Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1895-02-28
SENATE DEBATES TILE BANTER
REFUNDING BILL.
REPUBLICANS DECLARE USURY
HAS BEEN pRACTICED.
And Democrats Dcpl0re the Introduce
ton Of Politics into the Question
Bill to Increase the School Year 10
Eight Months Killed in the As
scmbly


| the senate Tuesday morning, Liultcl,
ant Governor Baensch pres ding AS
Sistant Chief Clerk i. W. Coon acted
| IN Mr.. lIouser's place for the firSt
time. "Reminiscences was read from
! Byron Il. Park and other citizens of
Stevens Point, III. G. Humphrey and
others of Amigo, Thomas NJ. Block
stock and others of ShGboygan, H. G.
lIolIiStcr ANA others OF Delavan, III. u.
Woodwork and others of Tomahawk,
all against the passage Of senate bill
number lGl giving counsel of the state
humane society the right to appear fer
the state in the prosecution of eases.
Senate Bills Passed:
10. Ill increasing the number of
percmptory challenges allowed dcfen-
dents in. the impancIing OF julieS; No.
10, purchasing stationery for the leg
iSbaturc; No. 229 relating TO the in
dcbtcdncss Of Black River Falls.
Special Order.
The senate tools up the special order
madc Monday night on the Baxter
bill 10 regulate interest money loaned
to school districts from tlle school
trust fund at four per cent and to
refund all interest collected at over
that per cent.
Senator Phalen said the pr, sent form
OF he law IS not equitable and is
probably not legdl. The amount to be
affected by THE bin is S162,OOO and
II proposes 10 allow all Those school dis
tl%ctS paying more than four per cent
four per cent These districts paid
the amount of Interest required by the
trustees of the funds willingly at the
rates SGT. Ilhc commissioners found
they could easily obtain six per cent
lie could not see the reason why
this lave SlrolIld go back only to 1903
If it Is designed to correct Il wrong
let it 80 back MS far as the stature of
limitations, six Years. The bill has
no reference no existing contracts
which may be mmde for more than
-four per cent. He said THAT he dis
liked to see Il blow Struck at the
school TRUST fund when all dhe money
II contains Is needed by the cducA-
tional interests Of the state.
Senator Baxter said HE had no desire
ADMINISTRATION, in proposing the bin. but
he felt that loans had been made at
uSurouS rates. de had no fear that
anything fair and equitable was I'M
constitutional. He characterized the
measure ~ II simple one, and said it
has no references to WIEl has nken
place before this time. He didn't think
1t is the business Of the legislature
To grind" seven per cent out of THE
school districts, lie regarded it us
an act Of Justice and duty to pass the
bill
senator Bashtord said tlGlt the judi
riary cenNmtItce, When the bill was
up ANA parsed two years ago. regarded
ii MS unconstitutional, lie said ii Il
the FIRST time in the history of the
state tlat Legislation has been passed
compelling the trustees OF the scuool
fund to cSpccially favor any particular
class of borrowers. lie said that the
state could not afford Ito lcL out money
at four per cent. to school districts,
whom loans could he made at five or
sin per cent, to Il better class &C Dor
rowrrS. Tho legislature is now asked
to sanction the loan Of funds at four
per cent when better rates could be
gained, Laying aside all political
questions" said Senator RaSnforl, lit
Is time that the business mattNIS OF
tile state be considered from Il huSi-
ursS standpoint. II $ time that tlaS
legislature ceases to commit itself To
such folly rs this." He asked If the
legislature is 10 keep up the policy
which ruled the legislature in selling
school lands to Ezra Cornell "NhiS
question presents square issue" said
Senator RaShfolNl. YOU ask the state
treasurer TO pay back money, when in
the future he may be called upon and
his hondSmcn To make recumpensA, :"
llo called attention to the fact that
Senator Baxter was afraid t. have thr
bin sect to Othc Judiciary committee for
fear that It's conStitutionality would
be questioned
Senator Putnam thought that the
bill should pass. He seemed to have
No fear Of the ronSttutiouality of the
bill
Senator Weeks said he was on the
judiciary rnmmittec two years ago but
is now convinced that the present law
is conStituti. nal lie thought the bill
WAS calculated to aid school districts.
lie said that the trustees need hot
lend to school districts Mt four per
cent II they can gct higher interest
from nthcr sources.
senator McMullen spoke against the
bill. He was convinced that the leslS.
laturN ought not to allow 50 important
Il matter 10 be governed by politics
He could not sec that the state should
take away rights alrady vested,
senator lurmanS, IN answer to Mr.
RaShford, thought that the law ON tue
statute books Is equitable, lie charar'.
ertzed the action Of the trustees OF the
yrt,n1 - AxtAptf,Nu Iin Thought the