Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1922-08-04
VOTE ON AMENDMENTS
Important Changes In COnstitu-
ton To Be Voted Upon In
November

Nine constitutional amendments
basic changes in the law of Wiscon-
sin,-are we'll on their way toward
passage, according to statistics given
out today by Secretary of State Elmer
S. Hall.
Three of the amendments have
been passed by two legislatures, duly
advertised and will be presented to
the voters at the November elections
for final approval and adoption. Five
others, passed by the 1921 legislature,
will be advertised once a week for
three months, starting July %, in the
official state paper, and presented to
the 1928 legislature for second pas
sage and presentation to the voters.
The three amendments to be voted
on November provide as follows:
l. For the repeal of the present
constitutional provision that sheriffs
in office are ineligible to hold the Of
fee of sheriff for two years after the
termination of their term, and to al
low them to succeed themselves if re-
elected.
2. To allow the legislature to pass
a law providing that in civil jury
cases, the vote of a specified number
of the jury not less than ive-sixths
but less than all shall be sufficient for
valid verdict Present law requires
unanimous agreement in both civil and
criminal cases for valid verdict.
g. To authorize cities or other
municipalities to incur, besides the
indebtedness Of five per cent of their
tax valuation now allowed, indebted
ness amounting to an additional five
per cent of the same amount, for the
purpose Of acquiring or constructing
various specified public utilities.
The other amendment is that allow
ing the legislature power to raise the
salary of the governor above $4,000
year. This amendment was passed
by two legislatures, but on second
passage, the 1921 session neglected
the technicality Of formally present
ing it to the people" so therefore it
cannot be placed on the ballot until
sometime next year after this cere-
mOny has been consumated.
The city home rule" amendment,
also passed twice, was declared by
tie state supreme, court this month 60
have Ecen advertised in wrong man
mer, and will have to be advertised
ana PASSED again by the legislature
before it can be put to vote.
This amendment specifies that cities
ami 7illages, which now have My
those powers of governmental deter
mining their local affairs not prohib
tied by the constitution or by state
wide enactment of the legislature
This prohibits the legislation, leaving
it all up to the city.
The four amendments besides the
home rule" amendment to be adver
tised and presented to the 1923 leg
islature are as follows:
1. To allow the Legislature to
authorize the choosing of additional
circuit court judges in counties in
excess of eighty-fve thousand popula-
ton.
2. To raise the salaries of the
members of the legislature to $3.50
per annum from the present compen-
sation of $500 for regular session.
8. To amend the constitution to
allow the state to appropriate money
for the purpose of acquiring, pre-
serving and developing the forests of
the state" This proposed amendment
is qualified by the provision that
there shall not be appropriated in
any one year under this act an amount
to exceed two-tenths of one mill of
the taxable property of the state as
determined by the last preceding state
assessment.
f. To allow the state to borrow
sum not exceeding onerfifth of one
mill upon the dollar of the last state |
assessment for the purpose of aiding
land settlement and Improvements |
thereon.