Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-02-28
LEGISLATION AT nADISON,

MADISON, Feb. %, 1870.
A visitor in the halls of the legislature
at times when the worthy gentlemen
are not in session sees not 1nfrequently
a mock session carried on by the pages
and messengers of the two branches.
The one whose duty it is to wait upon
the presiding officer is accorded the
honor of welding the gavel; this he
does with the utmost dignity, or else
calls some other member to preside if
urgent business demands his attention.
Thus the boys amuse themselves by
acting out the scenes which are becom-
ing SO familiar to them, and bills are
introduced, referred to committee,
reported on, killed and passed in a very
business-like manner indeed.
1t would scarcely be fair to say that
the doings of these mimic solons are as
interesting as the deliberations of those
whom they initiate. For matters are
warming up considerably and are
beginning to be watched with the
keenest interest.
Considerable excitement was caused
in the assembly on Thursday when the
special order was reached-the bill
establishing astate board of arbitration.
The bill is modelled after the Massa-
chusetts law, and its author, Mr.. O'Neill
thinks it would operate as well in
Wisconsin as it has done in Massachu-
sets. Those who oppose the bill do
not as a rule oppose the principle of it,
but point as warnings to several states
where it has failed utterly and been
worse than useless. The bill was finally
ordered engrossed and read a third
time.
The Joint committee on claims is
where everything receives the closest
scrutiny. The general business depress-
ion, the fires in the north, to say
nothing of former mismanagement,
have made necessary more than the
usual care in the appropriation of
money. This committee has just about
decided that The scheme Of Senator
Mills for a deep waterways commission
shall be consigned to oblivion. 1t will
report favorably the appropriation of
$4,000 for the relief of fire sufferers in
the north, and the bill will no doubt be
passed. The committee is also in favor
Of the bill making a contingent fund of
$4,000 to be drawn upon for the
suppression Of contagious diseases.
Petitions are coming in from all parts
OF the state on every conceivable
subject. Many Of them are for the
establishment Of the proposed home
for the feeble minded, and it is likely
that they will have the desired effect.
The bill making sheriffs eligible for
reelection is awakening considerable
interest throughout the state, and
petitions are also coming in for its
passage. And there are petitions of all
kinds in regard to the road question,
consequent upon Senator McGillivray's
bill. They are of every imaginable
complexion.
Assemblyman Mahony of Vernon
county thinks that when public officers
ride on passes they should not receive
anything for mileage, and he is the
author of a resolution directing that
they must declare they have not
travelled on a pass when they hand in
bills for mileage.
Senator Putnam's resolution for a
joint legislative committee to report
upon the number of employees in the
different departments, with their sala-
ries, and to recommend any necessary
increase or decrease in either number
or salary, viii in all probability be
passed.
The legislators almost to a man visited
the state university last Wednesday at
the invitation of President Adams.
They were divided into sections, each
under the guidance of a member of the
faculty, and made a thorough inspection
of the buildings. The many needs of
such a rapidIy-grow1ng institution,
especially at the library and at main
hall, were fully realized by the gentle
men as they went about, and at the
mass meeting in the gymnasium at )
O'Clock some Of them were not slow in
expressing their intention of working
for the new library bill. Gov. Upham
was present and said that he would
only too gladly sign the bill for the new
building as soon as it is sent him.
Col Morley, superintendent of public
about the capitol, not the