Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1907-07-18
RETURNED TO LEGISLATURE
WITHOUT SIGNATURE,
PENSION PROPOSAL DIES
Plan to Retire Any Supreme Court
Justice on Half Pay After 20 Years
of Service. Bill TO Provide Refer
endum for City Ordinaces and
Nonresident Fish License Vetoed.

AA0t Tie executive QlSdpprOVdl,-Ln6
municipal referendum bill, the su-
preme court justice pension bill, and
fish and game bill.
The veto of the pension bill is also
rather unexpected. The bill provided
for the retirement Of a justice after
20 years of continuous service on a
half-salary pension. The executives
diaapproVal of this measure is based
both On grounds of public policy as
well as constitutional objections.
In Defense OF Fishing.
On the Objectionable fish and game
bill the governor said:
THE bill provides that a non-resi-
dent shall pay license fee of SIS for
the privilege of fishing for trout
within the counties of Barron, Buffalo
Burnett, Chippewa, Dunn, Pepin
Polk, Rusk and Trempealeau, and
provides a fine for fishing in any
such waters without such license.
Il cannot approve this bill. It is
the only case, so far as my observa-
ton goes, where it has been at
tempted to impose a license on per-
sons, either citizens or non-residents,
for the privilege of taking game fish
from our waters. It only applies to
nine counties Of our state while many
other counties contain streams in
habited by fish of the variety named
in the bill. 1t discriminates against
citizens of other states and may tend
to produce retaliatCry measures by
other states against our citizens.
eve are justly proud of our state
and its beautiful streams where these
nimble denizens of the waters -four
ish, and l cannot give my approval
to bill which will discourage non
resident citizens from visiting within
our borders, and while enjoying the
beauties of nature, indulging them
selves in innocent piscatorial pastime.
|, therefore, return the bill without
the executive approval"
An Invitation to Litigation.
The ordinance referendum bill was
close to the hearts of a number of
leading members and they are not
pleased that the governor took an
other view.
After careful consideration of the
provisions of the bill" says the gov
ernor, Il have come to the conclusion
that it can serve in it's present form
no useful purpose; that On the con-
trary it would result in almost end
less litigation, confusion and delay in
the administration of municipal af-
airs. Section 1 of the bill defines an
emergency measure in general terms
to be only such a measure as is for
the immediate and temporary preser-
walton Of the peace, health and safety
or the expenditure of money in the
ordinary course of administration sOf
the affairs of the city. So the Iimita-
ton upon the power to enact an Ordi-
nance which shall take effect at once,
without a vote of the people Cif called
fOr), is very great indeed, even as to
for the preservation of the
peace, health or safety of the people,
since ordinances for that purpose can
immediate Importance, and in addi-
ton they must be only those which
are temporary in their nature and no
ordinance for the expenditure Of
except in the ordinary course
of the administration of the affairs of
the city can be enacted. The line of
demarcation between the ordinary af-
fairs of a city and those that fall out
side thereof is not easily distin-
guished, and in the administration of
affairs under such a statute as this
bill provides for, great uncertainty
and controversy must of necessity
arise as to what can be lawfully &C
Hereunder. If an ordi-
nance turns out to be not of the class
falling within the terms immediate or
temporary, or if it be for the expendi-
ture of money, not within the term
ordinary, it is suspended for 80 days,
and may be longer delayed in its OPP
Grafton if a small minority of the
electors Of the city can be found who
will sign a petition for the submits
sion OF the whole or any part of it to
a vote Of the people. It is, therefore,
selfevident that this bill, taking away
a large part of the power of the COM
mon councils of our cities. must inev-
itably cause great uncertainty and de-
lay in the conduct of the business of
the cities. In a large city the burden
imposed by this bill would fall with
added weight where it is necessary %
meet promptly, by the enactment of
ordinances, public interests of d dense
population engaged in all classes and
kinds of business. In order TO admin
lister the affairs of local government
in such cities, nearly every day would
be required to be an election day,
otherwise great delay would necessar-
lily result, for unless special election
is called the taking effect of the ordi-
nance must be suspended until the
general or municiual election is held.
The calling of special elections is left
to the discretion of the common coun-
ell, and even if ordered promptly, can
not take place within less than 80
days after it is called The expense
of frequent elections. which would in
evitahly be necessary in large cities,
would be an intolerable burden On the
people. If it is desirable that a vote