Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1881-03-30
NOTES FROM THE Capital.
MADISON, March, Goth.

MADISON, March, Goth.
There is a determination among the
members of the legislature to come to a
final adjournment next week. Three
sessions were held daily this week, and
work has been disposed of rapidly. Few
measures are receiving much considera-
ton in these, the last days of the session,
the motto seeming to be to pass or kill at
once 1t will be surprising if some per-
nicious laws are not enacted in the hurry
to get through the calendar. This is apt
to be the case in the closing hours of
every legislature.
The consideration Of the oil law took
up the attention of the senate Friday
afternoon, and after a hot debate this
body agreed on an amendment which
lowers the test materially, and also re-
duces the inspectors fees several cents on
the barrel. This is as near a repeal of
the Bennett law as the senate would con-
sent to. The assembly wants an unco
ditional repeal of the law, as indicated
by the Sprague bill, but as the senate
will not agree to this the above amend
ments will probably be concurred in, not
because the assembly wants them, but
because it is the best it can get The
question before the assembly will be the
law with the amendments or the law as
it is
The legislature has cut down the an
nual appropriation for our state institu-
lions about $4,000. There is great
deal Of protesting going on among the
managers, who claim that the amounts
allowed are insufficient to so through the
year. The object of the legislature in
cutting down the allowance, is to force
these institutions to economic in their
expenditures. There is no disposition to
be niggardly with our charitable institu-
tons, but the impression seems to prevail
that altogether too much money is being
used-more than is necessary-and hence
this check
The anti-treating bill has passed both
houses, and only lacks the approval of
the Governor and official publication to
became law The law reads as follows:
''Any person who shall purchase, pay
for, or by any device whatsoever procure
c7,oh lo11orS n W., e. h.
half of any person other than himself, to
be drank as a beverage by such other
person, on the premises or in any public
place, shall be deemed guilty of a mis-
demeanor, and upon conviction thereof
shall be fined not less than five nor more
than ten dollars for each otfense."
The woman suffrage resolution was
postponed in the senate Wednesday by
vote of IA to Il, several senators being
absent and not voting. This ends the
agitation Of woman suffrage in this state
for this year. It will doubtless make its
appearance in future legislatures until
the people are given a chance to vote on
the proposition.
The resolution providing for biennial
sessions passed the senate by vote of %
to last Thursday. As this resolution
passed the assembly some time ago the
people will have an opportunity of voting
on the amendment next November If
adopted by the popular vote next fall, it
will go into effect at the election in the
fall of 1882.
The quack bill as it is called was con-
Cured in by the senate this week. This
bill provides that no person who has not
diploma from some reputable medical
college, can use professional title in con-
nection with his name. This law is aim
ed at the numberless Doctors who
travel the country advertising that Doctor
So-and-so will treat chronic diseases for
few days only at such-and-such hotels.
In nine cases out of ten these bogus doc
tors know nothing of medicine, and by
stripping them of professional title, they
are less likely to prey upon the credulity
Of invalids.
For several days this week commit
tee has been at work drafting a bill pro-
viding for new system of management
for the state charitable and reformatory
institutions. One has been perfected
which meets with the approval of the
Senate, and which it is thought will re
ceive concurrence in the Assembly. This
bill contemplates the adjustment of all
local boards, and of placing these state
institutions, SO far as the business man
agement is concerned, under the control