The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1901-05-09

field, Sawyer, Washburn, Price and
Taylor. Barron county is placed in
the twenty ninth district with Dunn,
Pepin and Buffalo ounties, now
represented by Senator Stout, while
Iron county will be in the thirtieth
The university appropriation bill
has passed both houses of the legis-
lature and as soon as it is signed by
the Governor will become a law.
The bill includes one item of $3.50, 900
for the construction of an agricul-
tural building, and when erected
and equipped, Wisconsin's College
of Agriculture will be second to
none in the country.
! All railway taxation measures
have been killed. A compromise bill
was submitted in the lower house
last week, but it's fate was the same
as that of the original bill. It was
killed by very narrow margin.
Governor La Toilette took occasion
to score the legislature for it's action
upon these measures, in his veto
message upon the dog tax bill, pass
ed by both houses some weeks ago.
He scored the Legislators for allow
ing the corporations to go untouch-
ed, yet saddling tax upon the
farmers and poor people of the state
in the form of a dog license. The
veto has not yet been acted upon
but it is believed the Governor will
be sustained.
Senator O'Neil's joint resolution
declaring for constitutional amend
ment and providing for the raising
of the salaries of the legislators from
$500 to $1,000 has passed the Senate.
1t now goes to the Assembly. It
will probably be sent to the people,
If the constitution is amended it
will be six years before it can affect
legislators.
The Senate has passed bill for
the establishment of an electric light
plant and the substitution of this
mode of lighting, for the gas now
used in the capitol building. The
bill leaves the matter with the Gov
ernor. 1t calls for an appropriation
of $35, 900 and more if necessary.
Quite stir was created when Sena-
tor Bissell sought to fix an amend
ment to the bill limiting the amount
to be expended for the erection Of
the plant to the sum named in the
bill. Senator Mills, the author of
the bill objected. to such an amend
ment and several of the other Sena-
tors spoke against it. Senator
O'Neil stated that if the change cost
twice the amount provided for in
the bill the time had come when the
''musty old gas should be done away
with and the state capitol lighted
with electricity, the method employ
ed by all other state institutions ,"
The bill passed the Senate with but
three dissenting votes.
During any session of the legisla-
ture disposition for real work on
the part of the members is never
shown until the closing days The
early weeks witness so much needless
discussion and wrangling that the
element of time is entirely lost sight
of. In the lower house particularly,
members talk and talk, firing all
but themselves There are those in
both houses who are scarcely ever
heard upon the floor: these are the
silent members and | dare say on
the whole accomplish more than
those who are ever ready to debate
upon the floor.
Then there is another side to legis-
lative life; the amusing occurrences.
Scarcely a day passes but what some
horse play enters into the proceed
ings. Sometimes mock sessions of
this kind bring forth things in the
way of motions or resolutions that
are funny in the extreme. To illus
trate: A few days ago while the rail
way taxation measures were being
discussed, Mr.. Sturdevant, speaking
in favor of the measure closed his,
discussion with this warming: 'sThose
who vote against this bill will find
political fires burning about their.
homes, when the legislature adjourn
es. " AS a means of precaution one
of the members on the following
morning introduced this resolution.
Resolved by the Assembly the
Senate concurring, that the super
intendert of public property be and
hereby is instructed to forthwith
furnish to each member of the legis-
lature one green band fire extinguish-
err to protect their homes from the
fires prophesied by the oracle from
Clark cOunty.'