Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1905-05-22
SENATE PASSES
COMMISSION BILL
Continued from page 1.

supreme court to the effect that such
commissions are entirely admin1stra
tive and not judicial.
Judges Are Appointed.
Senator HudnalI declared that the
reason why we have good men on the
supreme bench was not because they
were elected, but in spite OF that fact,
because the governor in the hrst IN
stance has always appointed the men
to fill vacancies and the people at the
following spring election have affirmed
the appointment. He declared that an
elective commission would require
that the men available as members OIL
the commission would be required to-
enter political turmoil and seek the
office 10y the circulation of petitions.
The effect of this would be to re.
move the best and most able men from
the number of available candidates,
while selfseekers would multiply. A
successful business man would reVolVe
in his mind the necessities and objec
tons to entering upon political can
vass for the office and many OF the
best men would refrain from giving up
their business for such doubtful
chances. This would remove the best
men from the number available fol
the office. If the governor asks a man
to accept the position it means that
the man has something to rely upon,
and does not have to risk his chances
upon the fortunes of a political strug-
gle to which the best and most sue
cessful men, particularly of the kind
desired and necessary for god railroad
commissioners are averSe. He read
from the governors message portions
that were omitted by Senator Roehr,
citing the fact that the railroads are
practically unanimously opposed to an
appointive commission and prefer an
elective commission. Senator HUI
nall said he was glad to be able to say
that the facts were not as completely
that was as stated by the governor,
that many of the best railroad men
were not backward in their declaration
that they favored an appOintlve com
mission rather than an elective body
for the reason that the best commits
sion would be secured through an ap'
pointive system He closed his reply
to Senator Roehr by declaring after
quoting from the executive message
that the good Of the service must be
the guide in the matter.
McGiIIivray on "ConstitutionaIism."
Senator McGillivl ay interposed tia,
he thought an explanation was due the
senate, in regard to the difference OF
opinion seeming to emanate from the
attorney general, as indicated in the
debate on the McGillivray amend
ment to make Commissioner Thomas Z
member of the proposed commission
He said he had made in. uiry OF the
attorney general and had been in
formed that the attorney general hat
given only one opinion and that was
the one in the letter read by Senator
McGtlilvray The senator also tool
occasion to roundly score the argu
ment of ''unconstitutionality.
what a wonderful thing this con
stitutionality business is, he ex
claimed. eff we could get it here am
maui it around on the floor for while
maybe we could find out where W.
stand. If ever there is measure tina
is hard to beat, the cry Of 'unconstitu
tionality' is raised. It's time the legis
lature took hold and did something.
Senator McGillivray defended Commits
sioner Thomas as a gentleman and no
deserving the criticism passed upo1
Is action by Senator Hudnall. Sena
tor Hudnall said, rising to a point o
personal privilege, that he would no
attempt to answer any personal asper
sions, but simply desired to say tina
when the attorney general expressed
himself as represented at the morning
session third party was present anc
the truth of the representation cOuEC
easily be tested. Senator McGillivra.
had referred to various incidents whel
the legislature had appointed persons
to do work and Senator Hudnall re
piled that these instances were no
cases Of new offices created but merel!
requiring established officers to per
form additional duties or make specia
Investigations.
Lawyers Propose Judges.
Senator Frear added to the reply tt
Senator Roehr to the effect that thu
bar of the state recommended by petl
ton who should be appointed to thu
supreme bench and that the governo
made the appointment in the first in
stance for the purpose of filling va
cancy and that then the people at tn
following spring election ratified b.
their votes the appointment as made
by the executive. Senator Frear con
tinued, reading from the governor
message to establish the preferabilit.
of an appointive rather than an cleo
tive commission.
"CoWardIy" Taunt Thrown Back.
He replied to Senator Merton''
charge of "cOWardly' against thu
gymnasium convention, by reviewin:
/ Il