Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1899-04-19
WISCONSIN SOLONS.

The Senate on Tuesday passed reso-
luton for final adjournment on April 81,
the Assembly laying the same over. Both
houses held two sessions. The Assembly
passed the Senate bill appropriating $780,
600 to the university. The Sheridan drive
bill was reported for passage in the I, RIM
of substitute providing that no money
be expended for it until voted by the coun-
ties through whicl. the road shall pass.
The bill to regulate the legislative lobby
was favorably reported. The feature Of
the Assembly ut the evening session was
the speech by "Anti-Pass" Hall in favor
of his substitute for the bill relating to
license fees to be paid by railroad COM
panies Mr.. Halls substitute provides a
tax of 6 per cent ON all roads whose gross
earnings equal or exceed 5000 per mile,
5l2 per cent when the earnings are be-
tween 81, 4,500 and $1,000. ) per cent when
between $500 and $4,000. 1t was the
greatest speech of the session. but no ae-
ton was taken on it.
"Anti-pass' scored another victory
against the railroads ON Wednesday.
After q lcngthy debate the Assembly or
dered to third reading the Orton bill in
creasng the taxes on railroads about
L
on last years taxes, which amounted to
S1,25o000. Mr.. Hall had introduced
amendments considerably increasing the
sum, which were defeated, but led Mr..
Orton TO increase his own provisions. A
motion TO pass the bill Llder suspension
of the rules failed. The bill fixes a rate
of per cent on the gross earnings over
5000 n mile, Az per cent on earnings be-
nd A H..
tween $1,000 and $4,000. 3lh on earnings
between $500 and $1,000. The Senate
without debate killed the Wheeler bill
licensing BARRIERS. The blanket fish and
game bill was favorably reported II pro-
vides that resident hunters must pay
license Of 81 and nonresident hunters
license of $40 for shooting game birds of
all kinds Non-residents must pay $25 for
shooting deer. No game can be shipped
out of the State unless accompanied by
the man who shot IT, The provisions as
to the closed season are the same as in
the present law.
Vexing railroad questions occupied the
attention of the Assembly for three hours
Thursday morning. A stormy debate was
had ON the 0rton bill increasing the tax
on railroads and for which reconsideration
was finally voted. The anti-pass bill
finally went TO third reading after some
debate. BY new amendments the pen
atty is lesSened from incarceration in
State prison to the county jail with the
maximum time one year and the maxi
mum fine $500 The amendment provid-
ing for carrying the railroad commission
er and his deputy free was killed and the
provisions were made to reach even to po-
litical committees The Mcleod bill for
new State board of immigration ami APP
propriating $1,000 thereto was passed. In
the Senate n long debate was had on the
bill to appropriate $35, 900 for an electric
lighting plant for the university, the cap
itol and library buildings. 1t went over
for day. Bills were passed taxing intel
ligenc1 offices $40 and providing for the
payment by the State of costs for trials
for offenses committed at State institu-
tions instead of by counties wherein COM
mitted. A delegation from Buffalo was
before the Legislature urging that steps
be taken for State exhibit at the propos-
ed pan-American exposition at Niagara
Falls in 1901.
Both houses of the Legislature, after
! prolonged sessions on Friday, adjourned
until Monday evening, the apparent fu.
I
tlity of attempting to finish up work the
following week leading to this. In tho
Assembly the drastic anti-pass bin as
amended was passed without debate and
with but three votes against it. The
| Roehr bill requiring a ! lobbyists TO regis
ter was passed, 6S to Z. Mr.. McGrath
| offered an amendment to the Orton rail
! road tax bill to cut down the increase in
taxes from 100000 TO Sal 900 by reduc-
| ing the tax on the big roads from ) to 4llA
| per cent on gross earnings caused n pro
| longed debate, but was killed, and the bili
| then passed with but seven voting against
| it. The Senate adopted the bennett reso,
| luton looking to the gradual adoption of
| the New York system of self-support of
penal institutions, leaving the matter in
| the hands Of the board of control. The
Assembly killed the McGilliyray patron
age bill, which provided that the State po-
litical Offices should be divided among the
Assembly districts on a basis of popula-
tion. The Senate passed bill making an
appropriation to extend manual training
TO ten more high schools, making twenty
high schools in the State having such de-
| partments.