Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1909-05-05

Valuable EESulSs III Ease k4Sg ulU hot
stand by them on this occasion.
Senator Sanborn, replying to the ar
gument of Senator Gaylord, ques-
toned the right of the state to control
the privileges of the flowing waters
of the state. He said the state did
not own the waters and that any
owner of land through which the wa
tiers flowed had a perfect right to do
with them as they desired so long
as they did not interfere with the
rights of those below. Hundreds OF
dams have been built upon these very
streams that have never been licensed
by the state.
Senators Martin and Owen protest
ed that these measures should be re-
ferred to the special committee as
had been previously agreed and not
pushed to passage regardless of the
expressed desire of the legislature
that the whole question be given at
tention to the end that sane policy
in this regard might be established
in the state.
The principal speakers for the re-
consideration of the vote and the
granting of the franchises during the
afternoon session, were Senators
Brazeau, Sanborn and Bird. Interest
ing arguments for the reference of the
bills to the special committee were
advanced by Senators Husting and
Martin. Senator Husting said in part:
Il can't understand the position of
the ser ators who ask for reconsid-
GRAFTON, when they say that the state
has no interest in these matters, and
on the other hand. when they say that
the special committee shall be APP
pointed to draw up a policy for the
state in these matters. These ideas
are not at all consistent"
Senator Husting then read from the
resolution providing for special
committee to investigate the subject
of franchises for waterpowers. which
says, among OIL her things, that all
such franchises should be granted
subject to such conditions as may
be contained in the general legisIa-
ton to be recommended as aforesaid
for the protection of the rights OF in
dividends and the state"
IF | understand the senator's" con
tinued Senator Husting, that state
ment is then dead blank, because
they say the state has no rights in
the matter
Is it for the purpose of deceiving
us in the belief on the one hand that
we have got nothin gand on the other
that We have got something? ! say
that is very illogical. The senators
argue on the one hand that the bill
We have got nothing and on the 9TH
er hand that they have not got any
rights.
Let us see if the state has any
rights? l say that Mr. Bishops farm
is Mr.. Bishops arm. The state
doesn't care to take his land away
from him. 1t has the power to con-
denim it, however, and so have the
railroads His forest is has property.
There is no franchise in that pro.
perty; there is title subject to the
right of condemnation by the state.
"The state don't own the farm or
forest What interest has the state
got in these streams? Is there any
senator who will say that there is any
private persons who owns the rivers
That a few riparian owners in the
state own the Wisconsin river or any
OF the great rivers of the state?
These popie have been given val
liable rights by sufferance. They only
hold them in stust. Now they don't
own the rivers. The individual own
ers don't own the rivers.
4 claim that the state has the pow
er to give away these franchises and
it is our duty to exercise that right |
carefully and to establish policy
which will lead to permanent conser-
walton of these valuable natural re-
sources"
The vote on the motion to recon
slider the reference of the bills to the
special committee, was as follows:
For reconsideration Bird Boden-
stab, Brazeau. Browne. Burke, Fair
child. Hudnall, James. Lehr, Page,
Sanborn. Stout and Thomas-13.
ADMINISTRATIVE. Fridd GAYLORD. |
Hazelwood, Husting, Krumrey. Lock |
ney. Lyons. Marsh, Martin. Morris, |
Owen, Pearson and Randolph,
Senators Bishop and Whitehead and
Donald and Wright were paired
This action of the senate is likely |
to be decisive in determining the poi
icy of the present legislature regard
ing all other bills for the granting OF
dam franchises. All similar measures
will most likely be referred to the spe
cial committee and will be taken up
at the special session next Januar'
when the committee will have made a
thorough investigation.
On account of the debate over the
dam bills, the senatorial investigating
committee did not meet all day. as the
senators We're anxious to be present
during the discussion and for the vot-
ing.
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