Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-03-14
AFFAIRS AT HADISON.
MADISON, March L

makes twenty-one in all which
have so far gone to the secretary
of state ready for compilation along
with the great mass of enactions
of the commonwealth. Several
other bills are only awaiting the
executive hand to become a part
of the laws Of Wisconsin. The
six which the week has brought
forth are not of very widespread
interest. They are: to amend the
charter of Lawrence University;
creating a municipal court at Mani
towoc; amending the law relating
to the adoption of children; pro-
viding for a uniform system of
assessing vessels; amending the
charter of the Wisconsin Odd
Fellows Life Insurance Company;
and to allow the trustees Of Gene
terry associations to contract for
the care of graves.
The matter Of a reapportionment
of the state has not yet come to
any focus. But in all probability
there will be a commission provi-
ded for before the legislature
adiourns. When the commission
shall report is a question. The
matter will very likely be left in
the hands Of the governor, to call
an extra session after the caucus is
taken or not, as he sees fit. A
special session might seem like a
useless trouble and expense, yet if
the report is delayed until the
regular session in 1897, there
would be only one election before
another census.
After long and vigorous debate,
Mr.. Halls resolution to have a
committee of three assemblynen
appointed to investigate the earn
ings Of railroad companies doing
business in the st2te was adopted.
The resolution is thu result Of the
law which taxes railroads upon
their earnings instead of their valu-
alton. 1t was thought that the
roads are not reporting their full
earnings-that they are not report
ing as much per mile in this state
as in states where they are taxed
on a different basis.
Senator McGillivray's arbitra-
ton bill has been adversely re-
ported by the judiciary committee.
Mr.. O'Neill's was passed by the
assembly the other day, but it was
noticed afterward that the bill
involved an appropriation and
hence an aye and nay vote was
necessary. When matters reached
this point the discovery was made
that it had not been before the
committee on claims, to whom it
was then handed over, much to the
chagrin of the author.
The joint committee on claims
has unanimously decided to report
for passage the bill making appro-
priations for the University. The
bill appropriates s122, 65o for 1896,
and SII9,65o for 1897, making a
total of $243,3oo. The only
amendment offered by the commit
tee is that at least $4,000 shall be
expended upon the college of agri-
culture. The money will be used
for increased administration ex-
penses, for the department OF en-
cheering, advancing the work of
University extension, building an
addition to the horticultural hall,
charging ladies' hall and furnish
ing it with gymnasium facilities,
changing and repairing University
hail, constructing a farm barn, and
purchasing a herd Of cattle for the
agricultural department. The COM
mittee expressed themselves very
much pleased with the work of the
regents.
The resolution to make sherifs
eligible for reelection provoked
much discussion in the Senate. A
constitutional amendment to that
effect was finally agreed to.
Mr.. DeGroff's %eloquence had
the effect Of securing the passage
of Mr.. Wilkes bill raising the
license of peddlers by 50 per cent.