Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1901-05-22
NOT ANXIOUS FOR WAR
Both LaFoIlette and Spooner Men
Adverse to Widening the
fractional Split.
WILL COURT UPSET ICE BILL
Each Exported Ton MUS Pay 10
Gents, if the New Law Stands
1t Is Now Gates County,"

III Is NOW 'Gates county,.
Madison, Wis, May 21.-Quiet has
set in following the legislative session.
Governor LaFollette speedily acted
upon all bills left in his hands. He
approved two bills whose fate was
questioned, one erecting the northern
half of big Chippewa county into the
new county of Gates, and another tax
ing ice exported from the state 10
cents 8. tor. That there were Gues-
tons of serious character involved
with both measures was shown by
lis attaching o statement with each
bill discussing the issues. Governor
LaFollette is himself a good eonsti-
tutional lawyer. and 1t is not unlikely
he reinforced his own opinion with
the opinions of the attorney generals
office.
This last, by the way, is a very
busy place In quiet way during the
session. Members have an idea what
they want to crystalline into law, and
not perhaps being able themselves to
write legal phraseology they natural
ly call on the states legal bureau to
help theTn out Mr.. Hicks, the Osh-
kosh attorney at the head of this Of
nee. is a genial, able man-and active
Methodist, by the way-who sprung
into state note by speech at the Mil
waukee meeting called to outline the
semi-centennial for 1898. He Is an
imprisoned talker. Mr.. Buell.. the
first assistant, is Il Madison lawyer of
high repute-a big, friendly man
whom the most untutored legislator
does not hesitate TO call on for coun-
sci. Among the others In this office
are Mr.. Hamilton and Mr. Ernest Y.
Warner, the latter Of Madison, and
both wei educated and clear headed.
Ice That Leaves the state.
Speaking of the Ice bill, Governor
LaFollette takes the position that the
exaction Is sale, rather than tax
that the state is entitled TO revenue
from Ice cut from meandering lakes
which is not private but public prop.
erty. This argument was advanced
by Mr. Lenroot on the floor of the as
sembly, though he and others pLo
voted for Mr.. Overbeck's bill were
gracious enough to smile at its orovi-
sions in private. OF course. it Is a
temptation to recruit the states reve-
nue. by Si50,O0O-the estimate given
In debate-especially as it is to be
squeezed from the lice trust" 1t is
a question, however, whether the Chi
cago concerns win not prefer to cut
their ice in Michigan, where there is
no 10-cent levy; it depends on wheth-
er the exaction is big enough to worry
the companies
1t is well, however, to have the
question settled by the legislature and
later by the courts, as no doubt 1t will
be. The bill was pushed at the pre-
vious session and would be again. Let
the supreme court decide whether, as
some have suggested. the proposition
Is as sensible as would be the taxing
of song birds flying over the Illinois
border or an assessment on breeZes
over the Mississippi
WIN War Rage I'm the PartyY
We are all curious to know IL the
| opponents Of Governor LaFollette will
press their fight against him; or.
whether. after deIiberation on the
consequences, it will seem best for
the party TO accept the administration
as an established fact and for even
those who chafe under 1t, to make the
best of It. The best thought at Madi-
son looks TO cessation of warfare,
The rank and file of citizens through
the state are not satisfied with the
work of the legislature, but | do not
understand that they hold Governor
LaFollette responsible for IT'S short
comsngs. Some of the senators and
here and there a local leader would
have personal satisfaction In seeing
the governor turned down; but il is
| not widespread feeling; indeed, |
take Ii, citizens over the state know
that Governor LaFollette is back of
| the tax commission, and have a senti-
ment that their Interests lie there. The
accession of Nils Haugen, the Norwe-
| gian lawyer of River Falls. and long
a political co~worker with the govern
or. has quickened his interest In the
work OF this commission and the state
viii see the governor lay more and
more stress on the necessity OF carry
| ing out the policy outlined by this
| body. This of course, puts the gov
ernor on strong ground with the peo-
Pile who know that the commission
| proposes greatly increased corporation
taxes.
| The Re Election OF spooner.
| In addition to this. the active friends
of Senator Spooner are understood to
| be adverse to these early attempts to
! irritate the LaFollette men, for the
obvious reason that they want nor.
NAL legislature peaceably elected. the
outcome Of which. of course, win be
| the unanimous return of Senator
! Spooner to begin his third term.
While the opposition TO primary cleo
tons has been justly laid 10 federal
ofiiceholders largely. and 1t is posi-.
BILE that Senator Spooner shared the
notion that somehow legislators chos-
en- on such a plan might be picked"
to support some one else yet to those
| who know Senator Spooner 1t is alb
surd as imagining that busy man sit
ting up nights to defeat the Stevens
bill. The fact Is. Senator Spooner
does not get into these scrambles, for
they do not interest him. His friend.
Judge Keyes, is credited with saying
that Senator Spooner is "the poorest
politician In Wisconsin," and IL Is
Spooners glory. He Is statesman.
not only In dealing with the largest
questions, but In a neglect, If not con-
tempt, foc the setting-up-pins bust