Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-12-15

least was the gossip in the capitol Sat
urday 1t is known that a deadlock
OF the selection of a chief clerk existed
Friday at the meeting Of the state land
commiSsioners-Se Secretary of State
elect Froehlich, Attorney General-elect
Hicks and Treasurer-elect Davidson.
The two last are friendly to the La Fol
lette wing of the party, while the first
favors the Scofeld element At the
meeting last week, it is said that the
cOmmissioners-elect first decided that
each should be accorded the privilege
of naming two OF the six clerks Of the
office. Then Messrs. Davidson and
Hicks wanted to know whom NJ.
Froehlich would name, intimating that
If the men were known to be very hos
tile to La Toilette they would not vote
to elect them. Mr.. Froehlich is said
to have replied that it was his own af
fair whom he should name; he was en-
titled to two clerkships and he would
fill them with any men he desired. This
position is understood to have caused
the adjournment of the conference I'M
til next Friday. On the single ballot
taken for chief clerk Davidson's vote
went to c. NJ Morley, formerly super
intendent of public property, but now a
clerk in the land department. FrOeh
lich's to Capt. p. Fl. Swift, clerk in
the treasury department; and Hicks to
Joe T. Huntington, also clerk in the
land department. Now the friends of
Nelson are pushing him for the place
and the impression prevails in inner
circles that he may be selected. He
might possibly get the votes of Da
wilson and Hicks, which, being ma
jority, would elect him. But in view of
his well-known recent antagonistic ed
itoriaI work on The State, his selection
as chief clerk would naturally be
looked on by the Scofield element as an
affront to the governor and the latter's
friends win doubtless exert themselves
to prevent it. Nelson is also being
mentioned for assistant state treasui er
Martin Berg, deputy bank examiner,
is also a candidate for the position and
many believe he will get it. Outside
of a new chief clerk it is believed that
there will be few changes in the land
department.
Mr.. Hicks troubles at present are
manifold. At a meeting of La Fol
lette's friends in Milwaukee a week
ago it was voted to recommend Gilbert
e. Roe of Madison for first assistant at
torney general and A. H. Long of
Prairie du Chen for second assistant.
During Hicks visit here last week it
is said that it came to him from a
source very close to the Gov. Scofield
that if he appoints those two men he
will erect an insurmOuntable
barrier Between the executive and le
gal departments of the state and that
under the statutes the governor could
outside legal advise when
ever he needed it. The gov
ernor. it is said, would like to have
harmony between the two departments,
but it would not exist if Mr.. Hicks ap-
pointed the men reports credit him
with intending to. This talk is said to
have made an impression on Mr.. Hicks
and now the friends of c. e. Buell. of
Madison and James A. Stone of Reeds
burg, two men understood to be unob-
jeCtionable to the governor, are push
of Black River Falls is said to stand
a good show of being appointed law
examiner in the attorney generals de-
partment
Adiutant General Boardman, Labor
Commissioner Erickson and Superin-
tendent of Public Property Scott are
booked to remain and probably H. c.
Adams, dairy and food commissioner
also. State Treasury Agent Vernon
may or may not. No one seems to
have a clear understanding in regard
to his case. The talk still is that F.
NJ Wootton of Madison will gel some
thing good.
Capt. Swift will in all probability
get a place in the secretary of states
department. 1t is understood that II
+. Schmidt OF Milwaukee will be as
sistant secretary OF state; G. M. Hots-
chick, now clerk in the land depart
ment, chief clerk; Emil Hartman, a
clerk in the adjutant generals depart
ment, warrant clerk Ernest Kuechle
will be retained as bookkeeper, Ed
ward Lowe as assistant bookkeepeI
Arthur A. Meggett as printing clerk
c. IL. Mcneil as notarial clerk, George
s. Reed as compiling clerk w. j. Bets
as document clerk, Mrs. Nj. c. Keyes rs
recording clerk, James E. Colenso as
mailing clerk.
Treasurer Davidson will retain
George Y. Borchsenius, bookkeeper ii
the treasury department, it is said bu
will make changes in most of the Other
positions.
1t is rumored that there will be con
siderable of a sweep in the state su
perintendent's department. Prof. w
J. Brier of he River Falls norma
school is mentioned for assistant su
perintendent.
Considerable pressure is being
brought to bear upon Railroad Com
missioner-elect Rice to appoint w. D
Roberts of Oconomowoc as his deputy
Legislative Jobs.
George H. Ray of La Crosse is
strong candidate for the speakership
G. A. Pettibone of Oconomowoc ha
been sergeant-at-arms of the senat
for the last four years and there i
little that he will be reelected thj
year
J. B. Johnson of MCutfort has an
nounced himself a candidate for ser
geant-at-arms Of the assembly. MI
Johnson represented Grant county i
the assembly in 1893. He was assist