River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1896-02-27
IN EXTRA SESSION.
The Wisconsin Legislature Meets to Reap
norfiou the Sta q

B9EttOu tnt ctd
Madison, Wis, Feb. 49, The Wisconsin
legislature convened in extraordinary ses-
sion at noon for the purpose of reappor-
ttoning the senate and assembly districts
of the state. After eler don of officers who
served during the eesuIar session of the
legislature year ago the following COM
murication from Gov. Upham was read ia
both houses:
State of Wisconsin, Executive Office
To the Honorable the Legislature: You
have been called to meet in special session
for the purpose of apportioning the state
into senate and assembly districts on the
basis of the state census taken for that
purpose in 1895 Your honorable body in its
regular session of last year adopted a res y
luton. known as joint resolution No 10
providing for the appointment of corn
mittee made up of members of both houses.
from both political parties. to prepare with
In 60 days from the date of the promulga-
ton OF the new census bill n bill apportion-
ing and districting anew the members of
the senate and assembly and deposit the
same with the governor This resolution
made II the duty OF the governor 10 sub
nit to the next session OF the legislature.
whether the same be regular or extraor-
binary session. the work of your com
mittee. and in compliance with these oirec-
lions hereby submit the bill prepared. to-
gether with the majority and minority
reports as deposited with me-
I'm carrying out the direction OF your
honorable body I deem II not improper TO
call your attention TO the great impor-
lance Of the work which now devolves upon
you. No duty which legislative body is
called upon TO perform should be freer
from a faint of partisanism than redistrict-
ing the state into senate and assembly dis
tricts, nor should personal ambition or
desire be allowed to vary your work from
the line of strict fairness and constitu-
tional requirements The state constitu-
ton clearly defines the true principle o.
apportionnlent. and il any doubt exists at
any time as 10 the proper construction or
its provisions its Interpretation by our SUI
preme court IS clear enough to remove that
doubt.
mo measure which does not comply
strictly with the constitutional require
ments should be allowed to become a
law. This special session should be as
Intelligent consideration OF the measures
which shall come before you"
a supplemental message was also read.
1t stated simply that certain alterations
in the committees scheme of apportion-
ment had been flied with the governor
since the original report was made.
According to caucus agreement It was
decided by each house TO create a joint
committee of 90 to which were referred all
the matters pertaining to reappoGtfon-
ment OF this committee Is are from tho
house and seven from the senate This
joint committee is now at work arranging
4 new apportionment.
Madison, Wis, Feb. 2o.-The question
whether or not county lines could b.
broken legally in the formation of sena-
torial districts was what troubled the
legislative appor comment committee yes
terday and had 10 be settled before fur
Their progress is made. The committee
finally voted on the question of breaking
county lines in The formation of senate dis
tricts. and decided BY one majority. ten
to nine, that IL could be done.
A subcommittee OF FIVE, consisting %
Senator Baxter and Assemblymen Yaw-
key, Ray. Burdick and Rosenkranz, was
appointed to draw I'D new bill for senate
districts on the plan of breaking county
lines where they find II necessary to OIL
tain satisfactory results. The assembly
districts have been completed.
Madison, Wis, Feb. 21.-The special com
mittee of 20 agreed yesterday on g. bill re-
apportioning the senatorial and assembly
districts of Wisconsin. The result of the
labors of the committee was laid before a
caucus of the republican members of the
legislature. There was a gread deal of
discussion in the caucus. Senator Spensley,
of Mineral Point and Assemblyman Sloan,
of Ashland. alta cked the proposed meas
Cre. and Assemhlyman Mohr, of Portage,
supported it. Finally, on molten of AS
semblyman Hall. of Dunn county, 1t was
decided to report the bill in both houses
to-day and to refer il also to the attorney
general for an opinion as to It's eonst'tu-
tionality.
Madison Wis. Feb. 22.-The new spror-
tionment Jill submitted to the Legislature
by the two committees was declared uli-
constitutional by Attorney-GeHeralM ) irea.
and when Assemblymen Hal and Burdick
called on Gov. Upham in tie executive
office he said that he would veto it IL IL
came to him in its present form. When
the legislature met yesterda y The DILL was
sent back 10 the committee nd both houses
adjourned until next Tuesd: Y evening. The
apportionment committee went into ses-
sion Immediately afterwaId to work on
new DILL for senate distr cts on the plan
of breaking county lines where necessary
to obtain good results. md it is expected
X will have this bill re .dy to report when
tho legiSlature meoIS.