Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-03-05

bill on the ground of its unfairress
and unconstitutionality Senator
Thayer, chairman of the legislative
apportionment committee, defended the
measure. He said: This bill has been
worked over and fought over and
everything that is possible has been
done to make it the best bill possible.
l think no better measure can ever be
produced for the redistricting of the
state of Wisconsin, and l hope it will
be passed"
Senator Austin closed the speeches
by request to be excused from voting,
saying that he had already as a lawyer
pronounced against the eonst: tuition
ality of the bill and that he did not de-
sire to stultify himself as a legislator
by voting for it. Then came the vote
AS soon as the roll call was begun a
pin could have been heard to fall in the
senate. Everyone watched with the ut
most eagerness Chief Clerk Houser as
one by one he announced the names
of the senator's. The following is the
way they answered.:
Ayes-Baxter, Conger, Davis, Fisher.
McGillivray, Mills, Pierce, Stebbins,
Stout, Timme, Thayer, Weeks, Withee,
Woodwork, Youmans-15.
NOes-Bashford, Kruzska, Martin,
Mayer, Mcclellan, McMullon, Phalen,
Putnam, Prescott-9.
When his name was called Senator
Putnam said that he desired to explain
his vote. He said: My district is one
that every way suits me- | cannot be
said to be actuated by personal preju-
dice, but | value the wisdom of the
members of the judiciary committee
and upon their report declaring that
bill unconstitutional l feel compelled
to vote against it. l Therefore cast my
vote in the negative.
! Senator Youmans, who had previous
ly signed the senate judiciary report
declaring the bill unconstitutional also
made short address in which he said
that as it seemed to be the wish of the
majority he should vote for it's passage.
Senator Mills, another supposed oppon-
ent of the bill, shouted at the top of
his voice when his name was called so
that there might be no mistaking his
distinct aye in favor of the measure
Such was the history of that short fif-
teen minutes which settled the fate of
the new apportionment
/ In the lower house, after the passage
of the bill by the senate, nothing was
done except to hold a short session, at
which by a viva VOce vote, the senate
amendments were accepted. An ad-
journment was then taken until this
morning when probably a corporaPs
guard of the asemblymen will be pres
ent to receive the governors message
of approval.
In the senate there was second ses-
| ion at o'clock, but it only served the
purpose of ordering the bill prepared
| by Senator Austin printed, and of TAX
! ing an adjournment until today. There
was a noticeable lack of senators at the
afternoon session and in fact it may
be stated that in both houses as soon
as the announcement of the passage of
the bill had been made, immediate re-
quests were showered upon the speaker
for indefinite leaves of absence.
The bill prepared by Mr.. Austin
breaks county lines most thoroughly,
and even if it had not died an easy
death by reference to the committee, it
is not likely it would ever have suited
the members of the Legislature. 1t
was as follows:
list senate district-Kewaunee, the
second assembly district Of Brown and
the second assembly district OF Manito-
woe
2d-Oconto, Shawano and the first
assembly district of Brown.
3d-Racine and Kenosha.
4th-Sixth, thirteenth, eighteenth and
twenty-first wards of the city OF Mil
waukee, the village of Whitefsh Bay
and the towns of Granville and Milwau-
kee.
5th-First, second, third, fourth, sew
enth, fifteenth and sixteenth wards of
the city of Milwaukee.
6th-Ninth, tenth, nineteenth and
twentieth wards of the city of Mil
Waukee.
7th-Fourteenth and sevnteenth
wards of the city of Milwaukee, the
village OF Cudahy, South Milwaukee
and Wauwautosa, and the towns of
Lake, Oak Creek, Franklin, Greenfield
and Wauwautosa.
8th-The fifth, eighth, eleventh and
twelfth wards of the city of Milwau-
kee.
! Marquette, Adams, Juneau and
Monroe.
10th-St. CroiX and Pierce.
11th-Douglas, Bayfield,, Washburn
and Sawyer.
12th-Burnette, Polk, Barron and the
second assembly district of Chippewa.
}, 13th-Ozaukee and Washington and
the first assembly district of Dodge.
14th-Door Marinette, Florence, Fos-
ter and Langlade.
15th-Calumet and the first assembly
assembly district of Sheboygan.
16th-Vernon, Richland, and the sec
ond assembly district of Sank.
17th-Green and Lafayette and the
second assembly district of Grant.
18th-Waushara, Green Lake and the
second assembly district Of Fond du
Lac.
19th-Winnebago
2Oth-First and second assembly dis
trict of Sheboygan and the first assem-
bly, district Of Manitowoc.
let Dnr+a w