Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1871-03-15
Editorial Correspondence ]
OUR MADISON LETTER.


been of absorbing interest. The fate Of
several important measures have hung
tremblingIy in the balance, and many
are still waiting legislative approval or
disapprovaI. No day of adjournment
has been fixed and the determination
seems to be to give all bills full and
fair hearing if it take. all summer.
The appor,ionment bill was discussed
last Tuesday but no definite action Was
taken prior to adjournment. The Dells
bill .being made the special order for
Wednesday, the apportionment matter
| was laid aside.
THE DELLs QUESTION.
This measure came up in the assem-
bly, last Wednesday as the special order,
ard the great fight of the session was
opened. During the morning hour, but
little was done beyond perfecting the
bill and correcting several important er
Il
fered an endment the nature Of which
was antngonistic TO the bill. During the
afternoon the question was discussed at
considerable length and strong speeches
vera made OH both sides, but no vote
was arrived at. At the evening session
the ball was opened with redoubled Wig
or The friends of the bill tried to press
the house to vote while the opposition
used every legislative expedient to delay.
During this running fight considerable
excitement, was occasioned by the intro.
duction OF the following resolution by
Mr.. orion:
WHEREAS. il is charged that unlawful
means have been used by parties interested,
| or their agents. to influence and procure the
votes of members of this Assembly. on one
| side or the other. upon the bill under consid-
Grafton. assembly bill number one. entitled
"a hill to incorporate the Chippewa River
Improvement and Booming Company"
| therefore,
Resolssd. That committee of five be APP
4
said chang s. and asce' tain whether they are
true; and said committee are hereby author
| lied to send for persons and witnesses. and
| swear and examine them. touching the sub.
| ject Of :his invsstigation, and report to the
Assembly such evidence as they may take
with convenient dispatch.
The resolution explains itself 1t was
adopted, whereupon an attempt was
made to postpone further consideration
of the bill until the committee provided
for BY the above resolution had reported,
but the motion failed. AL attempts 10
adjourn failed, and finally near midnight,
the main question was brought before
the house. The amendment offered ty
Mr.. Bate, was voted down. The bill
was then ordered to a third reading
ayes 81, noes, As.
Through all this protracted session the
lobbies were filled with ladies and gen
tlemen and no one thought OF leaving
till the house adjourned.
In accordance with the provisions Of
the foregoing resolution the Speaker APP
pointed Messrs. Hall, Keeuan, Curtis
and s. A. White as the select committee
to investigate tho bribery business.
To day (FrIday } the Dells bill Hgan
came up for a third reading. A motion
was made by the opposition to postpone
further action till Tuesday next, with in
structious to the investigating committee
to make their report by Monday even
log next. This was the signal for an
other fight, the friends Of the bill en-
deavoring to prevent postponement.-
The motion finally prevailed and the bill
was postponed. Hero the case rests.
In the meantime the investigating
committee are summonng witnesses and
examining persons with reference to The
charges of bribery. 1t is generally con-
coded that there are grounds for be!ev.
ing the statements set forth in the pre-
amble of the above resolution, but for
the honor of our state hope the charge
may be found to be without the least
foundation. The report of the commits
tee is anxiously awaited
RAILROAD TAXATION.
The raiIroad tax bill, introduced by
Mr. Hall, came up for discussion lat
Tuesday. 1t was one of the most i'm
portant measures before the legislature
and elected considerable debate. The
bill provided for taxing the property of
railroads in the towns where such prop
erty was located instead of applying the
special tax system by which railroad tax
es are paid into the State treasury direct
and which is now in practice. Doubtless
the measure was right in principle hut it
would be decidedly wrong in practice
The tax paid by railroads under the pres
ent Jaw benefits all portions of the state
alike, but under the system::of local taxa
tion tie property of railroads would on
| 10 unconditional lv roliova fvn,n toxatian