Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1897-06-03
Madison, June 9.

Madison, June 2.
A little excitement was caused in
the state house Tuesday afternoon
when Arthur Babbtt, assistant secre
tary of the Agricultural society, fatty
refused to give Gov. Scofield certain
information concerning the insurance
being carried on the buildings on the
state fair grounds in Milwaukee. Gov.
Scofield's ire was aroused by the blunt
refusal and he told Babbitt that if the
insurance policies were not produced
l by o'clock all tie effects of the So
Getty would be removed at once from
the state house. The matter was am
icably settled later by S. d. Hubbard
president of the Agricultural society.
Some bitterness, it is said, was engei-
dered by the passage of the law last
winter virtually legislating the Agri-
cultural society out OF existence and
creating a state board in it's stead, AMI
this action of Mr.. Babbitt is charged
to that ill-feeling. The governor
learned Tuesday that the Agricultural
society carried $685. 900 insurance on
the buildings located on the fair
grounds. The policies were so drawn
that they lapsed at the beginning of
foreclosure proceedings which was
done to protect the society but not the
state The trouble arose over Mr..
Babbitt's refusal to show these poll
cies. The intention of the governor is
to get the insurance companies to
agree to keep the policies in force
while the foreclosure proceedings are
pending. Should this request be de-
MED he will insure the buildings tor
the benefit of the state. The governor
will hold conference with the officers
of the society today to discuss the
question of whether or not a fair can
be held on the grounds this year 1t is
now the intention of the governor to
have receiver appointed in September
to take charge of the property to sat-
isfy the mortgages held by the state.
If this is done no fair can be held un.
less the society pays the state rental
for the grounds.
The new state board of agriculture
met Tuesday and organized by electng
Assemblyman John M. True of Bara
boo, chief champion of the law creating
he board, president, and George Nc
Kerrow of Sussex, state Sttperintend-
ent of farm Institutes, secretary. A
committee composed of Messrs. True,
ind Mckerrow, C. G Wilcox of De
lere and 7. l.. Newton of Beaver Dam,
vas elected to draft a constitution and
'et of bylaws for the board. Mr.. True
Tas chosen to represent the board at
he annual convention of state fair
managers in Chicago next December,
An adjournment was then taken until
the second Wednesday in January
This means that if there is state fair
in Wisconsin this year the board Of
agriculture will not be in charge of it,
The board CT commissioners for
erecting the state historical library
bdilding was in session Tuesday and
until late hour last night considering
bids for the completion of the struct-
ure. 1t was finally decided to reject
all bids, none of them coming within
the appropriations ne toldl dpplo-
priation was $42O0O0 and out of this
the first story has been erected. For
ty-eight bids were opened Tuesday,
contractors from all parts of the
country competing. The bid of 7. e.
Mccarthy of Madison was 1872 1900 and
the others ranged from this amount
up to about 100000. Architects Ferry
& Clas of Milwaukee, were instructed
to revise the plans so as to make it
possible to complete the building for
about 100000. The commissioners
will meet June II at 2 O'Clock in the
historical room to accept the revised
plans. Bids will be then advertised
for, to be opened i'll 30 days.
The state board OF dental examiners
met in Madison Tuesday and reorgan-
lied by electing DR.. r. G. Richter Of
Milwaukee president in place of DR.. c.
C. Chittenden of Madison, who re-
signed, and Dr. w. H. Carson of Mil
waukee as secretary to succeed DR.. G.
II. MeCausey of GAINESVILLE, whose term
as a member of the board expired a
short time since The two new men,
bers-Drs. C. c. Wentworth of Mil
waukee and w. G. Oliver of Oconto-
net with the board for the first time.
The board decided to hold its next ex-
animation July 30 in Madison.
The board Of control received notice
of the escape Monday night of Convlcc
Frank McHugh from the state prison
at Waupun He was confined in the
top tier of the new steel cells and sawed
and drilled his way out through the
roof and then escaped by means af
rcres He mad fixed up dummy in
his bod and was not missed by the
guards until morning. A reward OF
s1OO is offered for his capture As
vet no trace of him has been found. He