The River Falls times. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1894-1933, 1897-02-02
THE LEGISLATURE,
Proceedings of Both Branches of the
Wisconsin Legislature.

branches were voting III separate SeS-
sion for United States senator. When
the name of Jesse A. ClaSson of NeO-
sho was called. that Young gentleman
asked the privilege of making per-
sonal explanation. A hush fell on the
house, for ClaSS0n was elected as Il
gold Democrat while the two Demo-
Gratis on the roll aheadsof him had cast
their votes for w. G. Silverthorn, late
free-silver candidate for governor, fer
senator.
Il was elected as a gold Democrat"
declared Mr.. Classon, but | know no
better way to express the contempt of
myself and my constituents for the
damnable doctrines of the Chicago plat
form and for those who think, in the
hour of defeat, that | and my asSoci-
ates shall sit in sackcloth and ashes,
than to vote for a man of whom good
Democrats have no cause to complain,
John c. Spooner."
There was a tremendous outburst of
applause on the Republican side, and
several bouquets were hurled at the
desk Of the bold speaker. All the Re-
publicans in both branches voted for
Col. Spooner, while Senator Albert Sol
liday of WATERFOWL, a gold Democrat,
u. -.
other Democrats present in both houses
voted for Silyerthorn, but three in the
lower branch-Lamge, Maertz and Vol
tinger-and two in the upper-Mayor
and McMuIlen-found it convenient to
be absent The aggregate vote result
ed: Spooner, 121; Silyerthorn, Bragg.
/. Tomorrow SpoOner's election will
be formally pronounced in joint SEES
sion. The only important bill of the
day was by Senator Mills, for pure pri-
marieS.
Madison. Wis, Jan. 27.-Col. John G.
Spooner of Madison was elected to the
United States senate by the legislature
in joint assembly to-day. He got the
votes of all Republicans present-11S,
being absent. Seven silver Demo-
Gratis voted for w. c. Silverthorn, late
candidate for governor, | Democrat
refused to vote, and Gen. Il. 5. Bragg,
gold Democrat, was h0nOred with
votes. Senator Spooner made short
speech of thanks.
Among the important bills intro
duced were two for a beet-Sugar bOun-
ty: one for the creation OF board of
railroad commissioners; to abolish the
state board Of immigration, and to
make registers of deeds and clerks OF
court Salaried officers. Senator j. II.
Stout, a millionaire lumberman from
Menominee, and j. A. Van Cleve have
been appointed university regents, sue
ceeding j. w. BaShfOrd of Hudson and
y. l.. Plumer of Wausau, both silver
Democrats.
Madison, Wis, Jan 2S.-The legis-
lative proceedings were tame to-day.
One new bill proposes 4 per cent tax
on the gross revenues of express COM
panies. Another makes the retraction
by publishers of a libelous article a
mitigating circumstance in the assess
ment of damages and limiting the judg-
ment to actual damages suffered. \
branch state fair at Chippewa Falls,
the sale at public auction of all timber
on state lands prohibiting the sale of
cigarettes to minors, requiring rail
ways to carry bicycles as baggage, and
providing for an investigation of af
fairs at the university. were among the
other schemes projected into the body
of lawmakers.
Madison, Wis, Ian. 29.-Far and
away the most important bill intro
duced in the legislature to-day came
from Assemblyman George Wylic. Il
Columbia county farmer who proposes,
ii possible to put IN end to every spe-
cieS of gambling on contests of any
kind / provides that lit snail be I'M
lawful for any person, company OF cor
poration to engage i'll pool-Selling or
boOk-making, or to occupy any room,
shed, tenement, tent or building or any
part thereof, or any place upon public
or private ground, with books, appara.
tTS or paraphernalia. for the purpose
of recording or registering bets or Wag-
erS, or for selling pools, or to record or
register bets or Wagers. or sell pools
upon the esult of any trial or contest
of skill, speed or power OF endurance
of man or beast, or upon the result of
any political nomination, appointment
or election, or use on any uncer-
tain event or occurrence, or being the
owner lessee or occupant Of any room,
tent. tenement. shed, booth OF build
ing, or to knowingly permit the same
to be used OF occupied for any of the
above-enumerated purposes, or therein
to keep, exhibit or employ any book,
device or apparatus designed or kept
for the purpose of recording or regis
tering such bets or Wagers or the sell
ing of such pools: and it shall also be
unlawful for any person to become the
custodian or depository for gain, hire
OF reward, of any money, property or
thing of value, as stare Wagered
upon any such result. or to receive,
register or record. forward. or purpose
or pretend to record to or fer any race
course, any money or consideration OF
value offered for the purpose Of being
bet or wagered." The penalty f0i yio-
iating this act is fine of not less than
500 nor more than $1,000 OF a Jail sen