Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-04-13
WISCONSIN LEGISLATURE.

WISCONSIN LEGISLATURE.
Madison, Wis, April Sin the senate
to-day, after the recess, the following
senate bills Were passed:
AppropriaGng $1,000 to the Wiscon-
sin Veterans home; prescribing a penal
~ for larceny from shop or store;
to protect and encourage the raising of
sheep and discourage the raising of
dogs; relating to the restoring OF
streams, highways, etc, to their origina.
state of usefulness by railway corpora
tons.
The following assembly bills were con-
CURED in:
To organize the town Of Coleman, in
Marlnette county; to declare a part of
a certain avenue in the city Of NIilwau-
kee a boulevard or pleasure way, and
to regulate the use of the same; to make
diplomas granted by universities, nor
NAL schools and colleges licenses to
teach i'll certain schools before being
countersigned by the state superintend-
! ent.
The assembly killed the following as
sembly bills: For the appointment of
public bank examiner; permitting cleo
trio companies to use streets and alleys
for their pOleS with the consent of pub
lie authorities.
/ The senate bill was passed amending
the law under which the NilbOurn dam
was erected.
Nj. Hall made a motion to reconsider
the vote by which the bill had been or
dered to third reading permitting rail
way companies to hold stock in other
companies. He thought a great corp0r-
ate monopoly was possible under such
Il law. The motion prevailed.
When the special order, the libel bill
giving publishers a chance to retract
offensive declaratiOnS-Was reached
Mr.. Mills made speech advocating it's
/ passage. He maintained that the pres
ent law was no advance on the ancient
law Of Egypt. Now the law presumed
malace in Il ibelous publication, where
as in all other cases offenders are pre-
sumed to be innocent until they are
proved guilty. This, he thought, was
/ grossly unjust.
Mr.. Austin thought that newspapers
had about as much sway as they ought
to have. Editors ought to be presumed
to be malicious when they published
libels after all the elaboration which
is exercised in the preparation of matter
for the press. He created mirth among
the press gang by telling how articles
were first put in type, then run
| oh
read
The bill was killed on a vive voce
vote
Madison, April Gin the senate to-
day Mr.. Spensley presented a remon-
STRANGE from $50 citizens of Shullsburg
against the sale of liquor on fair
grounds. The committee on state af-
fairs reported favorabiy the bill for
the establishment of a county road sys-
TEN, as amended. The committee re-
commended the indefinite postponement
of the assembly bills to establish town
ship libraries, and making labor day a
legal holiday.
The joint resolution was passed for
final adjournment on April 20.
The assembly bill passed providing
that all wagons having tires IL inches
or more in width shall be free from
taxation.
The bill appropriating $4,000 for the
establishment of a home for the GUS
tody, training and education of the
feeble-minded, epileptic and idiotic of
this state, came UP on it's third reading.
Mr.. Bashford objected to the passage
of the bill. 1t provided, he said, for
three departments, q school for educa- !
bic classes, Il custodian department for
helpless and lower types, and such other
departments or colonies as the needs |
may require. The first and third classes |
were already provided for by county /
asylums. This bill then must relate |
solely to the class which may be educat- .
ed. Mr.. Bechtner said Mr.. Bashford's A.,
view was inhuman. Mr.. Lees opposed !
the bill but it was nevertheless ordered /
to a third reading
The general fish law was passed with !
an amendment providing that it go J!
into effect May / next i
After a long debate the bill to create
a bank examiner was killed.
The resolution from the senate for Il i
amendment to repeal the 1,
relating to city charters
adopted last fall came up for passage
and Mr.. Hall opposed it on the ground
that there was no necessity for it. and
the new system had been tried and APP
proved by other states Mr.. Burke eX-
planned that the resolution, if adopted,
could not be acted upon by the people
till four years from last fall, and was
designed as a precaution to gain two
years time in case the present plan for
a general city charter does not prove
acceptable. Mr. Mills favored the reso-
luton. He did not believe that a gen.
eral charter could be adopted which t