Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-05-11
WISCONSIN LEGISLATURE.

Madison. May 3.-The senate and
assembly held three sessions each
Tuesday and cleared up a lot of bust
ness preparatory to final adjournment
which will be taken at noon to-mor-
row. The feature Of the day was the
appointment of Judge \. S. ellison OF
Fond du Lac as the democratic mem
Der Of the state tax commission. The
senate confirmed the appointment and
bill was rushed through both
houses raising the salary of the posi-
ton from $4,000 to $4,000. The
committee on claims reported for non
concurrence No. 402a, relating to the
expenses Of state employees The
senate adhered to its amendment on
No. 535a, the bill to increase the
taxation Of street car companies. The
amendment leaves the small roads on
the same basis as at present but will
increase the taxes of the Milwaukee
company about $4,000 On motion
Of Senator Thayer, the chair appointed
q conference committee consisting of
Senators Ihayer, Welton and Arson
The Holland resolution to allow Mr..
Frost to introduce bill taxing rail-
roads was non-cOncurred in after some
discussion. Senator Roehr talked on
the Hall inheritance tax bill which
came up. Senator Martin said the
assembly had thoroughly digested it
for weeks. Senator Jones opposed
it, and moved the matter be laid over
until evening. Senator Whitehead
corrected Senator Jones, saying that
real estate was excluded. The bill
imposes a tax Of 1 per cent on direct
inheritances; per cent. on collateral
1t is modelled on New York state law,
except that realty is excluded. Some
q states have such law. The county
reserves Is per cent, the balance to
go to the state. The bill as finally
amended by the senate was concurred
in. AS amended it is made to apply
only to personal property on which
the owner has not paid taxes the
year previous to the time given or
when it descends to the heirs. Further
more it applies only to estates found
to be worth more than $4,000. No.
53Ga, to permit towns to vote On the
construction of gravel and other
| roads, was concurred in. The LANCE
bill for the appointment of fire war
| dens was concurred in.
In the assembly Mr.. Baldock pre-
! scented a resolution permitting Mr..
| Frost to introduce a bill fixing railway
licenses as follows: On the large, OF
first class roads, Az per cent. Of gross
earnings; second class AZ, third 4 pei
cent, fourth 31a, fifth 8 per cent.
sixth S. per mile where the earnings
exceed $1,000 per mile, S. where the
earnings are less than $1,000 per mile
and 2 per cent. on the earnings OF
| pile and pontoon bridge companies
! These rates would bring the state
about $150,000 additional revenue an
nually. Later the bill was introduced
| but before it could be passed, the SEN
| ate adjourned, thus making further ac-
! ton frivolous. Senator Whitman S
! Dewey day resolutions were adopted
| by a rising vote. Senator Martins
bill forbidding incorporated villages
| from holding joint caucuses with towns
! in which they are located, was killed
81 to %. The Stout forest bill, pro-
viQing for a state superintendent OF
forests at $4,000 a year and expenses
was also killed, IS to "A. A like fate
was accorded Senator Harris bill, put
ting an export duty on ice Of 10 cents
per ton.
The night session was notable for
! the reason especially that the senate
adjourned prior to the hour set-mid-
night-fOr the transaction Of business
thus leaving utterly futile any further
| legislating the assembly might at
! tempt. The various senate amend
ments to the assembly inheritance tax
! law were concurred in. Throughout
the evening levity prevailed and bas-
kets, bundles, files, books, paper balls
| and other missiles were flying through
! the air. Few members were so digni-
| fed that they hesitated to join the
pages, press gang and third house in
| the frolic When it was over every
| desk was stripped, it's contents being
scattered in dire confusion throug hout
! the cham Der. For a short time at a
recess during the evening a mock ses-
sion was started with Correspondent
Kerr as speaker and Attorney Sloan Of
Rock county as clerk, but before it had
progressed beyond the reading Of half
a dozen absurd bills and resolutions,
| the regular organization slipped into
control again and adjournment soon
| followed.
During the day handsome gold
watch was presented Speaker Ray ty
the members of the assembly.