Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1901-03-07
Madison Matters

thing of school oratory and several
OF the members of that house have dis
played no little ability on the floor.
1t seems to me that few of them like
to talk even when but little to say still
some Of them are putting their power
OF speech to good use in the advance
ment of the measures they favo +.
During the week there have been two
well fought battles in which arrgum ent
u pritty good knowledge of parliamen
tary practice have gained the victories
they sought.
One of these contests was over bill
introd uced by Mr.Lenroot of Superior
which provides no franchise giving any
company or corporation right to the
use of any public property shall be oper
alive until after 60 days from the time
| the city council grants the franchise
and that in the meantime on petition
of 10 percent of the voters anelection
shall be called and the people be given
chance to decide whether o not the
franchise shall be granted
This is an important bill for it takes
a good bit of power out of the hands of
the city council and makes the members
hardly worth buying by big corporation
There was stubborn opposition to it's
passage, but it was, after a long strug-
gle, ordered engrossed and read a
third time, only one member vofing
against it. This means that it will be
passed by the Assembly early this week
But an assembly man who was after
ward talking SO much about this
matter, said that he felt sure the sem
ate will kill the bill. He thinks the
Senate is, as a body, in too close touch
with the corporations. This assembly
man, candid, quiet man-not given to
much talk-said the senate is the place
where the corporations always get in
their work. Knowing had felt much
interest in the passage of the Cigarette
bill he said. your cigarette bill will be
killed in the Senate. The big tobacco
companies, with their we'll paid attor-
neys, will count for more in the
opionion Of your smoke commit
tee having that bill under consid-
alton than all the other Influences
that can be brought to bear upon
it. =
l suspect that this gentleman
was feeling a little put out be-
cause of the GOODNESS with which
the senate everywhere acts as ex-
ecutioner of bills that seem plain
ly to be in the interest of the peo-
pie, and | must say that ] cannot
well help sympathizing with him
in the matter. Ihave indeed felt
a str ne interest in tie bill that
has for it's object the saving of our
boys from the baneful influence of
the cigarette, and | wish it might
become law. The committee on
public health and sanitation have
listened to long arguments on the
subject, the last that Of a lawyer
suit from New York to represent
the Anne rican Tobacco Co. He i!
scenes to have turned the tide
against the bill. Teacherss,
preachers, mothers and lawyers
have united tn the strongest argu
ments for the bill. Mothers have
plead before the committee in fav-
or Of the law. But it is now sup
posed that it will be reported for
Indefinite postponement. Yet it.
passed the assembly early in the
Session almost unanimously.
During the lrst day or two |
lave hearp two or three men
'peak blsparagingly OF the meth
IDS brought to bear upon legis
ators to get their influence One
an hardly believe some Of the
tories told by. old timers here in
he Capitol Of the various tricks
# the trade. It all comes from /
he greed Of men especially cor
of men, and the rush in
business for the almighty dollar.
A man who has been in the Cap
tol for fen or twelve years tells
ne, though, that corrupt lobby s