Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1903-02-26

ATTORNEY GENERAL STURDEvANT.
was a good deal of quiet talk about
the bill. Two years ago the legislature
in an economical mood Topped off a
number of sinecures, and this bill put
things back to about where they were
before. The assembly then attempted
to recall the bill from the governors
hands, but this requires joint vote
of both houses, and the senate baked,
preferring to leave the matter in the
governors hands, He vetoed the BILL
The Veto Sustained.
There was an effort in the assembly
to pass it over the veto, but this is
always difficult business. A spirit Of
courtesy restraints a member from over
riding the chief executive unless it is
crisis: and though one of the gov
ernOr's chief lieutenants, Cady of
Marshfeld, led the attempt, it failed,
by a vote of GA Ito sustain the gov
ernor) to "a for passage. 1t seems
there are already 95 empioyes-clerks,
helpers, etc--apd this bill proposed
81 more. 1t was an embarrassing in
cident. but most of the assemblymen
took the position of Mr.. Root, who in
troduced the bill by request, that they
did not understand it.
AS to Tax Reform.
1t is pretty clear that the ad valorem
system of taxing is in favor. 1t is
never safe to predict as to these first
rank measures, but with the gov
errors following devoted to it. and the
tax commission and a number of the
so-called opposition wing devoted tax
reformers. the license fee may make
way at this session to the system of
assessing and taxing railroad property
as other property is taxed. The attor-
ney general Mr.. Sturdevant. has given
a careful legal opinion that the sys-
tenn proposed by the tax commission
is sound
The Senate and Primary Election.
Of course, the biggest topic we have
is the primary election bill. 1t passed
the assembly easily. as everybody
knows, and is now in the senate. 1t
is in the committee on privileges and
elections, which tonight will examine
the bill clause by clause. A public
hearing will also be held Thursday
next. The friends of the bill are siren
uous now to get the measure to the
front and passed.
There is a difference of opinion as
to how the senate will treat this bill,
which at one fell swoop imposes the
full direct vote in making nominations
on the whole state, United States SEN
atOrs, the state ticket, congressman,
and all else down to villages and
towns, which are exempt, as are judi
cial officers and school superintend-
ents There is little question that
if senators felt free to vote their own
opinions such sweeping measure
could never get through that body.
Some of them don't believe in abolish
ing conventions; others are afraid such
a law will depress their own political
fortunes and elevate others. But, more
important, many of the close thinkers
hold it would be wiser. in a matter
of so much Importance, to feel ones
way; for the state to experiment in
the smaller areas, as cities and cOun-
ties (where citizens know each other
and can vote intelligently on the can
didates) than to expand the plan to
include, for instance, state officers
whom but few voters can know even
by repute. However, some wise OBJ
servers insist that this bill is going
through the senate and it is even said
the administration has a canvass of
that body which proves it. 1t is al
legged that the repeated platform dec
larations compel the passage of the
full BILL with no referendum as to
any part of it. Some say if the senate