Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1876-02-17

taken on the resolution declaring
Joseph Bennett entitled to the seat.
This resolution was reported by the
Clerk to be lost by tie vote As 10
AZ. The speaker so announced the
result, and the Assembly adjourned
amid applause by the friends OF Mr..
Gray. who was Immediately sur
rounded by crowd of adminng
friends, and heartily congratulated.
The Assembly had not long adjourn
ed until it was discovered that the
speaker had made mistake in an
nouncing the vote which stood 40
for the resolution and As against.
Then there was great excitement,
and all sorts of speculations were i'll
dulged in as to The manner in which
the error could be corrected. Friday
morning came, aud the excitement
seemed to have increased and ex-
tended to nearly all the people in the
city. Soon after the Assembly open.
ed Mr.. Comstock introduced a resolu-
ton to the effect that the roll should
be called, and each member be re-
quested, TO answer upon his honor,
whether his vote was correctly re-
corded upon the motion 10 adopt the
resolution. Then was begun the
most disgraceful squabble that has
been witnessed in the Legislature of
Wisconsin for years, which was car
ried on by the Democrats for the
purpose of defeating the will of the
majority, rs expressed on the vote
taken Thursday. This contest lasted
through Friday through Friday night,
and ended Saturday morning about
$50, continuing twenty four
hours. The roll was called, and the
members stated that their votes were
correctly recorded. The speaker
declared MIR. Bennett entitled TO the
seat occupied by Mr.. Gray, and soon
after an adjournment was taken.
Thus ended contest which will long
be remembered.
BIENNIAL SESSION.
The Assembly has adopted Mr..
Books resolutions proposing an
amendment 10 the constitution, chang
ing the session of the Legislature to
biennial and lengthening the terms for
which members shall be elected.
The vote stood 60 for to IS against.
All the members from Grant county
voted for the resolutions. There viii
probably be but little opposition TO
their passage in the Senate. The
"tug of war will come next year,
when these resolutions will require
the concurrence of the Legislature
before being submitted 10 the people.
OTHER AMENDMENTS.
Three other amendments have been
proposed TO the constitution, viz : 10
make the school age from six to
twenty years, instead of four to
twenty, as now and providing that
no sectarian instruction shall be al
lowed III the district schools. To in,
crease the number IT justices of the
Supreme Court from three to FIVE
To change the requirement Of unani
nous verdcts by juries.
INVESTIGATIONS.
The Senate seems disposed TO make
a thorough investigation Of the vari-
Gus departments of the State govern
ment Resell, tons have been adopt
ed requiring an investigation into the
management and affairs of the State
Library to ascertain the amount
that has been expended by the State,
and is now due from it for legal sery-
ices during the past two years re
quirins All examination into the fail
IRE of the Wanpun bank, which tailed
with about $4,000 Of the funds of the
prison in its vaults also, instructing
the Attorney General to commence
suit for the recovery of the $4,000
reported to have been lost TO the
State Hospital for the Insane through
the negligence OF ex State Treasurer
Ba,z, or Simeon Mills, the Treasurer
of the Hospital, to axamine into the
management OF the University farm,
for the purpose of reducing its cost.
and others which do not now occur to
me. j. II. b.