Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1903-02-26
PRIMARY BILL
To PASS SENATE
so SAY ITS FRIENDS ON MOVE
BY WHITEHEAD.
HE PLEADS FOR A DELAY
Soicits Votes Of Administration Mem
bers on Grounds of Courtesy and
Precedence of Tax Measures-De>
c!ared to Be Confession of UIt-
mate Defeat for Opponents.
Madison, Feb. "A.

Madison, FEB. "A.
The primary election bill will pass
the senate substantially as it was
messaged over from the assembly.
This is the Interpretation given by
friends of the measure to the actions
of Senator Whitehead, the leading OPP
ponent of the administration, in NOV
ing among the members Of the upper
house last night after adjournment.
The stalwart leader was soliciting
votes to delay the final vote on the
primary election bill, asking the
votes of friends Of the measure, as a
personal favor to him, on grounds OF
senatorial courtesy" The admins
tration men say it is evidence from
this conduct on the part of Senator
Whitehead that he confesses he has
not enough votes at his command to
defeat or modify the bill so as to I'M
do the administration.
The program of Senator Whitehead,
as he told it to administration senators
last night when soliciting their
courtesy vote, is to delay the con-
sheraton Of the primary election bill
until not less than 10 days after the
committee makes its report. This
would mean, at the earliest, not soon
er than the second week in March.
The committee has an executive hear
ing on the bill tonight and a public
hearing is set for Thursday night.
Should the committee report immedi-
ately after the public hearing, that is,
next Friday morning, the 10 days ask
ed by Senator Whitehead would bring
consideration in the senate to the sec
ond week in March. Senator White
head says he has secured enough
votes to insure the passage of the mo-
tion to delay.
Among the reasons given by Senator
Whitehead for the delay he asks that
the tax bills, having originated in the
senate, he says, should be given con
sideration prior to that Of a bill sent
over from the assembly. Adminstra.
ton members remark in this connec
ton that the tax bills in fact did not
in the senate, but were re-
ported simultaneously in both houses,
having originated in the state
tax commission. Last night Senator
Whitehead in soliciting votes from re-
publican senators exhibited a list Of
counties which he said desired to be
heard on the primary election bill be-
fore it is voted upon by the senate
The list consisted of Racine, Rock.
Kenosha, Walworth, Green Lake,
Fond du Lac and Dodge counties.
When Senator Whitehead was before
the senate committee on privileges
and elections last week he said in
reference to the public hearing that
all the counties of the state should be
given opportunity to appear at one
hearing, showing them telegram
from Racine. Thus the public hear
ing for Thursday night was decided
upon.
A comment which administration
members make upon the action OF
Senator Whitehead is that they cannot
believe he is fully sincere in his re-
quest that the tax bills be given pre-
cedence over the assembly primary
election bill for the reason that the
10 days allowed in his program will
not be sufficient for the reception Of
briefs from the railroad companies.
These briefs were to have been pre-