Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1911-01-18

| GO'A-SON SIuIu0uC, IL CIuQlnS the T1SnC 20
adopt the initiative, referendum and
recall. Unlike the state itself, the
cities am satisfied, when authorized
SO to dc by the legislature, may law
1ully adopt these measures without
amendment to the constitution.
Good Roads.
The adoption recently of an amend
ment to the constitution makes it DOS
slble for the state aid in building
highways, and pubnc sentiment de-
mands the enactment WISE work
able laws having this end in view.
In l9glslating upon the subject two
primary purposes should be subserved.
First, is the desirability Of introducing
economy and businesslike methods
into 1CaG building, where now so much
mercy is being wasted. Of scarcely
secondary Importance is the necessity
OF encouraging local communities per
manently to improve their roads.
Legislative Reference Department.
The legislative reference DEPART
ment of the free library commission
is Wisconsin idea of great value. 1t
has been copied by over twenty other
states and as many cities Foreign
countries and municipalities have also
adopted it. It's purpose is TO bring to
the legislature expert help in gather
ing the results of experience else
where, without which legislators
would be more or less helpless be-
cause Of the complexity of modern
| problems. 1t also furnishes the legis-
lature with expert craftsmen, skilled
in the art of embodying in satisfactory
form ideas which the members Of the
legislature, unframed as many Of them
are In this work, may desire to have
enacted into law
At present this department is not
supported as liberaIIy as its import
ance demands. In carrying on its
work it has been hampered for want
OF necessary funds. / believe an ad-
ditional appropriation of at least
| $1,000 a year for this department is
necessary in order to place it upon a
| proper basis.
Revision of the Statutes.
Chapter 546, Laws of 1909, provides
| for the maintenance, in the state Ii.
brary, of loose-leaf set of statutes
| and for revision of the statutes from
session to session. While this work
was assigned to a coordinate branch
of the govern ment, I am advised that
the loose-leaf set of the statutes is
now ready for use and that a bill will
be submitted by the revisors to au-
thorize the publication of a compila-
| ton of the statutes as soon as may
be after the close of the present ses.
! sion and after each subsequent session
! of the legislature This is a step in
the direction Of greater certainty and
| simplicity in the written law which all
should approve. Your immediate at.
tention to this important measure is
recommended, to the end that, if au.
| thorized, the undertaking may begin
without delay.
Public Health.
The public health is one of the most
| important interests committed to the
care of the state 1t needs no argu-
ment to show that the cor servation of
the physical well-being of the people
is a matter Of the very highest i'm.
| portance.
Greater efficiency in this depart
ment of the public service is thus one
Of the urgent demands of the hour
! INDECENT Crippled Children.
class of unfortunate persons for
whom nothing is being done at the
| present time, but whose condition
makes stirring appeal for assistance,
| is the INDECENT crippled and deformed
children of this state. We have no
means Of knowing how many of these
children there are but, judging from
the number in other states, where
they are being cared for at public ex-
peEse, there must be a great many.
Entirely aside from humanitarian
consideration, reasonable apprOpr1a-
ton for the beginning of this work in
Wisconsin is abundantly justified. I
am assured that an appropriation of
not more than fifteen thousand dol
lars would start this work, and I am
satisfied no investment the state can
make will bring more ample and sat
! isfactOry returns. | most earnestly
commend the subject to your serious
consideration.
Meetings of Governors.
At this juncture of the message the
governor deals with a conference of
governors which grows out of Presi-
dent RooseveIt's invitation to gov
errors Of various states to meet at
the White House in May, 1908, to con,
slider the question of the conservation
of our natural resources. The recon-
mendation is made to the legislature
for an appropriation to be made en-
aiding Wisconsin to meet it's share of
this expense, and suggests that the
state may not fail to have proper rep
resentation and recognition at all flu
ture meetings of this nature.
Under the subject "Stock and Bond
Law the governor calls attention to
the limitation of the scope of inquiry