Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1896-02-20
Madison. February 10


conference committee which has
charge of the apportionment bill was
held last evening The chief result of
the session was TO show that the ar
rangement OF assembly districts as
they now stand is as a whole fairly sat
isfactory to the people OF the state.
With the exception OF the districts in
the northwestern part about superior
there was little discussion of the bill.
The amendments proposed by the APP
portionmen; committee seem 10 have
met with general favor Milwaukee
and Waukesha counties are still to be
heard from. however, as their repre-
sentatives We're not present last even
hear them today,
The first objection was made by
Senator Thomas b. Mills, Of superior
who, true 70 his pet state Of Superior,
asked that il be granted larger rep
resentation in the assembly. Al
though he admitted that according To
the last census the districts would !c
a little too small, he promised such a
rapid increase in population that the
quota would soon be more than filled
if it had not been done already. Judge
l.. S. Mead, of Shell Lake, also made
several speeches in favor of the same
proposition for additional assemblymen
The session was enlivened by an ear
nest speech by G. l.. Jones, of the
Shell Lake Waterman, on the north
western part of the state, which he
made the basis of a plea for additional
representation for that portion. The
rest of the session was spent largely
in reading the bill, with occasional
speeches of opposition or commenda
ton. f. "A. Perkins, OF Taylor county,
and Ben w. Davis, OF Price county,
assembly district. AssemblNman
Burke. of Brown county, desired no
change in that county, while Assem-
blylnan Hoffman and Senator Phillips
represented opposing elements in
Portage county, some Of which wanted
changes, while others did not. AS.
semblymen SEEKER, of Sheboygan, and
johnson. OF WaupaCa, suggested slight
changes ii their counties The com
mittee takes up the bill again this
morning when the vpXatious senate
districts will receive attention. The
troubles. however, seem TO be lrettY
we'll harmoni2Gd, and the very strong
probability is that a bill will be agreed
unon and passed during the present
week. Thus tar the democrats have
been entirely passive, declining to
lend themselves to what they conceive
to he republican partisan plan. Thus
far they have not offered any obstruC-
ton. The most they have done is TO
answer to roll call. 1t is possible that
they may try 10 increase the expense
by plolonging the session, but this is
not likely to happen
SENATE.
In the senate there was just one alb
sentee, Senator SoIliday of Watertown.
when the special legislation session
was called to order at noon Tuesday.
Regrets were received from him at his
inability to attend the republican love
feast" and an indefnate leave of alb
sence was granted him on motion OF
Senator Bashford. Senator T. d. Weeks
of Watertown was elected president pro
TEN, by the full republican vote, the
democratic vote of ten members going
to Senator VIM Kennedy of Outa-
game county. W. +. lIauser of Mon
dow got the chief clerkship s. S.
Shafer of Colby receiving the demo-
cratic votes. c. A. Pettibone of Juneau
was selected sergeant-at-arms, while
j. b. Becker Of Jeneau ran against him
The only things of importance done
were the passage of the committee-of
20 resolution afterwards concurred in
by the assembly and the adoption of
a resolution providing for the opening
of the sessions by prayer by Madison
ministers. Senator'S Putnam and Solli-
day were the senate members Of the
Joint committee appointed to wait upon
the governor and upon their return his
message was read after which an adj
iournment was taken until $50 o'clock.
ASSEMBLY.
The assembly was called 10 order at
IL noon hy Chief Clerk w i. Novel;,
who read the governors proclamation
coming the legislation in eXtraor-
binary session and certified list Of
the members. The only new face was
that of J C. Martin of Darlington, who
at a special election was chosen TO
succeed James w Freeman, deceased.
Roll call. however. showed several alb
sentees Ellarson, who Is disqualified
to serve because he is state fish warden;
Froeich, whose wife is i'll; Hambright,
who is on the Pacific coast; Wolfinger
and Bonnin, the last having tried 10
suicide some months ago. He wrote
letter asking for indefinite leave of alb
sence The republican caucus nominee
for speaker, G. b. Burrows OF Dane.
was elected. The democrats voted for
l.. A LANCE of Fond du Lac. and Mr.,
Burrows for ". A. Jones. OF Mineral
Point. Burrows had a votes. I.ange