The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-05-11

FOR A LIVELY WEEK
Program Mapped Out for It in Wis
consin Where Railroad Rates
Are Troubling.
No Prospect Of Adjournment This
Week in View Of Governors
Latest Message.
special TO Tho journal.

Special to Tho journal.
Madison. Wis. May 1.-THE legislature
did a good deal Of work last week, but this
week promises to be one Of the liveliest
Of the session. The interest this week
will center on the new bill introduced
thru the assembly railroad committee, in
conformity with the last special message
from Governor La Toilette, prohibiting
railway companies from advancing freight
rates, step which the administration
men at least expect if railway taxes are
increased. The bill is to be taken UP in
the assembly tomorrow morning. The
first effort will probably be to have 1t re-
ferred to a committe for the purpose of
giving the railroad people a hearing. "A
move to do this was made by Mr.. Hartung
when the bill was introduced, already
bearing the approval OF the committee,
but Mr.. Gilman, chairman Of the reilaroad
committee, and Mr.. Andrew, one of the
administration leaders opposed it, saying
1t had been fully considered by the COM
mittee. that the proposition is simple
one, on which no hearing or extended ar
gument Is necessary
There are many members who voted
against the railway commission bill who
favor this measure; and then again, the
members as well as the public are get
ting weary OF the protracted struggle over
railway legislation, and want the matter
disposed of as soon as possible. 1t is
believed the bill will 90 thru the assembly
early this week. Its course. in the SEN
ate will not be so easy.
May BE No Increase.
But it is not yet certain that the rail-
way taxes are to be increased. The SEN
ate and assembly are as far apart as ever
on this question of taxing railroad bonds.
and there is no Indication as yet of an
agreement by the conference committee.
A brief session was held after the adj
journment of the legislature Saturday, at
which the assembly members submitted
their proposition in writing. The only
proposition was that the senate recede
from it's amendment exempting railroad
bonds from taxation, pointing out, as a
reason therefor the danger that such an
exemption might invalidate the entire
bill, as being class legislation in favor of
the railroads, since under the present law
bonds Of every other description are tax
able and the assembly has refused to con-
cur in a bill abolishing the taxation of
credits.
The conference committee will hold an
other meeting this afternoon, at which
Chairman Whitehead has promised to sub
NIT the reply of the senate conferees. If
the senate conferees have any idea of re-
ceding their talk is very misleading, and,
present indications are that, there being
no middle ground on which a compromise
the ad valorem bill will follow the primary
election and railway commission bills to
their graves, SO far as the present session
Is concerned.
Suffrage Coming Up Again.
The woman suffrage bill will come UP
again In the assembly this evening, and
there Is some probability that this, too,
may be put up to the senate - which has
already defeated q similar bill, by only
three majority. It was once defeated in
the assembly by a majority of one, and
this vote reconsidered by the same ma
| jority, and the bill put over till this even
| ing. David Evans, Jr., author Of the bill,
will make an extended argument in It's
support.
| No Adjournment This Week.
The date for final adjournment is "ur
In the air" since Governor La Follette's
last message and the bill to prohibit an
/ increase in freight rates. No more talk
| is heard Of getting thru this week, but un-
| less there is much delay on this measure II
| is still believed final adjournment can be
reached by Saturday, May %.