Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1907-06-12
SENATE KILLS oPosAL FOR
CONVENTION.
PRESENT METHODS AMPLE
Intelligent Action by Legislature, Ar
CUES Senator Whitehead, Would
Relieve Any Situation That
Changed Needs and Conditions
Might Produce.

10 20 al TIE fundamental law OF WIS
consin ana make ii over
Senator Sanborn, one of those who
dlssented from the adverse report oi
the judiciar.- committee on the consti
tutioIal convention resolution, ex
the legislature had before it 20 propo
sitions to amend the constitution. y
constitutional convention. he said
would get better talent than the leg
islature contains, and men particular
~ equipped for work in revising the
constitution He said revision was
needed in respect to internal improve
ments. in regard to state forestry
work, in respect to good roads, and
other purposes, so that such proyis
ions could be drawn with care and
with proper restrictions, having re
gard to the needs of the state and al
the same time preserving proper lin
itations
He made a point of the matter oil
leg Stating for cities, referring to the
many bills relating exclusively to MI
waukee. He demanded to know why
Milwaukee mad to come out here t.
ask authority to remove the garbage
and ashes from it's alleys, or why MI
waukec legislators should have ans
say in the government of Ashland OF
other cities other than Milwaukee
Quicker Relief Available.
Senator Whitehead answered Sena
tor Sanborn, saying that the argu
ments in favor of a constitutional con
vention had been clearly and force
fully presented but had been too few
to warrant affirmative acton. Senate.
Whitehead said that little intelli
gentf action by the legislature would
correct all the things complained 81
by Senator Sanhorn. and the relief
desired would be much more qui ckl!
available than through a general con
vcntion, for Senator Sanborn had said
that under the plan of a constitutional
convention no change would be efIec
tive for six or eight years. Senator
Whitehead said that Notwithstanding
the poor work of past .egis atures il
changing the CONSTITUTE III in the past
the instrument had been amended iT
only about 30 of the $50 sections He
said a constitution is meant to be per
manent. In the main the Wisconsin
coBstitut on stands today as it was +
tt" beginning for most of the changes
refer to the same parts of the instru
ment He said there was no call II
his district for constitutional conven
tion-he had never received a letter
or request or any suggestion from his
constituents in favor of constitution
al convention. Changes of the funda
mental law will contirue to be made
to meet the needs of the people anC
keep pace with the change of condi
tons, but such changes should be
made slowly and only wheE the PEG
pie demand changes Many of the
proposed amendments are simply the
suggestions of individual members. H.
said that in this day of increased 81
Of living, if there was any amendment
that ought to be made it is one tc
raise the compensation of the Cover
nor, but that has never even beer
Considered.
Sc: dtor Sanbnrn suggested that a
food of resolutions had come in on
the question of good roads Senator
Whitehead sad the people did not
vote on amendments. that the vote
was always light, and in answer T.
this, Senator Sanborn said it was Isl
why the work should be done in 6
specially called convention He also
said the good roads resolution was poi
in good form, but could not b
changed because a change would near
another delay of two years, 10 this
Senator Whitehead replied that il
would be better to wait another twC
years Senator Burns explained that
by legislative initiative. the constitu
ton could be changed ard become OF
avail in little more than two year
One legislature could auopt the reso
luton and the second adoption could
be had by the next legislature early
and the proposition submitted at thu
spring election, and if favored by Se
people the Legislature then sitting
could legislate under the change
After some discussion as to the foln
of the resolut on. the roll was called
resulting in non concurrence in The
resolution, by the following vote:
The Vote.
For Submission of the question o
holding a constitutional convention
Senator's Barker, Browne, Fridd
Froemming, Hazelwood, Hust.ng
Lockney. Marsh, Martin, Morris, Owen
Sanborl,. Wilcox-13.
Aga 1st conventions Senator
Bird. Bishop. Brazeau Burns. r.
child. Hagemeister, Hudnall, Munson
PAGE. Pearson. Randolph. Smith
Whitehead Wolff. Wnght-15.
Lawyers Discuss ReversaIs.
Another debate was caused in IL
senate b. the Hazelwcod bill to avoid
the sett ng aside OF a judgment on ap
peal when substanti j justice was done
Notwithstanding tnat errors migAt
nave crept into the record. sonatoi
Hudnall offered al. amendment X
omit reference To the judges charge
and to the evidence wrongfuly admit
ted or excluded in the trial. but il
was defeated II 10 S. An amend