Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1897-08-19
Madison, Aug, Is.

| ne ISnWhllClHS SnOWCu very
| strong disposition at their caucus yes
terlay afternoon to proceed with
| caution, Senator McGillfyray, chair
man OF the Joint caucus committee,
| called the body to order at $3.50 in the
| assembly chamber VI, stated that
the caucus had been called at the re-
| quest Of many prominent republicans,
and read the call, On motion OF Sem
| ator Baxter, Senator McGillivray was
elected permanent presiding officer,
| The senator made brief speech OF
| thanks IN which he took occasion TO
| pay u tribute TO Gov, Scoheld and ex-
| press the hope that he would he re-
nominated and thai tho session would
| be brief one, AssemhlymNn over
| beck was elected secretary on motion
| Of Senator bennett Senator McGil-
! livray then asked the pleasure of the
| members, Senator Baxter arose and
said he believed the wish OF the menu
hers was to hear from the revision
committee, Senator Austin procIpitat-
ed debate by entering vigorous
protest to this, He did not believe
| the republican party would care to put
itself In u position Of shutting out de-
| bate He thought every amendment
IN the committce's report should he
considered In open debate with every
member OF the legislature present, II
the object OF the members was to pre-
vent debate, he wished to withdraw
from the caucus, Let us be men," he
cried, and sat down amid applause, A
motion made by him to adjourn was.
however voted down
Senator bennett moved that recess
be taken until o'clock and that the
| democratic members be invited to
| participate in an Informal discussion
= the report This also was voted
down,
The sensation came when motion
BY Assemhlyman Ruilington TO take
recess for 30 days was defeated, Sena-
tor Austin arose ut this point and
asked leave to withdraw, The reply
o. the presiding officer was quick, you
| may GO" and the argumcntatve Mil
waukeean, dropping n word Of raillery
to the newspaper boys, marched out
smiling.
Another embarrassing moment OF
| silence followed when Senator Baxter
took up Mr.. Buillngtons motion, Ho
thought II would be simply folly to go
home and meet again In 30 days. tho
members could vote as intelligently on
the revision now AZ then.
Senator Burlington spoke earnestly
| for the adjournment, He believed
time was needed for studying the
many things OF which practically all
the members were ignorant,
Senator Riordan believed the report
could be easily understood The inn
portant amendments were set forth In
the first few pages, He thought an
adjournment unnecessary.
Senator bennett favored short
session, but thought four weeks mono
too much time to consider the report.
Replying to Senator RiordAn, he cited
among the important amendments not
mentioned IN thS first few Pages OF tho
report, one which provides for taking
the ordering Of gates at railway cross
III s out oi the hands of local authurl-
ties and placing II In that Of the rail-
road commissioner. That he called a
radical change and he could not but
relieve there might be others and that
all such required careful consideration.
Furthermore he said tho amendment
was 80 far from the original intent OF
the law passed that It's adoption
would be new business and that the
speaker could not receive II except by
a three-fOurths vote and this one pre-
posed amendment considered would
mean the opening Of every gate To new
business md a second session OF the
legislature. The session OF the legs-
lature closed last April except for the
consideration nj the revision. no
lntimated that the committee had ex-
ceeded its powers and while II had
the precedent OF that Of 1878, he he
lieved It dangerous precedent. He
did not think II was wise for the mem
bers Of the legislature To adopt the
report In two days and then no homo
to receive the condemnation OF .heir
constituents.
Assemblyman Flett replied that the
powers Of the committee had not been
exceeded. Many amendments were
proposed but each was gone over very
carefully In committee. He asked that
Mr.. Bergman, who assisted In the re-
vision. be heard from.
To this, however, Senator Mills pro-
tested. He believed no one should be
asked TO address the members unless
all we're present both because II was
the more honorable and the more ex-
pedient. Assemblyman Hall agreed
with Senator Mills and thought II en-
tirely out Of place 10 consider the re-
vision which concerned every citizen
OF the state unless all the representa-
tiyes who cared to might be present.
He thought the matter should be con-
sidered In regular session. Amid the