The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1903-03-06

SENATOR MERION.
administration bill is that the former
provides for q state convention to out
line the party platform, while the adj
ministratiOns bill leaves this function
to the candidates for state offices.
The senate committee which thus
brings the matter before the senate is
composed Of three thick-ard-thn adj
ministration supporters, the three
"NIS"--AIiller, MunsOn and Martin;
while the chairman. Senator Morse, and
the fifth member. Senator Whitehead,
voted against submitting the Merton
bill with Recommendation to pass"
+ as.> Strong Pressure to Go slow eqs
And SO the senate now has this all
important matter. Even the wise ones
have not been able to agree as to
what viii be done with the bill. The
Madison State Journal, Il vetran friend
of primary elections, now advises
something more tentative than the full
assembly bill in order that voters may
get familiar with the direct vote i'll
making nominations On the other
hand. some senator's talk thus frank
ly to their friends:
Il don't want this full programme
to cover every office from United
States senator to county supervisOr-I
recognize it would be wisdom to try
the new plan on gradually: but what
can l do? The country people think
this change Is to save the republic:
They have been through two cam
paignS about it and their voting and
conventions, intimate nothing of a
gradual adoption Of primary election
ALL caucuses and conventions shall
be d"'-That'S the war cry.
/ was nominated on that basis, so my
platform reads; more than that they
dragged us before our conventions and
made us pledge to la FOllette's full
proglAmme-Whatc can a fellow do but
give his people what they want
though it kill them:"
Bill Likely to be Modified.
But while one hears good deal of
this sort Of talk. the fact that it's a
Democratic measure on which the sen
ate is now to divide may open loop
hole. That question Of how far Il
legislator is bound by the party
pledges is an elusive one to men who
wish to keep faith and yet not stultify
themselves and injurc the state.
Work on Taxation.
Probably never mere faithful work
was done than this year by the COM
mittees on taxation. The senators
have literally worked every working
day on the bills touching railroads.
The recommendation of the state tax
commission that the al valOrem sys-
tenn be substituted for the license fee
on gross earnings gives the proposal
much prestige. And by the way. the
completed report of the tax commits
sion is now ready for general distri-
button. \ copy will be furnished to
any person desiring to read the same
upon receipt Of request with name and
address.
A supplementary report has just
been issued, containing additional data
on municipal finance. amount of mon
ey received from railroads. the budget
of the state for the past Is years, etc
The Importance of municipal govern
ment is shown by the fact that 20 per
cent of all taxes goes to the cost of
city government
Great Railroad Executive.
BY the way, speaking of railroad
men, Martin Hughitt always makes a
profound impression when he comes
to the capitol He is about IS years
old, though he moves like an older
man, and has worked his way up from
small things in railroading. 1t is Mr..
Hughitt who has put stop to
moving freight trains Sundays except
such as carry coal and perishable
freight. 1t is now said that the "old