The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1881-02-24
FROM THE STATE CAPITAL.
MApIsoS. Feb. 22nd, 1881.

doubtless apprehensive that the present
Legislative session may extend far into
the springtime, will convene this evening,
but for the purpose, principally, OF re-
and getting them in to morrow mornings
calendar. There is popular belief that
no business Of legislative character, can
be transacted upon legal holiday, but
this is also 4 popular error. So many
senators and ministers have, however,
become imbued with this notion and so
many leaves of absence were applied for
and granted, that in Difference to this
sentiment nothing will be done in the
nature of business save that to which I
have referred.
Beginning tomorrow the engagement
will have become general all along the
line. A heavy mornings calendar surely
awaits the returning Solons and in the
evening the biennial confab will be re-
sumed, also that upon church taxation,
both of which constitute the special order
for the occasion. Last weeks consider
alton of the former question resulted in
pretty general drawing of fire, some of
which produced a decidedly weird effect,
leaving the speakers in a most ridiculous
glare. Since last winter there have been
few conversions both ways, but your
correspondent believes that decided
majority will vote aye, which is simply
synonymous with willingness to submit
it to the people. In the matter of church
taxation there seems TO be a growing in
clination to tax this kind of property with
certain restrictions or exemptions. The
views of many senator's and assemblymen
are as far apart az the poles, but there
has been great conveyance of opinion
since last winter. 1t is becoming more
and more apparent to the thinking per-
son that because of the legal exemption
of costly church property. (and this must
not be considered synonymous with
church edifces simply great. unjust
and oppressive burden is laid upon the
shoulders of the house owner in moder-
ate circumstances. In a recent CONVEX
sation with Senator Woodman of Baraboo,
he assured me that the principle under
lying the whole question of church taxa
ton was essentially just one and would
Z - L L
ed an exemption not to exceed SIS, 200,
which would cover all necessary cases of
theological restitution. Speaker Brad
ford is willing to ''see" Senator Wood
man and even go him S., 900 better, but
as it is improbable that anything above
So, 200 in value will be ultimately exempt
ed, he will accept that. Said he, and 1
quote his exact language: 81 merely
want to see the poor country churches,
those which are struggling along deep
~ in debt, exempted from the oper-
alton of the law. Many times these same
country church edifces are used for town
hall purposes and are really needed by
the people for both religious and secular
purposes, but if taxed they could not be
carried along" Although the $4,000
oxonAptinn amandment was killed last
week [ am still inclined to believe that
the time is not far distant when church
taxation with a $1,000 exemption, will be
written upon our statute books. The
signs of the times ali point that way.
On Thursday evening the woman stuff
rage amendment will be considered as
special order. While the probabilities
favor it's passage in the senate by small
majority it will probably meet its Brutus
in the assembly. Each party is, however,
manifestly afraid of the other and unwil-
ling to precipitate matters.
On Friday evening the special order
will be the consideration of repeal or
modification of the Bennett oil bill, the
question having been sprung upon the
legislature in a rather singular way
Mr.. Laurence of Rock desired that his
county and two others should be permit
ted to use some kind of burning fluid,
and thus be virtually exempted from the
working OF the Bennett oil bill. This
was most emphatically opposed by Mr..
Sloan of Appleton, and lively tilt be-
tween these gentleman is looked for
Good arguments can certainly be advanc-
ed by both sides.
In the Blue Book for 1881, find the
following biographical sketches, which
will surely interest your readers: 'sJos.
Rankin, dem. of the city OF Manitowoc,
was born at Passaic, New Jersey, Sep
tember 25, 1888; received an academic
education; is engaged in general business:
be came to Wisconsin in 1854 and settled
at Mishicott; has filed various local
Offices at different times; entered the
military service during the late rebellion,
and served three years; was member
Of the assembly IN 1850, 1871, ~, '73 and
IA; was elected chairman Of the Demo
cratic State Central Committee in 1877.
He was State Senator In 1977-'7S, and
reelected for 1879-'80, receiving 2,5S3
votes against 2,074 fer Charles Luling,
(Rep.); was reelected Tor ie8l-S2, re-
ceiying 1871 votes, against 2,923 votes
for Ell. Fl. Smith.
Assembiyman Thomas Gleason (Dem.)
of Grimm's, Manitowoc county, was born
in Ireland, December II, 1877; received
common school education; is farmer
by occupation; lett t-eleud in 1851, and
settled In the Province Of Ontario, aud
N 1850 removed to Wisconsin, settling
at Rockland, Manito~oc county; has
held many local offices. and is at present
one OF the commissioners of swamp and