Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-01-17
rIADISON MELANGE.
Madison. Ian. L


Senator Brown Of the 18th district
The lobbies and galleries were
filled with visitors, among whom
were many former legislators
drawn thither by the irresistible
charm which hovers about a
governmental seat. Many ladies
also were present to manifest their
interest in state affairs.
At u o'clock the gavel fell in
each house. The one in the
senate was in the hands of Lieut.
Gov. Baensch, while in the
assembly it was welded by Geo.
Perth of Milwaukee, who was
chief clerk during the past two
sessions. The first business was
Of course the election Of presiding
officers and chief clerks. The
following were elected by strictly
party vote:
President pro tenn. Of the senate
T. d. Weeks Of Whitewater.
Chief clerk, Walter d. Houser
Of Mondovi
Speaker of the Assembly, Geo.
B. Burrows of Madison.
Chief clerk, W. A. Novel;, Of
Milwaukee.
All opposition to Burrows dis
appeared on Tuesday, and he was
unanimously nominated in the
caucus Tuesday night. AS a
mere matter of form the demo-
Gratis met and held caucuscs
Tuesday, and put men in nomina-
ton for the various places. But
their Is in the senate and 70 in
the assembly did not make much
of a showing against II" 20 and
81 respectively NhicH they had to
face.
After getting into something
like working order and listening
to the governors message on
Thursday, both houses adjourned
until Tuesday.
Gov Upham IS receiving much
favorable comment upon his
message. 1t is not the product of
a rhetorician; but it shows itself to
be what is Of far greater value
the plain, straightforward state
ment of business man acquainted
with the affairs and needs of the
state and honestly anxious to
work in the interests Of the people.
The governor reviews briefly
the general condition Of things,
dwelling with some emphasis on
the decrease of $500, S62.65 in the
general fund between the first Of
last October and the close of
December Why this has been it
would of course not be we'll even
to hint at in SO dignihed a docu-
mcnt as the message to the
legislature, but the governor seems
to want it distinctly understood
that in the face Of all the preten-
sions of economy and accumula-
ton of wealth by the late
administration, the cash in the
general fund has actually been
overdrawn to the amount of
SS20.05.
The message reviews the leading
items of Legislation which will
come before the lawmakers, and
with which the people of the state
arc already familiar. He also
advises the passage Of laws look
ing to the development of
agriculture, the preservation of
our forests, and the betterment of
roads And in order to remove
all temptation to wrong-doing, he
would have the law repealed
which provides for the publication
OF the roster under the direct
supervision of the executive. He
advises changing the number of
members on the board of control
to or I, and suggests that one of
them should be a lady. He
recommends that non-partisan
commission be provided for to
make a new Legislative apportion-
mcnt, and also that the state be
rcdistrictcd as to judicial circuits.
The message closes with a lengthy
paragraph upon the relations of
labor and capital, and urges care
tul elaboration upon the matter
on the part of the Legislators.
jeremiah Dobbs, the democratic
commissioner of labor statistics,
thinks he can remain in his office,
and he and those under him are
strenuously objecting to leaving
Interpretations. The ground 2on
which Mr. Dobbs rests his claim
is that he was appointed for a
stated time and that he should be
allowed to finish his term. He
says also that his daughters like
to live in Madison, otherwise he
would resign and move back to
Ripon. This latter plea will
probably not have a great deal of