The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1895-01-31
MADISON LETTER.
HORACE G. COLE WRITES AN IN
TERESTING BUDGET.
THE Do1NGs IN THE SENATE
observations of Kenoshaite Taken on
the Spot" What queer Things
are Seen From the Out
side


and noted few things, gives our read
ers the benefit of his observations III
the following letter:
MADISON, Jan. 26, 1898.
Mr.. EDIToR:-To the new beholder
the opening of the Senate is fraught
with much of interest to u Watchful
observer.
This body has no regular Chaplain,
but through IL resolution OF Senator
Timme the local clergy have been re-
ouested to arrange among themselves
to take turns in supplying the chap
lain's position, which arrangement is
now being executed. The attitudes
and appearances of the different sena-
TORS during this ceremony OF prayer,
vas ou;tc u study to the onloOker.
While President Weeks was IN the
chair. all sat during this exercise.
Many cyidcncing their original train
inc whether Puritan, Eplscopallan or
Romanist: naturally, simply and hum
bly, by bowling their heads on their
hands. with the readiness OF children
at their mothers knee.
OF those that did not bow there was
great variety of facial expressions.
Some looked directly at the clergyman,
respectfully, perhaps, with devotion
and reverence on their countenance'
others with the judicial expression, like
the Judge on the bench, weighing care
fully, dispassionately, and without
prejudice the Grafton Of the one before
him, others, critically, curiously or in
differently, with, on the part OF one or
two, a suggestion of either boredom or
nrotest. On the occasion OF the taking
Of the chair by Lieut.. Gov. Baensch
the senate was requested to stand dur
inc this opening ceremony which,
while it gave more of uniformity to the
general appearance. did not abolish
entirely those varieties Of expressions
to which allusion has just been made.
The general appearance of the body
of men composing the upper house has
much in it that reflects high degree
of credit upon the judgment as whole
of the people of Wisconsin.
The predonderating element repre-
sents very largely the advanced pro
gressive phase of modern civilization
whether of mercantile or professional
vocation.
But here and there is small sprink-
ling of the older element who by their
attire, manners and customs show that
the success and position of the present
was secured through an early life OF
privation and hardship, with no time
or opportunity in the days of their
childhood for the developing of these
amenities evolved by competency
with it's results of taste and style.
These few represent that element so
graphically described by Otis in the
infancy of this nation, in the words " we
have walked this new world from its
savage lethargy."
The general effect of the senate in
session is grave, dignifed and method
ical, in which form, custom, and co1r-
tesy play the leading role. As a body
it is thoroughly satisfied, and assured OF
it's dignity and authority, and is rather
disposed to exercise its prerogatives on
any evidences of freshness on the part
of the lower house. A recent issue of
one of the Madison dailies stated that
the senate education committee decid-
ed to report favorably the bill abolish
ing school districts and creating the
township school system. This is an
error. No report was made by the
committee.
BY the way, this bill, known as No.
Is Senate, and introduced by Senator
Stout, rep, by request, is one of the
residuals of the preceding administra-
ton, which has made such valuable
record for retrenchment and reform.
The bill was drafted under the SUI
pervision and instruction of O. E. Wells,
the former state superintendent of
schools by the grace of " Peck's Bad
Bov." For his valuable services and
the expenses contingent on this work,
the reform legislature as further evil
dence of their desire Tor retrenchment,
granted an appropriation of $500.
This with his salary of 1000 was
probably no more than was necessary
to enable him to live in Jeffersonian,
democratic simplicity. As to the fate
of the bill, there is no one with temer-
ity enough to predict, as it is decidedly
heroic in its dealing with the present
district arrangement. The general dis
tribution of copies of this bill through
out the state may develop a public SEN
timent which shall be the determinat-
inc factor in the solution of the
problem.
This before mentioned policy of re-
trenchn3ent on the part of the state adj
ministratton which has now passed in
to innocuous desuetude, in the Ian
guage Of its !" stuffed prophet, = became
so firmly rooted in the policy towards
the waning of its meteoric brilliancy,