The River Falls times. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1894-1933, 1897-04-20
THE LEGISLATURE
Proceedings of Both Branches of the
Wisconsin Legislature.

Madison, Wis, April 15.-Assembly-
man Halls bill providing for an in
vestigation by the attorney general of
the statements of earnings made to
the state treasurer upon which the
taxes of the railway companies are
based, caused short debate this
morning in the lower house, and re-
suited in the assembly going back on
the report of the joint claims commit
tee for the indefinite postponement and
advancing the bill to the third reading.
Mr.. Hall said that it had been the Gus
tom of railroads in the state to conceal
a part of their earnings d so avoid
taxation He produced figures to show
that several roads have not reported
their entire earnings. Another furry
occurred on the lewis bill to regulate
the sale of mileage books. Mr.. Lewis
sent to the clerk a number of petitions
from business firms advocating the
passage Of the bill. The assembly re-
fused to have the petitions read. The
senate refused, by tie vote, to recon
slider the vote by which it passed the
Davis corrupt practices act last week.
The bill providing for a division of
Forest county was ordered to the third
fort to have it passed under suSpen-
sion of the rules failed
Madison, V, IS, April Il. McGraths
bill providing for the establishment
of an intermediary prison passed the
assembly to a third reading. Agens
bill, for a board of immigration, was
ordered engrossed: also the bill to IL
cense plumbers. The senate ordered
Austin's bill repealed. The struck jury
law went to a third reading. True's
agricultural society bill was ordered
engrossed. Berger'S labor bill was
killed by vote of 10 to u. The bill
for a graduated tax ON water works
passed. The university appropriation
bill was ordered to a third reading.
The Agen bill permitting organization
of companies to secure stray logs was
passed
Madison, Wis, April 10. - The joint
claims committee reported to the SEN
ate that appropriations this session
were about $4,000 less than two years
ago. The committee to adjust salaries
of capitol employees reported bill cut
ting down salaries $21 900, and adding
another hour to the time of employees
work daily. The force in the land Of
flee is cut down about one-half. The
bill continuing the one-tifth mill tax
for the university was passed, also the
bill repeating the struck jury law.
True's bill for a state board of agrl-
culture was laid over till this evening.
The assembly killed the bicycle bag
gage bill by a vote of 40 to 81. Mills
pure primary bill was reported favor
ably, but SC changed that it applied
only to general elections, except in Mil
waukee, but by a vote cities can apply
it to municipal elections. The bill es-
tablishing in cities of the third-class
fire and police commission board was
passed under suspension of the rules.
The Mills bill permitting dams across
Middle river in Douglas passed the as
sembly. Lewis bill for investment of
sinking funds was passed with the
senate amendment.
Madison, Wis, April 16.-Assembly
man Halls antifree pass amendment
to the state constitution was killed by
the senate this morning without de-
bate The senate also adopted resO-
luton calling for a constitutional con-
yentiOn to revise the constitution. To
gether with the resolution for con-
GtitutiOnal convention the committee
reported the several amendments to
the constitution now pending for kill
ing. The idea was that the convention
shall consider all of them. The as
sembly after a short debate passed
bill requiring all plumbers to pass an
examination The McGIavill bill pro-
viding for the erection of state re-
formatory for youthful criminals
caused a spirited debate in the assem-
bly, at the close of which the measure
pass eel.
A constitutional convention is inn
pending for Wisconsin AT the meeting
of the senate judiciary committee to-
day the subject was discussed, and 1t
was practically decided to report res
olution calling for such convention.
The plan of those members pushing
the convention plan contemplates the
killing of the several amendments to
the state constitution now pending in
the legislature, and will provoke a
fight. 1t is probable that the whole
plan is gotten up to defeat the Hall
anti-frec pass an endment to the con-
stitution, as it's enemies hope that the
people will at the next election kill the
effort to have constitutional conyen-
ton.
A Force of Habit Clutch.