Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1912-05-03

waukee have repeatedly tried to secure the
nactment of law that will permit non
introduced in the legislatures of 1903 and
1911 and was strongly supported. 1t 1alleo
of enactment ut both sessions. But pubHc
sentiment in Milwaukee during the recent
municipal campaign nevertheless persuaded
the two principal political parties of the
state to forego making nominations ana
to unite by means of improvised eXpedlents
in support of non partisan clty uckei.
These eXpedientS were eXtralegai. cfude
and unsatisfactory, and subjected the Guy
to all the dangers of selfish manipulation
and ring rule. But the sentiment in favor
of non partisan elections was strong
enough to induce the people to overlook
these drawbacks and even to approve the
rough and ready methods that were EN-
ployed.
The people of Milwaukee now ask that
they be relieved of the necessity OF again
resOrting to such devices: and they VIII
present at this session a request Tor me
bill Those of you who entertain doubt as
to the wisdom of the principle or non
partisanship in city elections should con
slider that the question is no longer wheth-
er or not Milwaukee should have non part-
san elections. 1t is rather whether such
elections and the making of nominations
leading up to them shall hereafter pc con
Quoted openly or clandestinely; by the
many or by the few; pursuant to lawful
authority exercised in an orderly way SO
every one may have an equal voice or Dy
manipulation in the interests of those VINO
have an axe to grind. Milwaukee has her
self already decided the other question.
1t is true that strictly speaking this is
not an emergency measure. Before another
municipal election will be held in M1lWau-
kee there will be a regular session of the
legislature at which this bill might be con
sdered. 1t is true also that this subject
was not thought of when the call Tor thls
special session was made. But some OF the
language of the call appears nevertheless
to be broad enough to include it. SO the
problem is here. Believing as l do in non
partisan city elections ! recommend the
enactment of this legislation at the present
time.
Springing from the same source as the
city bill. and backed in part by the same
sentiment. but not supported as it seems
to me by the same logic, is de-
mand also for the enactment of non,
partisan election bill for the county of
Milwaukee. This proposal l cannot en-
dorse. Unlike a city, a county is es-
sentially an administrative subdivision
of the state. It's officers as rule exercise
state functions only. comparison Of the
and the attorney general Of the state, of the
clerk of the circuit court and the clerk OF
the supreme court Of the county clerk and
the secretary of state, of the county treas
urer and the state treasurer will satisfy
any one that county government is only
subdivision of state government established
for convenience in administration. The sher-
iff and coroner are indeed the principal
executive officers of the state we'll as of
the county. This being true non partisan
ship in county elections cannot be advo-
Gated logically or consistently without de-
claring also for non partisan elections in
the state. No one seriously proposes the
latter
Another insuperable obstacle in the way
Of non partisan county elections arises
from the circumstance that county officers
are elected in the fall on general election
day. Then not only county officers. but
members of the legislature state officers.
members of congress and the president and
chosen. 1t is the one day in all the year
that is openly and frankly partisan. for
the government of this country is a gov
ton it is expected that non partisanship in
respect to county offices can be perma-
nently maintained is not explained. For
one l do not think it possible. If. recog-
nizing this incOngruity, it be proposed to
change the time of county elections to the
spring so as to permit county officers to be
chosen at the same time city, school and
judicial officers are elected, the obvious an
swer is that this cannot be done by pass
ing a statute and so to amend the consti-
tuition will not alter the nature of the func-
lions county officials perform nor the char
acter of the county itself as an administra
tive subdivision of the state. SO long as
state elections are partisan, county cleo
lions will be so also.
LLOYDs ASSOCIATIONS
The Insurance Commissioner has called
my attention to the fact that the law con-
corning the admission of associations to
transact insurance upon the Lloyds plan
is not as clear and certain as 1t should be.
The only provision upon this subject in our
present statutes Incorporates reference to
the rule applicable to insurance companies
from foreign countries, which would seem
to confine it's provisions also to associations
from foreign countries. If moreover this
associations organized in any of the several
states it will require Of such associations
deposit which is not demanded by our
law from any corporation or association or
ganiZed in any of the states of the United
States for the transaction of the business
of fire insurance. Other states admit such
associations upon much the same terms as
foreign corporations for the transaction of
the business of fire insurance. thus treating
all alike. / recommend that the law be so
amended as to make definite and certain
the conditions under which Lloyds assOcia
tons may be admitted to transact business
in Wisconsin, imposing upon them no un
reasonable restrictions but at the same
time safeguarding fully the interests of our
own citizens.
HOME RULE FOR CITIES.
The specification in the call concerning
the enactment of legislation relative to
ticipation that the action then pending in
the Supreme Court involving the validity
of Chapter 476 of the Laws of 1911 might
be decided before this special session be-
law or any part of it be held invalid for
unconstitutionality, the Legislature might
desire to be in a position to act upon the
question without further delay. But it
appears now that no decision is likely to
be made in this case until after the close
of the present session. | refrain therefore
from making any recommendation in the
matter.
AMENDMENT OF FISH AND GAME
LAWS.
Some of the laws for the protection of
fish and game should be amended. In
practice a few of these laws have been
found to be Inconsistent while others are
ambiguous Especially should the author
ity of the Game Warden to take rough or
destructive fish from the waters of the
state be made clear and explicit. There is
determined opposition in some quarters to
continuing the plan of licensing fishermen
to remove these fish by means of seines
In many instances where this method has
been employed in the past game fish have
been destroyed, duck shooting has been
impaired and the vegetation in the beds
of shallow lakes has been ruined Too
often commercial gain has been the one
dominant motive; and as might be ex-
pected there has been little regard paid
to other considerations.
After careful investigation and public
hearing upon this subject at which all in