Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-03-23
WISCONSIN LEGISLATURE.

Madison, March 14.-Lieutenant
Gov Stone was back in his chair in
the senate after his term as acting
governor, Gov. Scofield having re-
turned from California. A protest was
received from the Milwaukee repub-
hcan county committee against No.
267s, relating to civil service in Mil
waukeee, together with resolutions of
approval of the Devos bill, re-estab-
fishing the two-year term for super
visors in Milwaukee. No. 267s was
then killed. The Lamoreux bills, Nos.
So, 60 and 81, relating to railroads
and corporations, were passed, as was
the Mosher bill for a ferry across
Lake st. CroiX. No. 110a (Fogo)
comforting additional powers upon
trustees of certain county asylums,
was ordered to a third reading. In
regard to the bill to abolish the land
office and put the work of that de-
partment in the office of the secre-
tary Of state, Senator McGillivray
explained that it would save the state
from $4,000 to $4,000 a year. 1t was
poOoCu lut Ou STATE al
fairs reported for passage the Joint
resolution to require the retiring gov
ernor to address message to the next
legislature on the condition of state
affairs, and recommended for death
the anti-sparrow bill. The railway
committee had favorably reported the
senate resolution for an antl-pass con
stitutional amendment with an amend
ment inserting a forfeiture-of office
clause. The judiciary committee had
then returned majority report
against the forfeiture amendment
while there had been a minority re-
port in favor of it and also in favor of
yet another amendment permitting
people to give evidence of anti-pass
violations and still be exempt from
prosecution for so doing. The first
question was on the adoption of the
minority report. Mr.. Hall favored it,
declaring that, in his judgment,
anti-pass legislation would be utterly
futile unless it embraced the forfeiture
clause. Mr.. Catlin made a strong point
by showing that the constitution al
ready provided that no member of the
legislature could be unseated except
by two-thirds vote of his associates.
That provision would stand, he de-
clared, and yet here comes a conflict
ing proposition for the unseating OF
members at the suit of the attorney
general. Mr.. Wheeler said the ma
jority was opposed to the forfeiture
clause because the constitution, not
even in treason, the highest of crimes
provided the degree of punishment.
He was opposed to making a criminal
code of the constitution. The penal
ties were properly for statutory regu-
lations Mr.. Hoehle, in opposition to
what Mr.. Wheeler had said, called at
tention to the fact that the constitu-
ton specifically punished treason anu
felony with forfeiture of the electoral
privilege, though it might be restored
afterwards; also that dueling was
equivalent to an eternal electoral
disqualification. Still another penal
clause forbade defaulters in public
office from ever again holding public
office. Mr.. Sturdevant declared tnat
the anti-pass agitation was obviously
aimed at this legislature and that it
should not be afraid to meet the issue
squarely and in manner to accord
with the republican platform pledge
Mr.. Rusk thought the true point of
the case was being lost sight of. The
legislature was doing nothing in fact
but giving the people the opportunity
to say whether or no they were against
passes. He was ever willing to let the
people have their say. Mr. Sturdevant
asked for the ayes and nays and the
minority report was adopted, So to 81,
those against it being-Messrs. Adams,
Barlow, Becker, Buttles, Cashin, Cat
lin, Clough, Dengel, Eline, Farr, Feige,
Fogo, Gavin, Gilmore, Guth, Hol-
comb, Hurlbut, Ives, Johnson, Kess-
Ter, LANCE, Mcleod, Parker, Ryan, NJ