The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1901-01-25
Primary Election Law of a Char
acter That Is Not Too
Sweeping.
HALL rs CLOSE TO LA TOILETTE
UphoIds Governor at All POints-Dunn
COuny Man Renews His Railroad
Commission Bill.

ter is before the Legislature and it will
probably be rushed. New members
are more amenable to leadership OH
the start of the session than they will
be later. While some of the best
men. even leaders, are skeptical as to
the principle. refusing to believe that
the political convention is wholly OBJ
jectionable, yet the disposition is to
pass some sort of law The Stevens
bill is not as radical as some sup
posed.
Tax Measures soon Coming.
The report of the tax commission is
generally approved. Some comment
has been made as to Governor La Fol
lettc'S recommendation in connection
with the commission, but Assembly,
man Halls confidence and assurance
that the executive is in hearty SYM
pathy with the plan of the commits
sion in securing tax legislation of a
reform character has clarified. the sit
uatiOn. The law erecting the COM
mission indicates that that body
should formulate bills to cryStaliZe
its recommendations and measures
are looked for from this quarter
working in cooperation with the adj
ministratiOn.
Mr.. Hart tells me he will put in his
veteran bill establishing the railroad
commission in this state Gas in Iowa.,
and he expects it to pass the assem-
bly, certainly. There is considerable
fault found with the freight rates in
different parts of the state. and not
long ago the Milwaukee business men
were organized TO get fairpr basis.
Farmers Neet Not Complain.
The state tax commission is not the
only reform body of the sort at work
In Eau Claire county q special body
appointed by the county judge has re-
viewed the equaliZa ton of 1899, the
city of Eau Claire being favored by
having It's valuation cut a million dol
lars. The other cities CT the county
were likewise favored, the valuation
of all towns but ONE being increased.
the total real and personal property Of
the county subject to taxation is fig
ured at nearly $9,00O,0OO. The result
emphasiZ yes the point often made that
when all the talk of bOndholders and
plutOcratS as tax dodgers is concluded
the farmers are getting on as comfort
ably in the matter of tax paying as
anybody.
Examination Precedes Marriage.
The bill to regulate marriage at
tracts a good deal of interest. w. T..
Woodward. the La Crosse attorney
who is drawing the bill, gets some
ideas from the Ohio statute. Rough
ly speaking, there will be three phys
lclans in each county as q board to
pass OH applications ..
Mr.. Woodward writes me:
Regarding the regulation of this
sacred relation, that something should
be done along this line is evident to
any one who has given any thought
to heredity. The stock breeder Sc
lects with great care the animals
which he will use: earth, earthly
1T is urged by some that the state
should not Interfere with the liberties
of its people in this matter. Surely
the state should protect itself The
results of marriage between parties
afflicted with certain hereditary or
loathsOme diseases sooner or later be-
come charges upon the state: so if any
OF these can be prohibited the state
is immediately the gamer.
Idiot Children on the Farm.
1t would seem that such legislation
should be enacted as to provide for &
board of medical examiners whose
dUty it shall be to pass upon all ap-
plicat tons for license to marry: and in
case anv of the following diseases be
found. license be refused: Dipso-
mania. true insanity, hereditary insan-
ity or insanity resulting from vice or
drugs: primary. secondary or tertiary
stages of specific diseases, hereditary
tuberculosis or consumption.
"Provision should he made for ap-
peal from the local board to the state
board of health.
''Such m act would. I believe. re-
suit in hrtt"r manhood and less mis-
cry and suffering.
"SOmethin@ should he done along
this line at once"
Senator Villas Fe ~"ncy.
Governor La Toilette must appoint
university regent soon, the term of
Senator Villas expiring The present
executive committee of three is made
up Of gold-DemOcratS and the law
school faculty contains a strong bias
of gentlemen of the same political
faith. although some Of them are prac-
tically Republicans This fact Is In the
minds of some Of the more aggressive
Republicans and it will be interesting
to see how Governor La Toilette re-
CARDS the status quo. Ex-senator vi
las services are regarded as very valu-
able to the big school.
Professor Henry, the head of the ag-
ricultural end of the university, is
brushing up acquaintance with the
members. but he will not have to work
so hard this year TO get what the uni
versity wants. A new building for
5his department.. to cost $15O.OOO. with
%$25,OO0 for equipment: $1,000 for a
commercial museum for the new col
lege of commerce and increase for far
mers' institute uses of $1,000 to- S16,-
fOOO are the requests for this year.
What People Ask.
Every daily session opens with petit
fions on familiar topics. The Winnie
bago county hoard, which has a way
sof asking things from the legislature
as n body. wants spring shooting of
game resumed. Every day there are
petitions from different sources asking
the same thing. Many hunters, how
ever, object saying the effect is to
sexterminate the game. The five-year
prohibition of quail-killing concludes
this year and has been a great sue
,cess; it will be extended if many Pc