River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1889-03-14
MADISON LETTER.
MADISON, Wis, Mar. II, 80.

MADISON, Wis, Mar. I (, 80.
Ed. JOURNAL: Since my last the pc.
litical revolution which marks a
change of administration. personally
and politically, has put Grover Cleve-
land and the Democratic party out
and Benjamin Harrison and the Re-
publican party into power. Wiscon-
sin is interested particularly, because
of the regard it bears to its honored
Ex-Governor, Jerry" Rusk. This
call to Cabinet position is not only a
recognition of the ability and strength
of character which has characterized
Gov. Rusk as citizen, soldier and
governor, but it is also a recognition
of the growing power and influence of
Wisconsin as a solid Republican state,
and of it's representatives in the u. ).
Senate as men of power and influence
in national affairs. Everybody seems
to agree in congratulating 'Uncle
Jerry" on his preferment, Messrs.
Sawyer and Spooner upon their recog-
nized influence with the new admins
tration, and the state as a whole on
having such men for its representa-
tives at the seat of government.
The Inauguration of President Har-
rison and the appointment Of ex-Gov-
ernor Rusk in the Cabinet was cele-
brated by the Capitol employees here
in Madison by an impromptu gather.
ing in the rotunda, where several pa
triotic and political songs were sung,
and by cheers for Harrison and Rusk
by hundred men, more than half of
whom were old soldiers, to whom the
return to power of the men who saved
the nation means far more than it
does to those who do not so we'll know
what the Union is worth and what it
cost.
The administration of Grover Cleve-
land has been accented by the COM
plete suOOrdlnation of the affairs of
government to the domination of the
Southern brigadiers. The incoming
administration will more nearly rep
resent all sections. While the major
ity of its officers will be chosen from
the North, the seat of power, the
South will not be excluded. 1t will
be granted all the representation its
population, wealth and patriotism en-
titles it to; but it will not be permit
ted longer to dictate the policy of the
nation, either at home or abroad.
Legislative affairs are gradually as
Stunning shape from which it is posi-
ble to deduce conclusions. Senator
Taylor's railroad bill will be killed in
committee, the influence of the rail-
roads being stronger than any one
dreamed of two months ago. Then it
was conceded that the bill would at
least be reported, and an expression of
opinion in the form of vote in open
senate had upon the question. 1t
looks now as though it would not
come before the senate at all, except
for the vote upon indefinite postpone
ment. Mr.. Taylor takes the matter
very philosophically, and expresses
the opinion that two years from now
the question will go before the people
for settlement at the primaries and at
the ballot box, and that there, and
only there, can an expression of the
people ON this vexed question be OBJ
tanned.
The county option bill is also doom.
ed to defeat as a general measure, at
this session, and that question also
will be relegated to the people for set
Element at the primaries. That its
defeat at this time will be anything
more than temporary neither its enc
mics can claim nor its friends admit.
1t is essentially a Republican meas
ure, although it has met with very
cordial support from all except the
most radical Prohibitionists and many
Democrats. 1t has not met with the
support it merited from the anti-sa-
loon people of the state. Pierce
county has sent in only about dozen
petitions, aggregating less than five
hundred names, representing all
shades of political beliefs. 1t ought
to have had better backing at home.
Senator JOINER. who had charge of
the bill. will this week offer a substi-
tute in the form of a special bill
which will include such counties as
may, by request of their representa-
tives, be included in its provisions.
Col. Dill is favorably inclined
toward this substitute, and will no
doubt ask that Pierce county be plac-
ed in the list of counties to which the
measure may apply.
Just now the legislators are busy
killing" proposed legislation which
could work only harm or depletion of
the treasury if enacted. They have
already slaughtered several hundred
bills, and many more are doomed to
meet the same fate. State Treasurer
Harshaw figured up the amount in
volved in all the schemes to bleed the
State and found that the aggregate
amounted to over two millions of dol
lars; or, including the proposition to
divert the Normal school fund to
county purposes, the sum reached
SO. 500 900. 1t is a matter for con-
gratulation that while each member
feels bound to present the schemes of
his constituents in the form of bills,
the legislature as a body, and more
particularly the Joint committee on
claims to whom every bill involving
an appropriation must be referred,
may be depended upon to exercise a
wholesome check upon the passage of
all, or nearly all bills calling for mon-
ey, which is not legitimately required
to run s'the business of the state"