Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-05-04

ioS was III.
The assembly reconsidered the vote
by which it had refused a third read
ing 10 Mr.. Vandercook's bill, 402a,
providing for the travelling expenses
of state officers in the performance of
their duties and sent the measure to
third reading. The bill 341s. increas-
ing the appropriation for the historical
library building 5000, 00O-from $50. 900
to 100000 year for five years, was
concurred in, y to s. Another bill
concurred in was No. 219s, providing
for the care at the Wisconsin veterans
home of veterans who enlisted in Wis
consin, but have become residents of
other states.
The feature of the afternoon session
Of the assembly was the announcement
by Mr.. Hall of his withdrawal from
public life at the close of his present
term OF office. He said that hereafter
ne Will never again be a candidate for
any political office atsoever. In
the abolition of the pass, he said. he
had accomplished what he had lobored
diligently for during the entire time
he has been in the legislatures years.
Mr.. Hall MADE his statement in the
course of discussion on the Germer
Dill to compel railroads to give the
| secretary of state $50 passes annually
for state officers and employees. The
bill was killed, 45 to 81. The Hum
phrey 2-cent railroad fare bill was
killed by vote of so to II. Mr..
Humphrey made an impassioned
speech in favor of his measure. Mr..
Hall opposed it on the ground that
| there is little or no profit at present
in the passenger business in the state
ana that the rate in Wisconsin is as
| low as in any of the surrounding
states. He thought however, that the
freight rates were excessive. The Sa-
rau bill to compel railroads to carry
| bicycles free as baggage was killed
! Concurrence was voted in the seuat
amendments to bill No. 209a, autho,
izing the governor to annually expet
$4,000 extra in the various state de
partments. Other bills passed were:
541a, appropriating $25 900 for a Wis
2onsin exhibit at the pan-American
exposition in Buffalo; 19a (HalD, pro-
vldlng for tax on inheritances; and
543a (Mosher), appropriating 5000 an
nually for the purchase of books for
the attorney generals office. At the
evening session one Of the first things
done was the adoption under suspen-
sion OF the rules of the Hoehle memo
rial to congress for a national park
at the breakwater in the Superior
Duluth harbor. The general fish and
game bill, after receivirg minor
amendments, was passed. Ole of the
amendments was to prevent winter
fishing in DEVILS lake; another pre-
vents hotels from serving whitefish
and lake trout during the closed sea-
son. No. 524a, to include ice cut and
shipped among personal property sub
Ject to taxation, was also passed.
Madison, April 2S.-The Wisconsin
legislature has practically concluded
its work for this session though II
will meet again next week to clear uI
the odds and ends and await the &C.
ton of the governor on measures OF
importance. Besides numerous bills
Of more than local Importance to re-
ceive action during the week a hall
dozen big measures that have taxed
the badger statesmen almost since the
opening of the session were disposed
Of. They were the anti-pass bill
True marriage license bill, the Ortor
life insurance tax bill, the measure
carrying a million and quarter ap-
preparation to the state institutions
and the Orion railroad taxation bill
Of these all but the last went through
Today message from Gov. Scofield
was received in both houses calling at
tention to the large appropriations
made by the legislature and the need
Of making adequate preparations to
meet the demands. The claims COM
mittee later reported that the appro.
priations were within bounds and
could be readily met. The committee
reported that it had considered 100
bills, carrying s3,O51, 621.71 1t had
reported favorably bills carrying the
sum Of s2,366, 592.05. The legislature
had raised the sum in certain in
stances, as of public buildings, until
the increase aggregated 100000. A
discussion was had on the Roehr reso>
luton to require the board Of contr'
to purchase all building materials an
supplies for the state institutions ii
Wisconsin. Senator McGfllivray ex-
planned that the state affairs con-
mittee had reported it for postpon.
ment lest it's passage should Leaf
farmers and others to raise their prices
| Senator McGillivray thought the
| Board of control should not be in
| terfered with and that it had recently
made purchase of flour at La Crosse
| at cents barrel more than it could
get it for outside of the state. The
resolution was killed The Withne
bill taxing daily newspapers on gross
receipts was killed by being laid over
for two weeks. The Orion life in
surance taxation bill was taken up as
special order and, after a long debate
concurred in. The first thing done
at the afternoon session of the senate
was the announcement of the appoint
ment by Gov. Scofield of Michael
Griffin Of Eau Claire as tax commits
sioner under the new law and that of
George Curtis, Jr, of Merrill, as
first assistant. The appointments
were confirmed. uriffin's salary will
be $4,000 and Curtis $4,000 The ap-
pointments are for 10 years. Sena-
tor bennett opposed the Riordan bill
relating to the standard fire insurance
panfes to come into the courts and |