The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1901-03-27

out the representative system, and
not warranted by conditions. He
ventured that in the city of Milwau-
kee with IS, 600 votes, the measure
would not receive 1000. An agree
ment had been reached by Doth sides
that the discussion should occupy
two hours and when the time was
up Speaker Ray put the ques ton:
the ayes and hayes were called for;
excitement was DIT it's height. The
result was announced: The bill
passed the the assembly by only a
margin of three votes, 81 to 49, At
l2:l5 o'clock the assembly adjourned
until $50 Monday evening.
When the senate convenes Mon
day evening, in it's message from
the assembly will be found bill No.
98a, the primary election measure,
asking concurrence. 1t will be re-
ferred to the Senate committee on
Privileges and Elections and if al
lowed to take the regular course,
will come up for consideration in
that body the latter part of this
week. II has been reported that
the Senate committee is preparing
another substitute for the bill,
which is to amply only to the county
and legislative elections. I have
not been able to verify this report.
Others assert thai the exact mea-
sure as passed upon by the assembly,,
will be submitted by Senator Hat
tons committee and it will be
fought out upon the floor. I am
frank to say, that | do not believe
the assembly measure will pass the
Senate, as a majority of Senators
have already expressed themselves
as against it. While a number of
the members no doubt, who are op-
posing the assembly measure, favor
some sort of law which shall go
toward the redeeming of the repub-
lican party pledge, they believe that
the passing of any law narrower in
shape to the one passed oy the low
er, house would only result in veto
by the governor. As to this | cam
not say. The governor and Mr..
Stevens still have hopes. If the
bill is defeated Governor LaFollette
feels he has performed bis duty, the
responsibility must rest upon the
legislature, and two years hence if
the people of the state believes as he
believes, they can vindicate them
selves by sending to Madison a
legislature that will enact such a
law.
In the treatment of legislative pro-
ceeedings and particularly those
pertaining to the primary election
measure, it is to be regretted that
the great dales of the state, should
have assumed an attitude so hos tile
to the administration. This feeling
is shared alike, not only by the
friends of the great measure, but to
those who from the beginning have
Deed opposed to it. While the
governor and the friends of the bill
have no doubt been Jealous in their
efforts in urging the measure; they
have at all times exercises spirit of
fairness, the charges of crush and
gag tao les, to the contrary not
withstanding. | am supported in this
statement by Mr.. Karel the demo
cratic member of the assembly com
mittee on privileges and elections
and by Mr.. Williams the leading
republican opponent of the bill in
the house. The reports promulgat-
ed through the columns of these
papers are manifestly unfair.
Senator O'Neil's bill providing for
the appoin tment of at least one
woman on the Board of Normal
School regents has passed the SEN
ate.
Two railway measures, one in
,troduced bv Mr.. Hall creating rail
way commission, the other by Mr..
Silk worth of Eau Claire, providing
for two cent fare, will this week
be reported for indefinite postpon-
ment by the assembly committe on
Railroads. Mr.. Hall argued his bill
before the committee, and will carry
his fight to the floor Of the house.
Reports on taxation measures are
ILL.,,