Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1901-03-27
HOT TINES IN MADISON
Struggle in the Senate to Check
the Stevens Bill.
CORPORATE TAXES COME NEXT
MAY Result I'm a Deadlock That VIII
Exceed the Bitterness of Nom
II mating Reform.

cOuSln leElSiatuEt rs III Tie Unjust VI
its fight over the primary election bill
1t has passed the assembly by ma
jority of three votes. Feeling has run
high and loud voices of animated and
heated personal disputes have been
frequently heard in the capitol. There
are charges on both sides that votes
were being Influenced, though no
consideration" beyond an office for
the lawmaker, or a lawmakers rela-
tive, either il Wisconsin or in wash
ington, has been limited. OF course,
the influential friends of the leaders
on both sides are taking an active part
and pressure of all sorts is being
brought to bear.
Voting by Machinery.
There are two styles of voting ma
chimes exhibited in the capitol and a
miniature railroad track and device
for keeping trains from going lar
when they jump the track. Al old en-
gineer, A. A. Brooks, patanGed II twen-
ty years ago. There is an tuner wheel
arrangement that caTches The track.
One of the voting machines uses bal
lots and provides for a recount, and
It is thought could be used in this
state without invading the eonstltu-
ton. 1t would cost some $500, how
ever, to fit up each precinct.
We are all interested in Wisconsin
exhibit at the Buffalo exposition. We
are TO have a building there and q
grove of pine trees under which log
ging camp will do business. We are
all worried by the expected length OF
the session This whole business Of
making laws could probably be re-
formed In 1900 thirteen state legisla-
lures were in session with an output
of 5,772 laws. This year thirty leg
islatures are expected to make 10000
other laws.
The all-night session last week was
unprecedented so far as distinct rec
objection occurs. In 1895 there was a
call of the house (Which means that
every member must stay in the hall
and that absentees must at once pre-
sent themselves, no matter how long
the Journey 1t had to do with the
Waukesha-C Chicago pipe line bill. But
1t was no twelve-hour affair. And
by the way. there are only two men
in the present assembly who were in
the legislature Of 1S95--Ray and Hall;
(also Senator Arson and Lieutenant
tors In the senate of 1S95--McGilli-
vray, Stebbins and Stout. l have often
argued keeping members in the leg
islature Ii would be a good thing for
the state.
Promise of saturday Sessions.
There is a likelihood OF Saturday
sessions soon, which also means work
on Mondays; but at all events, evening
session are quite common now. So
many of the members can get home
readily for Sunday that the long-dis-
lance fellows to whom 1t is an expen-
sive luxury are out voted.
We have first veto from Governor
LaFollette- He disapproves bill that
exempts the Milwaukee Exposition
company from taxation. He says it
is unconstitutional. No doubt he has
excellent authority besides his own
opinion. The Attorney Generals office
is very busy place these days and
for all | know those especially en-
trusted with the soundness of laws
may get off-hand opinions from judges
when the former are at all in doubt
Speaking Worth Hearing.
While it Is not often that visitors
to the legislature are rewarded with
what may be called good speaking
In the sense of well sustained speech
and more rarely a debate-yet the con-
slant attendant enjoys something
good occasionally. Mr.. Keene of Mil
waukee is the pleasant satirist, with
out wounding however; Mr.. Cady of
MarshfieId drops words with the flu
sncy of Wood county brooklet, and
Collins of Portage tells stories Of
Celtic favor TO diversity the routine.
On the senate side are some finished
orators. Mr.. McGlllivray, who is al.
ways interesting and sometimes spir-
tied, is TO an extent confined by being
president pro TEN. His proposed
amendment to the constitution which
allows the legislature to spend money
for good roads comes up today. Be
tween cicyclists and the farmers bet
ter highways are an urgent demand
and this safeguard, which the fathers
erected, may be thrown down as un-
necessary. Tt was put up because the
body polite threw round money too
lavishly for railroads that promised
more than they delivered. There is
theory that the new plan OF eonsoli-
dating the schools OF a township into
one, to and from which the pupils are
conveyed at public expense, would
give q boom to the good roads move
ment. Apart from the McGillivray
amendment there are other bills that
look towards better roads.
Franchises and Osteo patty.
Talking of good speaking, Mr.. Owen
Of Racine. a young lawyer budded out
the other day In carefully prepared
speech for his bin to allow city coun-
ellis to alter franchises. At present
this is the exclusive preprogative OF
the legislature. Mr.. Owens Is very
sure that IL would be safe to trust the
and we are all agreed that
must be done TO cripple
this gift of valuable franchises by
But the assembly did not
think that the Owen plan was the
best way TO do 1t.
OF course the old school physicians
do not like the proposal of hs mug
put on leve' with them1
selves. They say that any one in a
few months can fit himself to do BUSH !
ness in osteopathy. One Of the ma
tional experts, now said TO he making
$50. 900 a year In New York, IVES a
few years ago a. travelling man. The
senate has passed the bill Governor
Peck spoke for the osteopathists. He.
said he would never employ one, but
be believed in fair play.
The anti-cigarette bill Is in great
peril in the senate. Its father, Henry
Overlook, one OF the leaders of the as.
sembly. 10 being pressed by friends as
mayor of Sturgeon Bay. An issue up
there is the waterworks and Mr.. Over
beck has telegraphed the citizens that