Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1901-03-13
Legislative notes.
Railroads Send Brilliant Lawyers
to Talk Taxation.
PERSONAL PROPERTY Tue sEAG
They Want That Taxed Before Hail
road Increase Is Figured Out
Compromise the Talk on
Primary Election.


have at last perfected an organization
TO reflect the sentiment of their friends
throughout the state on the legislature
Every day sees many petitions and II
is estimated that COCO names have
been laid before the legislature thus
far and the avalanche is just started.
Every one understands that a peu-
ton does not count for much. The as
.embly clerk. for instance. reads; Mr.
Frost introduces petition signed by
Robert Roe and l61 others OF Portage
county favoring 9SA URINARY election
law.G" The 16l other names are neV-
er read and the bulky document goes
to MI. Steiger's committee which has
charge of 9SA and that is an end IT
the matter. Now this is not nue. -
ten personal letters from Portage col.l-
~ urging its assemblymen TO vote
this way or that would have more eff
feet; nevertheless, even such petitions,
il there are enough or them, remind
the lawmakers that at least somebody
Is interested and watching them.
There have been some remonstrances
against the bill and from now on no
doubt both parties will work hard at
the game.
Handwriting Has Influence.
Ii should be said that the handwrit-
ing of signatures is studied to some
extent: for instance. the petition that
Isaac Stephenson sent down from
Marinette. headed by his own name,
was commented upon as list OF
names of evidently Intelligent people.
A grist of bad hano writing. on the
other hand. would have less effect.
Ii is interesting to note that sixty
members of the assembly have intro
dueed no bills, while Mr.. Stevens OF
the Madison district, at the capital
and regarded as Governor LaFol
Iette's lieutenant, naturally .aads with
thirty-two introduced. Judge Norton
put in twenty-five and keene of Nil.
waukee came third. In all over $50
bills are introduced In the assembly.
Some new ones came in Friday from
a committee. embodying some OF the
labor commissioner Ideas.
No child under fourteen may work
in a Bowling alley. barrooIn or beer
garden (under 62tAl. Another bin
provides that doors Of public buildings
shall swing outward; dit is an interest.
ing fact that the main doors OF the
capitol do mott: 619A is IA bill that com
pels fire-escapes on hotels, tenemepts,
office buildings. etc. and win make
lots ofwork Il it becomes a law: while
GOA compeis factory arrangements,
builders, etc, to report accidents In
writing to the labor commissioners.
Wnu&an's Contribution to Senate.
A senator who promises to have an
influential hand In the compromising
of the Issue about primary elections is
A. l.. kreutzer of Wansau, the head
or the judiciary committee and one of
the most promising younger men OF
the state. Mr.. Kreutzer combines
number of strong qualities. He ia
clever and popular, and incidentally
the Apollo Of the upper body; but
with this goes an earnestness and
hrmness when under stress which
make him attractive to citizens His
position at the head OF the judiciary
committee, Notwithstanding the
crush OF able lawyers In the senate.
bespeaks his ability. He is good
talker, hss all the freshness ind dash
OF youth. tempered, however, with the
perception and judgm snt of maturity.
He Is regarded as a type-man of the
new empire lowering about and be-
yond Wausau and ii is altogether
likely he will figure In future political
combinations in the state. Indeed.
there was little ripple his way the
last time a governor vas chosen.
As to primary elections Senator
kreutzer looks 70 see a compromise
and occupying position between fac.
lions he Is already being consulted by
all concerned.
Pet Bills That May Bring Fame.
Inc cigarette bill is apparently
stalled In the senate Mr.. Overbeck
ala wonders TO get it through the az
esmbiy. 1t Is his hobby this year, as
mortgage taxation IL Frost's hobby and
railroads Halls, and franchises Len
roots. Not few members have some
one bill they work for. not devoid per
maps OF the laudable ambition to be
known In history as having achieved
something.
The temperance reform bills are be-
Ing kept in the back ground thus tar
A Dill to permit pool selling is about
DEAD. | see that Minnesota is gran
ping with a dispensary proposition.
making II optional with counties. Ours
Is a good legislature to work with on
reIorm lines. There are a good MANY
honest ruralists here who are omen To
Things OF that sort. while the suspf
clous characters-and there are al
ways few--seem to lack the ability
and influence of some of their prede.
cessors. One of the cries raised
against the cigarette bill was that II
might prove second Bennett law and
lead to revolution. This bogv man
Is always worked as last resort. and
there are other measures of which II
Is said this winter
Reform as "a Judicial Issue.
While we are speaking of reforms.
an amazing story comes from the
Green Bay section that Circuit Judge
hastings, who is candidate for a
third term a noble man and perhaps
the ablest of the circuit Judges of the
state Che declined a supreme court
judgeship under Upham; is being wor-
ried in his campaign because he Is a
son Of the famous Prohibitionist now
in his advanced old age. II would
make a stir IL such an outrageous plot
should succeed. 1t is characteristic OF
Senator Hogemeister. the big.hearted
brewer of that district. that he ex.
presses disapproval most vigorously OF
any such politics.
Better Pay for Oar judges
Speaking Of judges. the bin to ad
vance salaries OF Judges Is going for
ward-S6,o00 for the five supreme
court judges and $4,4OO for the circuit
court judges. There is some opposi.
non OF course. If it becomes law
sudge Dodge will be the only ore to
proht by it for some years. as his new
seftn heglnS soon SnInrin. ..,,.... 8.