corrigan said that
the new Law did not work ap impair
ment of contract rights. He said that
no contract could be impaired. All q
man had to do was to resign his offlce.
and there would be no impairment
necessary. He declared his reading
OF the new law to be that the state
merely reserved the right to instruct
it's officers what they should or should
not do. II they did not obey the law,
they were to be punished. He held
that the idea in the enforcement OF
this measure was not to impair any
contract, but to see that state officers
did what was right and just. II there
was any outside matter that tended
to interfere with the officers obeying
the law and doing what he should do.
to properly serve the state, the officer
must and should. give up that matter.
II he did not care to do this, argued
Mr.. Corrigan. he was not good state
officer, and should resign.
This 10 New siea.
This is a phase of the matter that
had net been presented before. and
which is de serving of thought. In
deed, it is be lieved this idea will have
great influence in determining the
right in the case. As to the Office Of
a notary being Insignificant, Mr.. Cor
rigan declared that: "a notary, by
reason OF his relations with the rail-
road company, might deal unfairly
with the citizenship of the community
through winch q new railroad was be-
ing built. He might be acting ~ the
agent OF the railroad company ana the
various people selling right Of way.
His duty would lie the same to both
interests, he being the agent of both.
"a notary public is frequently in .
position where he has important
duties to perform with .refere nee to-
the conduct OF litigation. A railroad