Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1874-02-26

week the KefOrmers have done one
.hing-they have put themselves
'quarely on record in reference to
ble temperance Question. The AMI
mus of the creature came out last
Wednesday evening, when the r.
formers temperance came up for
consideration under special order.
Fhe Assembly went ia committee of
the whole on the bill Several
amendments were made by the Re-
formers and adopted pretty much by
straight party vote. One 8 ciion
of the bill contained a provision sim
liar. though not 80 clear and distinct,
to the Graham law, IN regard to the
responsibility OF liquor sellers. The
bill provided that any person who
shall beinjured in person or property,
by or in consequence of the intoxlca-
ton of any person to whom the sell
ing or giving away of Intoxicating
drinks was prohibited should have
right of action against the person
selling such drinks. 1t was amend
ed 80 that it now reads "that any
person who is injured through the
drunkenness of any minor or habit
dal druDkard shall have a right OF
action" &c. When the Republicans
opposed this amendment, their
spokesman John Winans said the
DILL as it was first wri ten was too
much like the Graham law t. suit
the Reform party, and he desired
the amendment adopted He took
the entire Reform members with
him in voting for the adoption of the
amendment.
The Republicans offered an amend
ment to strike out one OF the sec
tions which repealed the Graham
law. 1t was lost by vote of 80 TO
80. The next move was to move
the indefinite postponement of the
dill, and that was defeated also
ayes 40, noes 81.
Another amendment was offered,
hat of providing that the bill should
not repeal the statute law relating to
selling intoxicating liquors on Sun
lay. That even was defeated by
II to IS.
The Republicans then tempted the
RAformers once more, and offered al
amendment providing that liquor
i ould not be sold on Sunday and
'o.wnmeeting days. Several Of the
Retormtrs voted for this amendment
but it was defeated By 46 to AZ
Some little excitement was pr :
Iuced at this condition OF thing.
The Chamber was crowded to IT,
almost capacity. Hundreds OF ladet
were present and on the whole i
was one of the finest audiences ever
assembled in that Chamber Their,
was uncommon interesl manifeF ted
in the bill There was very little
said on either side. Brigham and
Winans, two oppoeiles in politics.
two of the best speakers in the Leg
islature, and champions for their
respective sides, kept comparatively
quiet. The hour had come when
talk could do no good. The mem
5ers had made up their minds on the
question, TIE Rcformers could not
change, as the party lash hangs heav-
ily over their shoulders. The previ'
Gus question was moved, and the bill
ordered to third reading by vet
of 50 TO 38,-very nearly a strict
party vote Several of the R+puhli-
cans were absent which accounts
for light vote against third read
ing.
Since the action of the Reformers
on Wednesday, many have conclud-
ed that for policy sake, If for nothing
else, it would have been better 10
have adopted the amendment pro-
hibitiug the sale of liquors on Sun
day and townmeeting days. The
Senate will probably adopt such I'D
amendment, and likely it will be
ooncurred IN by the Assembly.
will be only the overpow ering public
sentiment on the subject of temper
ance, and the fear of public rebuke
hat will make the Raformers col
cur in even that amendment propp>-
ID by the Republicans
RAILWAY LEGISLATION.
There has been no material change
in tbe status of railway Legislation
since last week. The railway com
mittees have reported bills, and recc.
mend their passage, erecting board
of railway commissioners. and limit
ing the charge for trsnspor ION b.
the figures charged during the frs
week Of Jnre. 1872: They haze al. o
reported bill t"r pro rata tariff
1t will be several days before to,
Legislature can see through the
mess of business pertaining TO raj
way ma ers, The joint select con-
mittee report oae system. and ID.
standing committee another. How
the disagreement Will be overcome,
cannot be told now.
THE REG sTRY LAW
The bill repeating the registry