Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1899-05-04
SESSIONS LAST WEEK
Burnett Tells of the Rush OF
Wisconsin Legislative Work.


Lie Must ray Dig lHNes tHlDV,oou IN
crease Annually --Railronds Escape ant
Some RcfOriners Don't Like It--A Y. NJ
e. A. Statesman.
Madison, Wis, May 2.--This IL the
last week Of the Legislature. Whatever
day It closes, 1t VIII have been u long
session, more than the 100 days which
Is so additionally regarded as the linn
1t that some enormously conceive the
constitution fixes It So
The Republicans Will claim that this
legislature has lived UP to the pledges
made In the last party platform. An
anti-pass bin has been passed that Is
more stringent, forbidding not only
Legislators, capitol employees and judi
cial officers from riding on free pass;
but 1t applies to delegates to all politi-
cal conventions; candidates for office,
members of the county board; city
aldermen. The fact Is, the lawmakers
were 80 incensed ut being Obliged to
give up their free passes, express franks
and the other good things, that they
determined To shut out AS many others
as possible. The penalty Is state prison
from one To i've years, or Il fine of from
$500 to $1,000
And people who say Officials win
ride anyway" nrG in error. There Will
be some trickery and evasion but dead
headlsm viii be discouraged ana driven
into II corner and while some of the
desperate and don't care" people will
be able to get railroad faVOrs, most
men VIII either be too honest or too
sensitive to violate the law and be sub
1ect to gossip, If not to arrest.
Lobbyists Must Register.
Then, too, the platform promised an
anti-lobby law aud that Is on the
statute books. AmusIngly enough the
first to register We're the swell Milwau-
kee Jurlats~ General Wnklcr, Judge
Dwyer ana others here to oppose the
bill taxing life insurance companies 20
severely. This pleased the regular"
lobbyists immensely.
Taxing milwaukee, Life Insurnnc" Co.
The platform promised vigorous cor
pOratiun taxation. or course the big
gest stroke is the raising Of the tax
on the Northwestern Mutual from
$37 0GO in 1888, to 1924 600. 1t was thought
the influential opposition to this orion
bill would avail To reduce ii. Many
good men thought the dosc pretty stiff.
The basis of taxation IL | per ccntum
OF gross Income from all sources an
nually, excepting income from rents OF
real estate upon which the companies
have paid taxes, and excepting income
upon United States bonds. which are
exempt from taxation.
There nrc other items that should
yNi, La, I,J "A A,
but the legislators were afraid tonmend
the bill ~ near the end of tho session.
They feared tho bill might utterly fail
and the appropriations are big this
year Tho situation recalled the con-
versatlon in u Montana restaurant.
A stranger dropped In for II lunch.
He ate piece OF pie and drank n cup
OF coffee. Then he asked for the bill.
Ninety ccnts,' said the man behind
the counter.
Isn't that n pretty stiff price FOR pic
and coffce?" asked the man from tho
east.
1T is for fnet," conceded the man
behind the counter. "hut the truth Is,
stranger, | need the money"
Rush nj END of Season.
The company was willing to pay $780,
400 and had II been safe to delay and
think the matter over. perhaps, u conf
promise bill could have been framed
But Governor Sconcld had frightened
the members with II special message,
telling them they were spending more
money than they were providing for.
The plan to get $500, 900 more from the
railroads had been killed In the senate
tafter passing the house) and II was
decided the great, rich corporation
could stand 1t. hut 1t threatens to re-
sist payment In the courts
With the taxing of other corporations,
sleeping ear, express, etc. the whole
state Is familiar. And yet II liz not Ger
tain that there viii not he criticism Of
the legislature, especially for not pass
ing some bills aimed at the railroads
either for bigger taxes, cheaper freight
rates. or for regulation.
"rhe state" which has bcen markedly
kindly. Is now taking ON more ccn-
serious tone; and II IL possible the fac
tional furry In to be resumed to some
extent.
However. Mr. Hall is very happy In
the passage OF the antl-pass bill. lie
has worked on II for many years and
deserves no little credit. lie says he
will retire from public office now. AS
II rule. this Is II meaningless phrase
from II public man, but coming from
the Dunn county man, IL Is no doubt
In good faith
i, Jancsyiilo's Great ScnatoE
Senator j NJ. Whitehead. who passed
the tax commission bill and conducted
Trucs marriage reform hill and gave
the right bent to the corporation taxa
ton measures, has proved himself II
very able man More than that he
commands universal condolences. and the
GAINESVILLE district Will do well to send
him back to Madison, or, better, rally
round him for congress, for which he is
already talked He has conducted hint
self with rare discretion and good
Judgment. and every one knows just
where TO lind him at all times,
A man who can be the head of the y.
Nj. G.. A. In the state and I'LL the intlu-
entail place he has AT Madison this
winter comes pretty near human great
ness, senator Whitehead, by the way,
Is to deliver the Memorial day address
at Juneau
General Grihin Head ra>cr