The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1897-02-11

ceiVe. The incident happened some
years ago. A citizen now moved from
Madison was entrusted with the defeat
ing of a certain measure designed to
hamper and be source of expense
to the Western Union Telegraph COM
pany The lobbyist put in his work
on the committee in charge of the Of
fensive measure and succeeded in kill
ing it. He sent in bill for $500 to the
New York office. 1t was returned with
check for half the amount, Mr. Sage
adding that $500 seemed to be fair
compensation, and to obtain more
would necessitate laying the matter be-
fore the board OF directors. The lob
ist, approaching the value of the sery-
ice he had rendered the great corpora
ton, sent the check back, saying he
wanted the amount of his bill or he
wanted nothing. He added that he ex-
pected to be in New York in a few
weeks and would call. He was there
on business later and went up into the
Western Union building. The Wiscon-
sin mans description of the red tape
necessary to secure admission to Sage's
office, the number of colored men and
office boys he had to pass, etc., was
very amusing. It appears that the
directors were in session and the lob
byist made his claim. why, young
man. said Sage in loud voice as he
put his hands in his pockets and paced
up and down the room, ''you don't want
5000 for few hours work. Why, when
I was a little younger than you up in
Vermont I was glad to get $40 month
doing chores and tending cattle"
The Laugh on Sage.
cold Lo 1o1,iOIo+ man a
wink to some of the financial magnates
present, 'but you were only watering
live stock them
A laugh went round the room and
little later the visitor shot down the
elevator With the full amount of his
claim.
Senator Spooner has been scolded in
some quarters for saying such pretty
things about his predecessor, Senator
Villas but a broad spirit is characters
tic Of the man. By the way, I must
relate a remark that I understand SEN
ator Spooner used in his interview with
Mckinley not long ago. It was to the
effect that he (Spooner) would be sus-
tanning and indorsing Mckinley when
many of those who were shouting most
loudly for Mckinley now would be ST
but perhaps Spooner was urging Henry
C. Payne for the cabinet. ExGovern-
or Hoard cannot be secretary of agri-
culture and it remains to be seen
whether President Mckinley will con-
clude to avoid the seeming recognition
of either faction by refusing to appoint
Mr.. Payne postmaster general.
It is probable an extra session of the
ric1o t.1ra
commission of two revisers 10 act with
the attorney general is proposed to con-
slider the enactments of the session, and
there will easily be work for them for
a month after this session concludes.
It will be necessary for the legislature
to meet to accept their report. Now, If
a mere recess were declared, say for
month, the pay OF all the officials would
run on, though they might be at home.
On the other hand, if an adjournment
be taken and a special session called,
this outlay will be saved. Members re-
ceive their pay for all legislative duties
that may be required, and thus special
sessions are always brief, for there is
nothing in it, for them.
This work of revising the proceedings
of a legislature is now recognized as
necessary. Tt must be done by men
skilled in law and thus contradictions
and clashes of authority in enactments
avoided. A bill proposes permanent
commission of statutory reyfsion-three
officials who shall sit all the time dur
ing the session of the legislature, and
one of them, the president of the board,
to give his time to the work the year
around The board shall give opinions
on proposed changes in the law Of the
state, appear before committees, etc.
One trouble with the plan is that the
president should be as good a lawyer as
there is in the state, and it is doubtful
if the salary of $4,000 will attract such
a one A second-class lawyer will not
be listened to with respect. On the
other hand, it is argued that ex-Chief
Justice Lyon was willing to accept
$4,000 position on the board of control.
It is even suggested that he be trans
ferred to this board of statutory revi-
sion.
LaFoIlette Hard Worker.
Robert LaFolIette, or ''Bob," as he is
generally called, is rarely seen at the
capitol, though good many members
find their way to his offices. Like Sen
ator Spooner, he is hardly what would
be called a "haIe fellow well met in
the sense of joining registering crowd
Of 'sjoke-fellers' in the capitol. How
ever, with an unlighted cigar in his
mouth, as is his practice. one can
scarcely imagine the Little Giant as
LaFollette is styled, nonplussed in any
company. He is a tremendous worker.
Late into the night and Sundays, too,
there is a light in his offices. He works
so hard that once a year regularly he
breaks down for a long illness, and many
have been the predictions that this
brilliant young career would be cut
short. He appears OCCASIONALLY in the
local courts, and there is always a
crowd to hear him speak. Not long ago
he was before the supreme court, and
while it is unusual to address that body
in any except the most prosaic language
and style, Mr.. LaFollette threw him
self almost as he did in his famous ora
ton in college when he discussed "Iago'
in a way to make it a tradition in uni
yersity circles. Moreover, the judges
seemed to like it. Mrs. LaFollette is as
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