Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1907-02-09

rates Is OIucASu Tie ueLcIludhI Soh4-
pany has sixty days in which to APP
peal from the ruling.
Enthusiastic Over Measure.
In discussing the measure Mr.. Le-
Roy said: Il have considered the pro-
visions of the bill with many senators
and assemblymen and l have not seen
one who has not been enthusiastic
over it. There is no necessity of Gre
ating another commission to regulate
gas. as some would have it. Let us
have all of these public utilities regu-
lated by the same commission, by in
creasing the powers Of the railroad
rate commission and the force of en-
ployes connected with that office. 1t
is too difficult task and too expensive
to create new commission. The
present one has adjudicated rates in
manner entirely satisfactory to the
public and by increasing the scope of
the law so as to take in all public
service corporations complaints against
these may be settled in the same man
nor"
Resolutions. and Petitions
a large number of resolutions and
petitions have come in looking to the
holding of a constitutional convention
for the purpose of revising the local
lark of the fathers. 1t would not be
surprising if the movement would bear
fruit at the end of the season or in
the near future, A strong movement
to this end set in two years ago, but
because the idea was novel and the
cry of expense was raised nothing
came of it, Now it's advocates are
more hopeful. 1t is argued that the
state is now conducted under anti
quated and inadequate methods and
bounds, which while simple and suf-
ficient while the commonwealth was
new, have long since been Outgrown.
The development of new conditions,
the rise of corporations and the in
crease of wealth have created new
problems which must be met in more
elastic fashion Two points in particu-
lar are urged i'm favor Of holding
such convention. Under the cOnstitu-
ton uniform system of government
is prescribed for cities, which fact is
the larger cities.
There is strong sentiment in Mil
waukee for such convention anG re-
Gently the common council of that
city petitioned the legislature for such
| change. The desire is to unite the
city and county government into one
on the theory that it would not only
be a great saving of expense but
would ohviate much overlapping and
conflict inevitable under what in many
respects is a double system.
State Could Wisely Assist.
Also under the constitution at pres
ent the state is prohibited from as
sisting in the work of internal inn
provements. This clause was put in
because at the time of Wisconsin's adj
mission many eastern states were on
the verge of bankruptcy because Of
OVERRIDING internal Improvements and
the fathers of Wisconsin resolved to
foreStall such error here. Now, how.
ever, the state is wealthy and il is
argued that it could wisely assist IN
such work. Big canal and drainage
schemes await state aid and will be
pushed If revision of the constitution
so permits.
Dunn BObs Up Again.
MOrcena NJ Dunn. of Marshfield, in
ventor of the dunn pocket ballot"
which was voted down at last springs
election. has bobbed up again with
hope unquenched and a new ballot in
his pocket He will press his. hobby
again before the legislature. THE
ballot has been changed in several I'M
portant particulars since it was voted
down." says Mr.. Dunn. 1.-The name
pocket ballot msled many people to
believe it was ballot to be carried i'll
the pocket. In it's present form it is
much simpler to carry and cheaper to
manufacture. This time I plan to Sc
cure law with county option clause.
so that it will be left to the counties
to determine whether or not they will
adopt it. This will remove the OBJ
lection from some who did not want
to be compelled to adopt the use OF
the ballot by state law"
Seeking New Pastures.
When Mr.. Dunn first evolved his
device, in his guileless enthusiasm, he
intended to take no advantage, but to
make it a gift to the state, but since
it was rejected he is seeking new pas
lures and is presenting his invention
before the Minnesota legislature also
At the close of business last week
237 bills had come into the assembly,
while at the same time two years ago
but 132 had made their appearance.
The increase is attributed to the in
creasing efficiency of the reference
library force in assisting legislators
in the preparation Of bills. However,
hit one or two bills have so far been
signed by the governor.
A. o. BARTON.
True Progress.
The demagogue is always a dam
ger, but the menace of the demagOgue
iS incTea tpnfOId nv Indifference TO