Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1871-01-17
Legislative Correspondence
FROM THE CAPITOL.
Organization Of the Legislature : Contest for
Speaker aud sergeani-at - trms-The
Chippewa River improvement
MADISON, Jan. 10. 1871.


After almost one years silence, |
again take up the reportorial pencil
TO tell you what tho lawmakers at
the Capitol City are doing for you
and the balance Of the good people of
this Commonwealth.
1t is usual, | know, to commence
q series Of letters such as | intend to
write with the remark that "this leg
islature is composed of finer looking
and in every way ADLER men" than
the one before it; but this session
will deviate from the time honored
rule and say the truth exactly: This
legislature will be the full equal of
the last-and this is saying enough.
We don't see Pitt Dewey and
Chandler in the seats before us on
the Republican side, or Sanborn on
the Democratic, but their absence
will be supplied by such good men
az Holloway, Smith, Orion, and a
score of new men only lacking in the
school of legislative experience to be
the peers ef any | lave named. But
we do have some Of the old sort LETT
in the persons of Hall, Mihills, Max
on and Pease, able legislators and
worthy men.
The usual crowd who come up here
each year for place have come, and
most of them have gone again. Per-
sons who pretend TO know say the
swearing train" was larger than
usual this year. As l stood around
the different hotel last evening and
saw the unsuccessful pack up their
little effects ready for departure, |
was led to contemplate how uncer-
tain are all earthly calculations--es-
peciaIly those controlled by politics.
The contest for Speaker was be-
tween Hon. w. w. Field, of Grant,
aud Hon. VIM. Il Smith, Of Dodgo,
and was conducted in the most
friendly spirit throughout. as all felt
that in the choice OF either, the posi-
ton would be ably filed. When the
caucus was held the result on the in
formal ballot was thirty-tve for
smith to twenty-one for Field, when
on motion of Mr.. Field, w. b Smith
was declared the nominee by accIa-
nation. Although q great many OF
the members thought that Mr. Field
would probably make the best pre-
siding olli or, having had two terms
experience, they nevertheless con-
,idered it compliment due TO Mr.
Smith. who never having held the
Office is so well and favorably known
throughout the State, that all feel
that the compliment is very worthily
bestowed
The contest for Sergeant-at-Arms
entered somewhat into that of the
Speakcr-hip and resulted in the
choice, by reclamation, Of 5. ;. FL
field, Of Polk county, 8 young editor
who has done much for the party ard
VINO will make very efficient officer
For the Office Of Chief Clerk Of the
Assembly Hon. T. w. Young, of
Sank county, had no opposition, and
The subordinate positions under him
are all well flied
H. tho Senate o. r. Smith, of
Rock was chosen Chief Clerk, and
although without experience in that
position, is composed OF the right
material to make an efficient aud
successful officer. w. Baker, of
Kenosha, was chosen Sergeant-at-
Arms
The Senate standing committees
were ANNOUNCED yesterday. / see
that your worthy Senator, Geo. {.
Hazelton, is Chairman OF the Judici-
airy. The Assembly standing COM
mittees have not yet been announc-
ed. | learn, however, they have
been arranged by the Speaker, and
will soon be published TO the House.
Mr. Field will have two important
positions on the committees-Chair-
of State Affairs and the Committee
on Apportionment. Holloway on
Banking, and Ways and Means;
Harris Chairman on Mining and
Smelling and Chambers or Federal
Relations.
Up to this date nothing Of very
much importance has transpired in
either House, with the exception Of
the introduction Of a bill in the As
semLly for the improvement OF Chip
pewa river, which re-opens the war
of last winter between Eau Claire
and Chippewa Falls, and in the prog
rcss Of which your readers shall be
informed. Hon G. G. Williams, Of
Rock county, was yesterday chosen
President, pro tenn, of the Senate.
NJ.