Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-02-14
PROPOSED LEGISLATION.

Madison has always had to
endure the taunts of other towns
Of the state for being rather a slow
place; yet there are times when it
can equal any Of its sisters in
hustle and life. The past week
has been such a time. The legis-
lature is no small affair to have on
hand; but when there is added to
this the meeting of the state agri-.
cultural society, with its attendant
minor conventions Of horticultural
lists, breeders, bee-keepers, veteri-
narians, township insurance
associations, andthe like, the place
isn't SO slow as it might be. The
preceding week the forestry people
were here, and this week the state
library association will hold the
boards, SO to speak; then pretty
soon the editors of the state will
pour in upon us and hold their
winter meeting.
With these other attractions, to
say nothing of exhibitions in
hypnotism at the opera house each
evening, the Legislature has had to
take something of a back seat.
But the lawmakers have been
Saving wood" right along and
have managed to get an incredible
number of bills upon the records.
They don't seem likely to forget
that tomorrow is the last day they
will be given an opportunity to
bring their pet schemes for reform
ing the management of the state
up for consideration-that after
that date no new business can be
introduced, and all they can do
will be to work in committees and
vote-and the number of bills
introduced this evening and to-
morrow will probably be enormous.
Even now, though, the wise bill
killer seems to be more in demand
than any one else. There are
already bills enough before the
body to bankrupt the whole
commonwealth if all the appro-
priations they provide for were
approved of.
The really important bills seem
to have been introduced earlier in
the session and the large grist OF
the past week have been for the
most part of but local interest
many of them of no interest at all.
The only bill which the papers
agree in putting a "scare-head' on
is n to take church property off
the list of exemptions from taxa
ton. The bill was introduced by
Senator Davis Of Oshkosh. 1t
was sent him by several Oshkosh
individuals and was introduced at
their request, The general feeling
throughout the state seems to be
that the passage Of such a law
would work little good.
Senator Mills has undertaken to
reform the county board system,
in a bill brought in on Friday. 1t
gives the management of county
affairs to a board of three, to be
elected at the same time as town
officers, and to serve for three
years. Each county to be divided
into three districts and a commits
sioner elected from each district.
Senator Putnam has embodied
in a bill an idea that the salary Of
supreme court justices should be
but $4,000 instead of the present
$1,000, while Mr.. Brown wants
them increased to $500.
Mr.. Putnam has also endeavored
to deal with the question of the
state board of control. He would
make the number of members five
and the term five years; the salary
$4,000 with necessary expenses"
instead of disbursements" as the
law reads at present. The terms
of the first appointee to expire in
one, two, three, four and five years.
As a specimen of time MASTERS
might be mentioned 4 bill before
the senate repeating the law which
arranges the party tickets on an
Australian ballot in alphabetical