The Minneapolis journal., 1901-04-13
Bill MAY GO OYER
Primary Election May Be Left to a
Special Session.
SENATE AND ASSEMBLY APART
Latter VIII Not Take to Hagemeis-
ter's Substitute-Other Phases
of Legislation.


N1dulSoH, WIS, April 1o.-Ine primary
election contest will next week be trans
ferred back from the senate to the as
sembly, with the question on concurrence
In the Hagemeister substitute applying
the primary system only to the election Of
county officers, and then only when the
county adopts the system by a vote of
the people 1t Is not expected by any
one that the assembly will concur in this
amendment. To accomplish this the oppo-
sition to the Stevens substitute will have
to gain 20 votes, as the IL democrats who
voted with them against Ethe Stevens bill
will vote against any primary election
bill that may be offered. 1t is probable
that instead of this the assembly will tack
on an amendment to the Hagemeister bill
extending its application to members Of
the legislature, which will make 1t the
same bill introduced by Chairman Hatton
In the senate, and there defeated. There
Is little doubt that the stalwarts of the
senate can hold votes enough to defeat
1t again. A conference committee made
up of members of the two houses would be
the next step, and the primary bill is not
likely TO be finally disposed OF much be-
fore the end of the session with the pos
sibility that along with congressional ap-
port1onments. another vexatious problem,
II may go over to a special session. The
Dill Will be "messaged' over to the as
sembly Monday evening and will proba-
bly, be sent to the committee on priyi-
legeS and elections.
The osteopathy bill was the cause of a
tnree-hour wrangle in the assembly Fri
day, and the only result reached was to
Kill the amendment which provided
separate board Of examiners for the osteo-
pathlsts. The majority against this was
about 40 to 80, but few at least of those
VINO voted against the amendment will
vote for the bill. 1t was finally laid over
TO next Wednesday, when it will be
special order and will be fought out to a
finish. The final vote will be close. with
the chances, it is believed, slightly in
Tavor OF its passage. One of the hardest
fights Of the session has been over this
bill.
increased railway taxation will be the
next new bone of contention on the floor
Oh tne assembly. The committee on as
sessment and collection of taxes took a
vote Wednesday on the bill increasing the
rate Tor the big roads from to 51b per
cent, and the result was five to four
against it. 1t was agreed, however, not
to report the bill until another vote is
taken, and rumor has it that there will
be change then. Whatever the commit
tee report is, there will be a lively con-
test over it on the floor, with the
chances in favor of at least some increase
in railway taxation.
The bill providing for biennial elections
In cities has finally come from the as
sembly committee with a favorable report
and is On the calendar for passage 1t is
a far different bill from the original, how
ever. The present measure merely pro-
vldes that cities may by majority vote of
the electors decide on two-year terms for
mayor and aldermen. AS it is already
feasible for cities to accomplish this by
adopting provisions of the general char
ter act, the step gained is a very short
one. One Of the objects of the bill was
TO have the terms in all cities begin at
the same time. The law could not be put
IN operation before 1902, and to accom-
pllsh this the original bill provided that
IN clties now electing biennially, the cleo
tlon this spring should be only for a single
year. 1t was this feature which brought
out strong objections from some of the
biennial cities and defeated it,
The voting machine question is not vet
disposed OF. The Hall resolution for a
constitutional amendment legalizing their
use was once defeated in the senate by
majority. Then this vote was reconsid-
ereo and the resolution passed 81 to 70
Inen this vote, also was reconsidered
and the matter laid over until next week.
SeVeral opponents OF the resolution say
the courts have decided that a voting
machine is ballot within the meaning
OF the law, and that it's use is legal
without amending the constitution. They
claim that the real object accomplished
Dy the passage of the resolution would
De TO give the manufacturers of the ma
cnine lot of free advertising. and this
view IS gaining converts. The chances now
are that the amendment will finally he
killed. ~
Tne bill providing for Wisconsin's rem
resentatlon at the St. Louis Exposition is
awaiting the action of the claims com
nlttee. nan 1t carries an appropriation of s25.-
OOO' and while the amount is not large
Ine committee wants to see the money
Wlthln reach before it recommends the
appropriation 1t is probable. however
tnat the bill will be passed.
The apportionment of the state into
senatorial districts will be taken I'D next
week and promises to give more trouble
IMAM was anticipated. Sheboygan county.
winch was reduced from three to two as
semblymen, aims to be recompensad hv
belng made one senatorial district bnt
the committee does not see how this can
easily be done. There are other conflict
Ing interests which may cause trouble
ana the committee will have a few busy
nOurS before if aprooc On - coon-4