Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1873-02-25
Special Correspondence Of the HEElLp)
THE LEGISLATURE.
7 hc Great Question -ssisrfes-Taxsd en, Ag-
ricuI,urs and Temperance
Matters.

ricultnr- and Temperance
matters.
MADISON. February %, lsT3.--This is
Washington's birthday, and Of course there is
no session Of the Legislature. Both houses
adjourned from Friday noon to Monday syen-
irg, and nearly all the members have gone
home.
THE Bio QUESTION.
The biggest question for this Legislature to
settle, the one that has attracted TO Madison
the largest lobby ever known in the history OF
Wisconsin legislation, the one in which more
money il at stake than in any measure ever
brought before the Legislature, is :he land
grant question. II is bigger in importance to
the State, than the Dels bill, and when the
tug Of war comes, will produce fully as much
excitement. An early adjournment is looked
for, and very likely will be secured, AMI yet
nothing b II lobby work has been done as re-
CARDS these bills disposing Of the land grant.
The railroad committee of the Assembly have
had them on hand since the early part of the
session, and yet have made no report. They
expected to face the music last week and make
a report. They failed, and then promise
was made TO report the bills back to the A.
senby this week. In this they have again
tailed; and now third surmise is made that
| next week sure, the bills will be in the hands
| Of he Assembly. How the committee will
report, il is difficult to tell. Bob companies
the Milwaukee and st. Paul, and the North
Wisconsn-each claim one majority in the
committee. II IS intimated that the committee
will report the bills without any recommen-
| daiions. In the houses the result of the cues.
tim is very much in doubt. Parties who have
canvassed the matter in the interests of the
ST. Paul company, claim maj ,rity in the AS
| sembly, while they consider the Senate doubt.
fnI. After all the DELAY, and seeming relnc-
lance in disposing OF this matter BY the rail.
road committee, il is reasonably certain thai
the bills will creep out from their slu;nbering
place sometime next week, but il is hardI,
probable vote will be reached on them be-
fore week after. don't know how the Grant
| county delegation Will vote on that question
They are set Of men who do their own
| thinking, aud say little.
CIRCUIT JUDGES.
The bill increasing the salaries of the cir.
cult judges OF this state, passed the Assembly
thus week, and has gone TO the Senate.
| will be cOncurred in without any opposit,on
think The BIZ makes the salary $4,000
| instead of 81 800 as now. An aitemDt 10 IN.
crease them TO $4,000 failed. Nj Palmer. o.
| Milwaukee, was IN favor Of reducing the mum.
| Der of circuits from twelve 10 eight, and max
ing the salaries $4,000; but otherwise would
oppose an increase Of more than $4,000.
The bill increasing the salaries Of the jnsii-
| ces of the Supreme court 10 So, 900 instead OF
81, 500, has passed the Assembly, and will b,
concurred in by The Senate. The ex,stea
| aud absolute necessity to increase the salarie,
of the Justices from the present beggarly lew
| figures to respectable amount in order 10 90
cure and retain 6rst-class ability on the SUI
irene bench. Chief Justice Dixon had mad,
Up his mind TO retire from the bench al the
| expiration OF his preseh; term, and resume the
practice OF law provided the salaries were moi
| increased. A petition has been circulated
aud signed by all the Republican members of
the Legislature, and l understand BY a lew
Democrats, requesting justice Cole to accep
a re nomination.
AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.
A bill was introduced in the Assembly some
| time ago appropriating $2,O00 TO thu State
Agricultural Society. Il came up on Wednes
day, which drew forth quite an animated dis
| cussion. Judge VI as offered an amendment.
providing that the fairs should not be held il
any one place for longer time than two year,
excessively /; and further providing that the
society shall be state institution. Out Of
| hIs amendment grew discussion which con-
sumed nearly the entire morning session. The
bill with its amendments were re ferred TO tn.
| committee on agriculture.
MIscELLANE Us BUsINEss.
There has been but very little business OF
special interest transacted in either house
There never was a Legislature in which su
few important bills we've introduced as in the
| Legislature Of this year. Not a single bill OF
general interest has gone through the mill so
| far. The prison reform bill, which passed
the Assembly last week, ia lodged in the Sen
ate. and gone int the hands OF select Com
mittee. presume IFS passage is a certainty
TEMPERANCE.
Nothing has been done with Mr. Doyle's bill
| repeating the temperance law, except 10 refer
| II 10 select committee. Its reference Great
| ed by long debate, as its friends did not
want il TO oe strangled in the hands Of its enc.
mies-the select committee being majority OF
| them-iemperance men OF cou. Sc the re-
pealers' bill VIII not pass, and l doubt II II
ever will see daylight.
TAXATION.
Hundreds of petitions are being received on
the subject of the repeal of all laws exemptine
property from taxation. This is a difficult
matter TO settle, and | doubt il any bill will
be passed on the subject
ADJOURNMENT.
jourh on the 9th OF March, bu. the Senate
will not concur as the time is too early. An
adjournment can hardly be reached before the
18th or goth of March
INTELLIGENCE.
One member yesterday. in discussing the
motion that when,the Assembly adjourn IT sd-
journ 10 Monday evening, said that Saturday
the 22nd, was the University of Washing
| fnn1a hsrghIa., ar1 IS