Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1901-03-21

WISCONSIN LEGISLATURE.

EDITOR OF THE REPORTER: Mr..
Cady'S White and Black bill has
created quite sensation among the
cOlored men from different parts OF
the state, more especially Milwaukee.
They insist that mixed marriages are
usually happy and that the legislature
ought not to interfere with the divine
rights of people regardless Of color.
Mr.. Cady argues that these white
women are usually half-witted or
irresponsible or they would not marry
negroes. The moral effect of such a
marriage ''he says"-is especially bad.
Quite a delegation Of colored men
from Milwaukee, Oshkosh and other
colored centerS of the state are
e pected here to oppose the bill when
it comes up for hearing in the
judiciary committee room. Mr..
Cady is holding the bill back until
his measure providing fishways in the
Yellow river is disposed Of, which has
been advanced to a third reading.
Since the bill providing for voting
in Wisconsin other than by ballot has
passed the lower house and favorably
reported by the, senate committee to
which it was referred, voting machines
as are used by different states in the
union are on exhibition at'the capitol.
By the use Of the voting machine,
three inspectors is all that is required
to conduct an election. 1t does away
with the clerks, defective ballots and
makes the count much easier and
quicker, but it is no improvement to
the present system of voting with
regards to the uneducated voter; if
anything, more complicated in this
respect.
No. 195a. A bill to regulate the
practice of barbering within the state
of Wisconsin will likely fail. 1t came
from the comm ittee marked for death,
with one dissent.
The osteopathy bill was up for
hearing before the committee on
Public health and Sanitation on
Thursday of last week EX-GOv. Peck
of Milwaukee appeared before the
committee in defense of the bill and
made some very comic remarks. In
referring to the title of the bill
(ostcopathy) he would say: "That
name that [ can't pronounce" He
said that while he would never
employ one IAN oSteOpathiSt) he
believed in fair play, giving them an
equal chance with the other doctors.
However Mr.. Peck's argument was
convincing one, and we believe that
we are safe in saying, that it had it's
effect too.
The joint resolution empowering
the legislature to enact a general
banking law came from the committee
with a recommendation that it do pass,
and the same was advanced to third
reading.
At each Friday session an attempt
has been made to hold Saturday
session, but with no avail. At last
Fridays session more than one half
an hour was spent in discussing the
question whether to go home or stay.
Finally, on roll Call. a motion to
adjourn until Monday evening was
carried by a vote of A to 43.
The capitol building is draped in
mourning as mark of respect to the
former president of the United States,
Gen. Harrison, now deceased Several
of the legislators and state officers
attended the funeral which occurred
at Indianapolis last Sunday, March II.
Taken from statistics for COngre-
gational churches in Wisconsin.
Membership of the Madison church is
the largest of any in the state-eight
hundred and eleven. Cost Of main
tanning the church at Madison has
been 81, ,429 the past year. The sum
of $2,473 has been paid for outside
benevolent work, making the total
expense of the church S9,902. MUM
Der of churches in the state is two
hundred and fifty-four. Total
membership is 23,274. The Sunday
school membership of the Congrega-
tional churches in Wisconsin is 24,71S
besides the membership Of over one
hundred and twenty-five mission
schools. Your Respectfully.
HENRY FORBES.