Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1903-03-12

INSURANCE CORNERSTONE HOST.
vocate Of diligence and Is securing
some Saturday sessions. BY the way,
there has been some pleasant talk Of
this gentleman for goyernor--a post
with which lie for years has been as
ISOLATED in the public mind. 1t is re-
marked that the administration Is very
courteous to The gentleman from Eau
Claire county" but, no doubt, he Is
wise enough TO base himself on the
support of all the people.
Primary Election BIil Later.
The effort to get the primary elec-
ton bill to he front mt once In the
senate failed ana 1t lies fallow until
March 20. There has been much said
MS TO the obligations of members TO
enact the biz Just MS 1t Is, without
any exercise Of discretion or amend
mcnt, on the theory that the state plat
form says so. 1t is n mootcd qucs-
ton, how far Il member snrrenders his
power and duty to lcgislate, In view OF
binding pledges We all know that as
party platform broke down because It
did not fairly voice the will of the
people behind It. Senator Rogers of
Milwaukee, expressed In good spirit
the reasoning of the members who in
sisted the measure should be thought
fully considered and by Il vote of %
to 4, the delay was ordered. 1t cannot
be regarded as II victory" Cor either
side except to show That the senate,
unlike the assembly, Is more disposed
to be Independent than the assembly,
which passed the measure off hand.
AS there Is much curiosity as TO the
factlonnl lines In the senate, the test
vote was really on the amendment to
limit the delay TO March 18th dnstead
OF March. 2Gl,, The vote was II to II
with two pairs" Senator Rogers
was right when he said that when the
time came he proposed to live up to his
pledges, made before election time. III
favor of primary bill. 1t Is his i'm
preston that hill viii pass the senate
ultimately that the governor will sign
INK question 70 the front.
The passage by the assembly of the
nd valorem htli-assessing and taxing
railroad property ms other property
is taNed-is, of course, most important.
1t Is In the senate that any hitch must
come In this matter, II at all. The
authority of the tax commission Is he.
hind this bill. IL Is Il giant change
but well mnturcd The governor. of
course, Is for II though some little fric.
ton has been generated over the ques.
ton of whether the tax commission
shall be the hoard OF assessment for
railroad properties las of all othcrs)
or whether special board nearer TO
the governor shall be erected. Mr.,
Bradford's motion TO take II out of the
hands OF the lax commission was lost,
o. to ~
The Bradford amendment provided
that one member OF the board OF as.
sessment shall he elected by the PEG.
pie, one appointed by the governor,
and one appointed by the supreme
court This board to sit us Il tribunal
and determine the value OF railway
property from facts and arguments
presented on both sides.
what WIN tho senate Dos
The rreseut license system Of tax.
Ing railroads Is simple. II is 4 per
cent OF gross earnings for the big
roads, Tho new system will involve
much work and considerable expense
Ito ascertain the value of every bit
OF railroad property, even hand cars
and office desks, but the theory Is
that II viii be faircr to the state. The
nd valorcm plan Is expected TO yield
more to the state than at present. Two
years ago there was plan to increase