Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1901-03-07
Madison March 3 1901


DEAR SIR:-NOteS from the Capital
city. The legislature is considerably
ahead of its predecessor in work
accomplished. Up-to-date nineteen
laws have been enacted and published.
six of which are in the hands of the
governor. February q, 1899. but two
laws had been enacted, and it was
March II before as many bills had
become laws as had, February p, 1901.
On Thursday of last week G.. E. Roe,
formerly Gov. LaFollette'S law part
ner appeared before the committee on
health and sanitation in the interests
of the cigarette. Mr.. Roe quoted
from the LOndOn-Lancet the result of
an investigation which declared there
was no more injury to health from the
cigarette than from tobacco in any
other form. Mr.. Roe spoke for about
an hour; he was followed by j. B.
Smith and Rev. COlestOck urging the
passage of the bill as safeguard for
the boys.
Among the many petitions presented
to the legislature in favor of the
primary election, was one from the
northern part Of the state signed by
25 Irish Democrats; so the petition
read
The last to speak on primary elect
ion bill were, II. Ii. Hayden of Eau
Claire in opposition and MIR.
bill. Mr.. Hayden told the committee,
that the bill was altogether bad,
fundamentally bad, and that its
purpose was to substitute minority
for majority rule. He drew picture
nf n of fI,
SignerS for his petition to become a
nominee and said that the bill
abandoned the time hOnOred American
doctrine that the office should seek
the man for the new doctrine that the
man should seek the office diligently.
The largest audience that has
gathered at any of the hearings
listened to the talk given by Mr..
Chynoweth. He said of the primary
election principle, that no principle
was more widely promulgated and
discussed before the last convention
of the party in the platform. and
spoke of the legislator as an agent of
private individual whose authority
and volition ends with his express
instructions.
Assemblyman f: A. Cady, at Thurs
days session won a Shrewd fight on
the Thomas bill which was to increase
the clerical force in the Dairy and
Food department. While Mr.. Cady
spoke in the highest terms of Dairy
and Food Commissioner Adams and
his assistants he opposed the bill on
the ground that he did not believe in
creating more state officers unless the
people demanded it and in this case
an increase was asked for by the
department and not by the people
Debate was waxing With the most
interest that has yet been shown in
the lower house during the present
session. Amendment, modification
and tiiibuStering veXed the assembly
and at this juncture Mr.. Cady offered
a sensational amendment. II was
that the enacting clause of the bill be
stricken out. This meant killing the
bill. AS last resort it's friends
sought TO save it by securing adjourn
ment, but this failed. This forced a
vote on Mr.. Cady'S amendment which
was carried, 81 to II.
\ bill that is being most carefully
watched by the employees is, 5SSa,
relating to milage fees for the senate
and assembly employees. We all know
where it is, in the judiciary commit
tee room, but what is bothering us is
to know whether it will ever come out
of there or not. We begin to feel that
it is making too long Il stay to ever
come out of there alive.
Geo. w. Brown of Pittsville spent
the greater part Of last week in the
Capital city. While here George
witnessed the fight on the Thomas
bill that is mentioned in another
place in this article.
Very Respectfully
HENRY FoRRES