Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1871-01-18
FROM MADISON
MADISON, January 10Th, 1877

ture has met and organized Tor the
transaction of business, and [ will now
try to comply with promise that |
made you some time ago, to post your
readers from time to time as to what
that body may do.
The contest for the Speakership Of
the Assembly was quite an animated
ore, between Hon. VIM. E. Smith, of
Dodge, and w. W. Field, Of Grant,
but was conducted by the friends of
both gentlsmen with the utmost good
feeling. Tn the caucus on the inform
al ballot w. w. Field received 81
votes and w. f. Smith So; and on
motion of Mr.. Field, Smith was de
clared the unanimous choice of the
caucus, as their candidate for Speaker
E. W. Young, the able and efficient
Chief Clerk of the Assembly, for sew
eral years past, was reelected to that
position, and S. S. Eifeld, editor of
the Polk County Press, one of the
most Jealous and hard working men in
the Sixth district, was elected Ser.
gea nt-at-Arms of the Assembly.
In the Senate Hon. Chas. G. Will
liams was elected President pro tenn /;
O. R. Smith, of the Milwaukee SENT
mel, Chief Clerk, and Capt w, w.
Baker, of Kenosha, Sergeant-at- Arms
Both houses of the Legislature have
many able members. The Senate with
men like Williams, Hazelton, Cameron,
Price and Mageon. on the Republican,
and Burchard, Clark, Huebschmann
and Morgan on the Democratic side,
promises to be a body that
will act W isely in its deliberations. In
the Assembly you may notice among
its leading members the faces Of Messrs
Hall, Field, Curtiss, Kuntz, Montgom
cry, Mihills, Bates and others, on the
Republican, and Orion, Maxon, Thorn,
Rankin and We'll, on the Democratic
side. The able member from your
district, Mr.. Hall, it is pretty generally
understood will be Chairman of the
Committee on judiciary. The COM
mittee will probably be announced by
the Speaker this evening. Mr.. Mont
gomery, who was formerly resident
Of Jefferson County, and will be re
membered by many OF your readers as
Senator from there in 1901 and 1862,
is man that the people cannot well
afford to let remain at home.
This session promises to be one OF
unusual interest. The most important
business to the people generally will
probably be the redistricting of the
State. Among the bills of local i'm
portance that will take up good deal
of the time and attention of the Legis-
lalure, and bring large Hobbies here, is
the bill for the improvement Of the
Chippewa River, at Eau Claire, COM
monty called the "Dells Improve
ment," and the Milwaukee Bridge Bill.
At its first session, both houses of
the Legislature passed Memorial to
Congress for the renewal of the grant
of land to aid in the construction of a
railroad from St. Croix River OF Lake
to the west end of Lake Superior and
to Bayfield,. This grant has been for
feited by the Com .,any holding it, but
I understand that the Charter for the
railroad has passed into other hands,
and that if they can get renewal of
the grant which is being opposed by
members from the South in Congress,
that there will be no delay in bailding
the road 1t is a road of vast impor-
lance to the state, and particularly so
to the northwestern portion of it, and
it was, therefore, proper that the Leg
islature should act so promptly IN the
matter. T.. II. W. 5.
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