Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1897-02-24
WEDNESDAY, FEB. "a, 1897.
LegiSlatiYe Matters.

Senator Munson's bill providing
that insurance statements be pub
lished IN weekly as well as daily papers
has met with some opposition from
those who cater TO the metropolitan
press. but there are indications that
it will pass this week. Early last
week it came up In the senate, but
the opposition was not strong enough
to delay it there and it went to the
assembly. Here a successful effort
was made to have it referred to the
committee on banks and insurance,
as It was urged that it was more a
matter for this committee to consid-
er than for the consideration Of the
printing COMMITTEES. Friday it was
favorably reported The whole thing
may, however, be overthrow should
the provision abOlishing the printing
of the statements be stricken from
the new insurance code. as suggested
by Insurance Commissioner Fricke
Another bill which it behOOves the
weekly papers to support is one re-
peaIing an obnoxious law passed dqr-
ing the session Of 1895 This statuN
provides that in cities having a popu4
laJion of 10000 or more only daily
papers should hid on the city print
ing. 4 concentrated effort is being
made to pass. the repeal law and to
allow the weekly equal rights with
the dailies in bidding on city printing.
and it pro i e. to be successful.
The new pharmacy bill fit becomes
a law will greatly increase the adver-
tislng WI hin the state of proprietary
medicine, as it provides that medi-
clnes of well known standing may be
sold by country stores. Two years
ago a bill was passed providing that
none but registered pharmacists
should sell this class of medicine and
as a result a large amount of adver-
tising was withdrawn by the patent
medicine firms.
Daily sessions Of the joint commit
tee on banks, banking and insurance
have been held this week to consider
the new insurance code drafted by
Insurance Commissioners Fricke,
Many well known representatives OF
fraternal and assessment insurance
companies have been before the com
mittee during the week to object to
the bill. They strenuously object to
the clause providing that all assess
ment insurance companies within the
state must maintain a refunding
fund. Mr.. Fricke defended this pro-
vision on the ground that with such
a fund the assessments may be made
nearly uniform each year and though
the cost of insurance would be raised
at first it would mean a continuous
life to the company instead of pros
porous existence in their early stage
to be followed by ruin later.
Assemblyman Halls anti-pass re-
solution will come up this week and
the fight before the committee will be
made by Mr.. Hall, who has thor
oughly prepared himself on the sub.
iect.
In the senate there was a fairly hot
debate in regard to the proposed
amendment to the constitution pro-
viding that board of pardons be
created for the consideration of ap.
plications of clemency and action on
the same. Senator Austin opened
the debate ar d declared the creation
of such board would mean simply
an additional board of appeals and
that instead Of lessening toe number
OF cases where clemency was inter
posed it would increase them. Sena
tors Whitehead, Putnam, Devos and
Iamoreux spoke in favor of the
board.