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

would preside over this most extra
ordinary session. tApplause)
Speaker Burrows said that to be thus
selected by his brother members Tor a
second time to preside over their DELHI
eratiouS was indeed an honor for which
he was deeply grateful. Il thank you"
said he. for this expression of your
continued confidence and pledge YOU
now as | did last winter that | shall
endeavor to do my duty faithfully and
in an impartial manner. | trust shall
merit your appreciation; and beg to
observe that ii | make errors they
will be of the head not the heart The
governor has seen fit in his wisdom
TO thus convene the legislature for the
purpose of securing a Legislative APP
porionment based on the census Of
1898. No legislative matter can be of
greater importance. To make a proper
apportionment is the highest duty Of
legislators. | feel sure that the mem
bers on both sides have come to do
justice and above all to make con
stitutional apportionment." The speaker
then paid a graceful tribute TO As
semhlyman Freeman, whose desk in
the front row was draped with Grape.
among which were Gala lilies, a com
bination so sadly emblematic.
w. A. Novel; Uep) was elected chief
clerk. The vain votes of the minority
were cast for f. A, Edmunds Of Oconto
Falls. EX-Assemblyman J. b, John
son, of Grant county, was made sar-
seant at arms. He was the assistant
last winter Il. f. Willard, the old
sergeant, could not attend. The demo
cratic vote was for VIM. Mahoney of
Marathon county.
Mr.. Arson OF Milwaukee offered a
resolution instructing the chief clerk
to notify the senate that tho house was
ready for business. 1t Vas a1op' cd. as
was also Il resolution designating the
house, asking the resident clergy to
open the morning Sc ssions with prayer
and providing that the members retain
their old seats
The caucus plan to limit the en-
ployes of the house to seven was con-
tirmed.
The senate resolution for The APP
pointment OF a ICint committee TO wait
on the governor was adopted. The
speaker appointed as house members of
such committee Messrs. A. r Hall OF
Dunn. O. C. Lee, of Dane, and VIM.
Croll, of Manitowoc. After the com
mittee had returned, Col. Anderson, the
governors private secretary appeared
and submitted an executive message,
together with the majority and minor
ity reports of the special apportion-
ment committee filed with the COVER
nor some time ago. The message was.
state of Wisconsin, Executive Of
flee. To the Honorable, the I.egisla-
ture:-You have been called to meet in
special session for the purpose of APP
portioning the state into senate and
assembly districts on the basis OF the
state census taken for that purpose in
1895. Your honorable body in it's reg
ular session of last year. adopted a
resolution, known as joint resolution
No. 10, providing for the appoint
ment OF committee made up of mem
hers of 10th houses, from both political
parties, to prepare within sixty DAYS
from the date of the PRONUNCIATION of
the new census a bill 'apportioning
and districting anew the members o.
the senate and assembly. and de-
post the same with the governor
This resolution made ii the duty of the
governor to submit to the next session
of the legislature, whether the same
be a regular or extraordinary session '
the work of your committee; and in
compliance with these directions,
hereby submit the bill prepared. to-
gether with the majority and
minority reports, as deposited
with me. In carrying out
the direction of your honorable body,
! deem it not improper to call your
attention to the great importance of
freer from faint OF partisanship than
the work which now devolves upon
YOU. No duty which legislative body
is called upon TO perform should be
that of rc-districtiul the state into
senate and assembly districts, nor
should personal ambition or desire be
allowed to vary your work from the
line of strict fairness and constitu-
tional requirements, The state consti-
tuition clearly defines the true principle
of apportionment ard if any doubt eX-
listed at any time as to the proper con
struction of its provisions its interpre-
tation by our Supreme Court is clear
enough to remove that doubt. No
measure which does not comply strictly
with the constitutional requirements
should be allowed TO become law
This special session should be as brief
as is consistent with an earnest and
intelligent consideration of the meas
ures which shall come before you
A supplemental message was also
read It simply stated that certain
alterations in the committees scheme
of apportionment had been fled with
the governor since the original report