Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1901-03-14

circuit was referred to the committee |
on judiciary Mr. Keene, suggested a
plan for the disposition of this bill |
and all kindred measures that it |
seems may be made He said that no |
new judicial circuits were needed. but |
what the conditions really demanded |
was a redistricting of the state, am
he favored the appointment Of COM
mission to do this work. He explained
that while some circuit courts were
overworked and never completed their
calendars, in other cicuits the judges
were not earning one-half of their
salaries.
Madison, March 6.-Senator Eaton
mittee on public health and santa
ton, made his first speech of the
session in defense of his committees
report against concurrence in the
anti-cigarette bill, which was on the
calendar for action. Senator O'Nell
moved that the bill be referred to the
judiciary committee saying that con-
stitutional question was involved and
Senator Eaton made long speech IN
opposition. Senator Kruetzer, chair
man Of the judiciary committee, said
he could not understand why such
strenuous opposition was made to the
preference to the bill. His COM
mittee was not anxious for more
work, but if referred the bill would be
considered fairly and treated honest
ly Senator Weed opposed rerefer-
ence. The consititutionality of the
bill, he said, cuts no figure. The bill
was a vicious one and the sooner the
senate killed it the better. Senator
Miller made a somewhat imprisoned
argument against preference. Sena-
tor Jones was surprised at the sensi-
| tiveness of the Miller committee.
| Why this haste to kill the bill, which
! had passed the assembly. All that
was asked was preference. Senator
| O'Neil was glad he had disclosed the
enemies of the bill, for which, he said,
there is a strong sentiment all over
| the state. The main argument heard
! heretofore was that it was uncon-
stitutional; now we are told it is
wrong in principle. Referring to Sen
| ator Miller's talk he asked whether it
was the influence of the great Ameri-
can Tobacco company or of the Wo-
mans Christian Temperance union
that he was afraid of. This ended the
discussion. The vote on preference
was tie on division, Is to Is. Sen
ator Munson called for the ayes and
noes, and the bill was sent to the
judiciary committee by a majority OF
one, Is to Is.
In the assembly the Halls joint
resolution permitting the use OF
voting machines passed with only
these in the negative: Cady, E. w
Evans, Fesenfeld, Kern, Silkworth
and Spratt. Mr.. Dahls bill, allowing
person to change a name by regis
tration and paying fee met with op
position. The author said the eXis
tence of persons with the same name
caused confusion especially in Nor
wegian communities The bill finally
went to the judiciary committee,
sessment of lands and the houses
thereon and permitting deformed chill
dren to be admitted to the Sparta
state school.
Madison, March SENATOR Stout's
joint resolution agreeing to the con
stitutional amendment changing the
time of election and term of the state
superintendent of public instruction
was adopted by the senate. The
amendment passed the last legislature,
and after it passes this will go to the
people for ratification. A senate bill
was passed to prevent the Dissertation
of the United States flag by placing
advertisements upon it.
In the assembly Mr.. Krumrey car
/ ried to a third reading his bill which
provides that the state shall pay it's
40 per cent. to county agricultural
societies only on premiums actually
paid in cash. He said the state is
being robbed of many thousands of
dollars through fair premiums, as
scholarships, suits of clothes, ETC., be-
| ing rated as cash above their value. A
Dill was introduced appropriating
! $4,000 for repairs to the capitol Mr.
| DAM sought to save his joint resolu-
! ton, which changes the constitution
so that sheriffs may be reelected but
| 1T went down to death. Other meas
ures killed were preventing location
OF barns near residences and forbid
ding one Individual to hold more
| than one liquor license Mr. Erick-
sons bill to erect the town of La Fol
lette in Burnett county was passed.
Another bill passed was one permit
ting murder trials to be had in the
Dane county municipal court. The
state affairs" committee reported IA
forably the Portage levee repair bill.
The amount (S2O,O00) asked for is
granted, but the commission of three
is to be made up of citizens, not neces-
sariIy engineers; they may employ an
engineer, though practically the com.
mlttee think it not necessary as the
work is laid out. The bill starts the
work at once, the commissioners to
receive no pay except actual expenses
Madison, March SIN the senate
resolution for a constitutional amend
ment authorizing state and aid for
good roads was re-referred to the