Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1901-04-18
LEGISLATIVE NOTES.

"A ICoOluulOl OHCIcu ny DdNtu EVILS,
Jr., relative to woman suffrage was
killed in the asse m5ly by vote of 81
to 80, though it received a majority
vote on being ordered to third read
ing, MIR. EvinS made an extended
speech in favor of his resolution
paving the way to woman suffrage.
Mr.. Keene of Milwaukee asked Mr..
EvinS to explain the anti-suffrage
movement among women. EvinS' re-
ply was to question the eXiStance of
such clubs. The amusing part came
when the roll was being called. the
Sergeant-at-armS was ordered to bring
IN the tlmld, who sought to 'dOdge"
the vote. HereupOn a score of half
ashamed men on whom their female
constituents had brought pressure
came trOOping to their seats The
next morning however, a beautiful
bouquet was placed upon the desk of
sr. Evins; the doners being the ladies
in the lobby at the time Mr.. Evins
made his speech. The bouquet was
received with hearty applause by the
assembly.
The senate has concurred in the
Hall resolution for a constitutional
amendment authorizing the use of
voting machines in Wisconsin.
The Woodward marriage bill, which
as amended, required physicians
certificate of freedom from certain
diseases from all parties contemplate
ing marriage, before license is issued,
has been killed by the senate by a vote
of II to l6. There was no discussion
of the bill.
Mr.. Cady opposed 42a. which seeks
to reduce the exemption Of working
men from $50 to $40 a month. Mr..
Cady said the bill was in favor of
merchants, whose exemptions should
also be reduced. He knew a business
man who owed creditors Slargely-doing
his homestead which the law protects
for him; yet this man had the nerve
to sign petition to reduce exemption
cuSSed his bill in reply to Mr. Cady
Mr.. Dodge said his bill was to protect
merchants against dead beats, not
labOring men. The bill was re-referred
to committee on judiciary.
The Stevens primary election bill
was killed Thursday night by the
senate. In it's place substitute was
passed by the ''StalWart' majority,
which applies the primary system only
to the election of county officers, and
then only in case it is voted for by a
majority of the voters of the county.
The friends of the Stevens bill, with
one exception, voted solidly against
this fragment of primary bill. The
exception was Senator Mills, who
stated in explanation of his vote that
it was better to get something than
nothing. The two democratic
senators, Jacobs and Weed voted with
the minority, being against any
primary law. The voting was pre-
ceded by two and half hours more of
debate. Senator Whitehead who
closed for the opposition, gave his
reasons for opposing the Stevens bill
in earnest language: stating that John
G. Spooner and J. Y. Quarles grew up
under the caucus and convention
system, and that the people of the
state did not want a primary law.
Senator McGilliVray who had the clos
ing on the affirmative side was vigor-
Gus and made the chamber ring. He
said in reply to the gentleman that
preceded him, while it is true that
John G. SpOoner and J. V. Quarles
grew up with the present system, it
must be remembered that Richard
CrOcker and David Rose are products
Of the caucus and convention system
also. 1t was expected that the demo-
cratic minority in the legislature
would oppose any republican measure
that in their judgment would meet
the approval Of the people, SO nothing
was thought of it: but the main
argument against the measure on the
part of the republican opponants being
that the people did not want it, and
the substitute offered by Senator
Miller, practically the Stevens bill
with a clause attached providing for
its submission to vote of the people, |
being voted down by the opposition
showed conclusively that few repub-
lican politicians consider themselves
the people.
A MEMBER OF THE THIRD HOUSE.