Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1897-02-08
MATTERS AT MADISON.
Two Resolutions Providing for
Investigations.
The Election Of John G. Spooner the Event
Of the Week.

was for the investigation OF the state de-
partments in accordance with the COVER
nor's suggestion and the second for al
investigation of the university to deter
mine how wisely the state funds are be-
ing expended. Gov. ScOfield sent il his
first veto. The first bill passed by the
Legislature proved to be loaded and the
governor promptly detected the fact.
There were a large number Of important
bills introduced and it was rather lively
week.
The most important action Of the week
was the election of John G. Spooner to
the position Of United States senator.
The election occurred on Wednesday. On
the day before each house had voted for
him. seperarately, bur the two houses met
in joint convention on Wednesday and
went through the formality of casting
their vote for him again. lie received
11S votes to z for w. G. Silverthorn and
for Gen. Bragg. Lieut.: -Gov. Baensch
as the presiding officer OF the joint con
vention made an admirable speech which
caused him to be talked about as 4 pos
sible successor to Senator Mitchell, two
years hence.
One or two of the members have dis
covered that they can put the insurance
commissioners office to practical use
the public generally does not know about.
A senator calling upon the commissioner
rhe other day, incidentally remarked
that his nephew was having hard time
collecting claim from an accident in
Surance company. The commissioner
Immediately asked him for the particu
lars and from what he learned suspected
that the company was putting OFT pay
ment in the hope of sooner or later get
ting money enough to pay without call
ing an assessment, as many companies
do He at once wrote the company that
unless the claim was paid within GER
tain time its license would be revoked,
and the claim was paid at once, to the
great Joy of the senator and his nephew.
DR.. Fricke says that he could fire.
+ QuentIy be of service to people III that
way if they would make their troubles
known to him, but they never come to
him except in desperation, and not very
often then. Some time ago Il poor WIDOW
in the northern part of the state could
not collect $4,000 from certain com
pany and when mortgagor was ABOUT
to take her little home away from her
she appealed to the commissioner as II
last resort. He asked an explanation
of the company, then wrote that the
money must be paid by date, which he
fixed, and the widow was delighted to re-
ceive her money in short order. more
difficult case was where a company
which was not licensed to do business
in Wisconsin refused to pay claim.
The. commissioner finally notified it that
if the claim was not paid by certain
time he would appear in it's home state.
as the insurance officer of the state OF
Wisconsin, and apply to the court for
the appointment of receiver. mat
brought the company to time. Dr.
Fricke says that he is ready to give
such assistance at any time.
An enterprising La Crosse cigar manu-
facturer has enlisted the aid of all the
state officers in the sale Of new brand
of cigars by putting all their pictures on
the inside of the lid He presented each
of the state officers with a box and for
day or two cigars have been very rlen-
tiful around the capitol. Two years ago
manufacturer presented Gov. Upham
with a box of cigars which he had crna-
mented with the governors picture, and
they were so bad that the unfortunate
governor made lifelong enemy OF
every man to whom he gave one.
Since yesterday Lieut.-Gov. Baensch
has been receiving the congratulations of
the members on his speech of welcome to
Senator Spooner 1t was Il gem, and
every member Of the Legislature recog-
ernOr has delivered many neat little
speeches in the last few years, but he
never made one which was more perfect
than that Of yesterday. Every word was
used as though it had been coined
especially for the place in which it was
used. The speech was neither too much
or too little, and it was delivered in
manner which added to its merit.
The members of the Legislature are
taking deep interest in the prospective
changes in the state board of control.
There are many among them who feel
deep regret that things have so shaped
themselves that it is necessary to retire
Lem" Ellsworth from the board, but
since it is necessary they all rejoice that
Il. r. Petherick is likely to be his sue
cessor "Uncle Dick as he is called,
has been among them for so many years,
and has done SO many of them good
turns in years gone by that hey are
very glad to see him taken care of.
When it became known some weeks ago
TO those on the inside that there was Il
chance of securing the appointment for
Mr.. Petherick, some of the most inf1u-
cntial men in the state slipped in to see
the governor, or wrote him, i'll Mr..
Pethericks behalf, and if anything
should happen to upset what now seems
to be u certainty, he will at least have
the satisfaction of having discovered
that he possesses a larger circle Of
friends than the average man can fiat
ter himself with having.
The scheme of putting in deadhead
bills TO make il possible to introduce new
legislation after the date set for cutting
off new business, will hardly be likely
to be revived in the Wisconsin Legisla-
ture again. It received it's first blow
at the last session and this Legislature
has hit it another and harder blow The
new rules adopted by both houses con-
tain provision, which if it is lived up
TO, will make the Introduction Of dead
heads an impossibility, and not content
joint resolution offered by Assemblyman
Taylor forbidding the Introduction of
them. Some of the members objected to
the passage of the resolution on the
ground that it was unnecessary, but Mr..
Taylor could not be sure that the thing
was dead until he had nailed its coffin.