Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-03-09

Madison, March 2.-Among the COM
mittee reports to the senate were two
bills from the committee on privileges
and elections in response to portions
Of the governors message referred 10
it, one for new caucus law, the other
prohibiting proxies in conventions.
The judiciary committee reported
among other bills Nos zoos, lois, 1O2s,
and 103s, the bills taxing express,
sleeping car anu like companies. The
ali that was referred TO this commit
tee, and it reported them constitu-
tiOnal. The feature of the evening s
session was a speech by Senator Me
Gillivray in favor of his patronage bill
which provides that the patronage Of
the state shall be divided up among
the counties in proportion to popula-
ton. Senator McGillivray attacked
civil service as administered by the
federal government, characterizing it
as a fraud. Senator bennett disagreed
with him on that subject.
LII I1S dSSCuIUly MI. ONSI DSCh ulONSu
for a reconsideration of the vote by
which the Orion child adoption bill
had been refused third reading. The
committee on railroads had reported
the senate'S anti-pass constitutional
amendment with 2 amendments, one
making forfeiture of office one Of the
penalties for accepting a pass and an
other permitting national guardsmen
to enjoy reduced rates as now. Mr.
Hall discussed the subject, speaking
especially in favor of the absolute ne
cessity of the fOrfeiture-of-o office clause
to render the proposed constitutional
amendment effective. The bill and
constitutional amendment as coming
TO this house from the senate is q
fraud, declared Mr.. Hall, and abso-
lutely without virtue. The speaker
denounced as a sham the senate prOvi-
sion in relation to the exemption from
prosecution of persons giving evidence
under the proposed law. It really af-
fOrded no immunity whatever from
prosecution and they would certainly
operate to prevent anti-pass testi-
mony ever being given. Mr.. Hall de-
mandeu that absolute immunity be
guaranteed and, in order that the
amendment might be properly drawn
and include all needed changes, desired
that it go to the judiciary committee;
and there it was sent. Senator Jacobs
bill permitting cities operating under
special charters to create wards of not
less than 500 population (the same as
cities under the general charter now
cam, was debated. The present law
limits the ward population to 1000 in
such cities. Mr.. Frost opposed the
bill, claiming that some towns had as
many as 1,500 population, and yet here
was a plan to give one-third that pop
ulation as much representation on the
county board. The bill went. to a
third reading, the vote being Al to 35
Assembly bills were killed: Nos. 8
(Porter), appropriating to John Girl
more SAT for fish nets destroyed; 90
(Knlilea), reducing the tax sale inter-
est to 6 per cent; AZ (Ela), making
the pay Of jury commissioners So q
day, besides cents mileage (the rate
now being higher; 131 (Hartung), |
fees of witnesses for the |
state in civil cases to be paid out of
he state treasury; 15a (Wheeler), val |
dating proceedings taken in widening |
streets, etc.; 1856 (Becker), returning |
% the old method Of drawing juries: |
'27 Nange), authorizing the county |
Judge at Fond du Lac to employ pho
lographic reporter; 352 (Wheeler). |
making the penalty for trying to es-
ape from an officer Imprisonment for
lot more than one year or fine not
exceeding $500; 435 Iange), forbid
ling the sale of secondhand traction
angines under the pretense Of being
lew: 500 (Slade), permitting R. s.
Iouston of Kenosha to bring action
0 show how much he lost by having
lis stock killed by the state veterina-
ian. The house bill was passed CIV
ng the state fremen's association
l 400 for the next biennial period.
Madison. March 3.-Today the eighth
week of the legislative session ended
nd a recess taken till Monday even
ng. Though few bills have been
assed the work is well in hand and