Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-01-28

could subscribe without evil
dence. He did not know that the peo-
pie OF the state, 10000 to 1000, had
voted against the pass system; that
the whole press and nearly all the
county boards had taken a like posi-
ticn, nor did he think that it was the
settled policy of the republican party
to oppose passes. He vas not aware
of any universal popular clamor against
this so-cafled evil 1t might exist, but
he was not cognizant of it. Besides,
he saw no good reason for the appoint
Dent Of special committee, as was
contemplated, to prepare such meas
ures as might be necessary in the
premises. The assembly already had
committees for every reasonable pur-
pose. The members were, he thought,
Intelligent enough to draft all neces-
sary bills. If they were not, then
committee to aid incompetents was in
order. But Mr.. Hall was not an in
competent. He was an able man and
an experienced legislator. He Jones)
objected to him throwing his own re-
spOnsibilities on the shoulders of
committee. Furthermore, he believed
the right mode of procedure was to
amend the constitution forbidding the
granting Of passes. He gravely
doubted whether the legislature had
power to pass law telling a member
he could not accept A pass any more
than it could forbid a beggar from &C
cepting gratuity from the hand of
man on the street. New York. he said,
had amended its constitution to meet
the case. He promised that, if the
matter took the proper course, he
SHOULD give it unprecedented considera-
ton,
Mr. Hall, answering, said he desired
to shirk no responsibility; that the
people had voted $4,000 to 1000 against
passes and that fact was on the records
Of the Legislature of 1895. that the
press and county boards were against
the pass, this the members themselves
knew; that the plank in the republican
state platform was fairly adopted after
he (Mr. HalD had been sat down up
on that the state convention refused
to kill that plank by referring it to a
! committee and that the plank was
adopted by a nearly unanimous vote.
Mr.. Hall said he had no disposition to
press the resolution at this time. In
fact, he thought constitutions.
amendment was the only sure method
of suppressing the pass evil
/ Mr.. McGrath, who was a member of
! the republican state convention, made
a statement that at least one-third of
the delegates had left the hall when
| the anti-pass plank was considered anG
! he believed that of those remaining
not 100 voted one way or the othel
upon it. He did not believe that this
was fair and full consideration.
Mr.. w. A. Jones declared the matter
was not judicial but one of mere com
mon sense about which the member!
were able to have a proper off-han(
opinion. He sustained all that MIR
Hall had said as to the legislative sit
uation two years ago. He cared moth
ing for ancient history as to what thu
republican state convention had done
The whole scheme to refer was merely
a subterfuge to kill the resolution. ''W'
might as well face the music first a:
last" said he with emphasis.
Mr.. Rutherford called for the pre-
vious question and Mr.. Polachel
moved that the resolution be tabled
Mr.. D. F. Jones thought his motion
tn rotor tool T1rocp6nnao Tho ,
overruled him. Mr.. Hall explained
that under the new rules a matter
tabled could be taken up at any time
by a majority vote, hence he did no
object to that procedure. When tn
Polache,1 motion to table prevailed
vive voce.
Bills introduced were as follows: b.
Mr. Wylie, appropriating $4,000 to tn
Wisconsin State Agricultural s. ciety
by Mr.. Peterson, including the ragweet
among noXious weeds; by Mr. Policy
requiring OF assessors to make croI
report to town clerks on August insteat
of July; by Mr.. Minch, requiring ply
sicians and midUives to register will
county clerks and providing that once
a year the clerk shall furnish the stat
board of health with lists of such re,
gistrations; by Mr.. Davidson, authoriz
ing the state treasurer, instead of TIT
governor, to appoint the state bank ex
aminer; also for the better taxation o
mortgages and notes; also requiring
candidates for public office within II
days after election to file detailed state
ments of all moneys expended by hin
in such election; by Mr.. Pierce, pre-
scriblng the manner of appointing
deputy county treasurers; by Mr.. w A
Jones, providing that when an appli
cation for a new trial under section
4719, r. S., shall have been refused {
writ of error shall on application O.
the defendant be issued from the SUI
preme court to bring such matter be
fore it, that court then having author
ity to review the order of the lower
court. The writ may be applied fo1
within two years from the date of the
| order
Chairman Taylor of the military
committee reported back favorably the
Timme resolution asking congress tC
pass the Vicksburg park bill. On mo.
ton of Mr.. Arson the resolution was
concurred in.
The Hoyt resolution shutting off new
! business Feb. 10 was adopted without
opposition.
A NEW YEARS PRAYER.