Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1903-05-11
WISCONSIN legislature.

Madison, April Ex-Governor La
Follette's long looked for message on
the freight commission bill was de-
livered to the legislature. The
message, the third of the session,
deals exhaustively with the question
of railroad freight rates. 1t takes up
every phase of the case and contains
an answer to the arguments advanced
by the railroads, explains the reason
of the opposition to the bill by the
manufacturers of the state, and then
gives tables showing that the freight
rates of Wisconsin are higher than
those of Illinois and Iowa. This done,
he seeks to demonstrate from the
financial reports of the st. Paul rail-
road company that had the earning Of
that company been S6,O00,O00 less, the
company could still have paid its stock
dividend, bond interest and operating
expenses, and necessary improve
ments. The senate refused TO re-
consider the Superior grain inspection
bill. Senator Hudnall asked favor
able action in a few words but the mo-
ton was lost by the same vote that
killed the bill-17 to 16. Two assembly
bills were passed. Cofiland's appro-
priating $4,000 for stock for the ex-
pertinent station, and Finnegan's, ap-
propriating $4,000 annually for the
geological and natural history survey.
In the assembly the senate bin en-
empting credits from taxation was
killed. Mr.. Root combatted the COM
mitee recommendation for postpone
ment, and speaking on the bill said it
was unjust to retired farmers. Mr..
Smalley, with Mr.. Bradford, argued
for the committee, the latter making
strong argument showing that pas
sage of the bill would remove $4,000,
600 from the tax rolls and exempted
the men who were best able to pay
taxes. Mr.. Ray thought the bill was
the poor mans measure. He said IL
was impossible to find mortgage OIL
record made the past year, where pro-
vision was not made for payment Of
tax by the man who gave the mort
gage. Mr.. Dahl said it was a prepos-
ferrous idea to exempt all people from
taxation just because some were able
TO hide their property and escape.
The bill was then honoured in 81 to
81. Discussion arose over the bin
giving married women the same prop
erty rights as single women but the
assembly refused to pass the bill, go to
%. The Merton joint resolution call
ing for a constitutional convention to
provide for election of United States
senators by direct vote then came up
was concurred in 60 to q. The bill
amending the child labor law, raising
the age limit at which children can
work without permit from IA TO 16
years, and providing that no child
shall work between 8 p. m. and 6 a. m,
passed without opposition. The as
sembly refused, So to 20, to concur in
the senate bill increasing the appro-
priation to 500 for the inspection Of
apiaries. Without another debate the
Fleming bill providing for the sale by
the state of a tract of land adjoining
the state fair grounds to Thos. j.
Fleming, was concurred in, and the
senate bill to regulate BARRIERS by re-
curing their examination and license
was concurred in without debate. A
similar assembly bill was killed re-
Gently.
The administration railroad COM
mission bill was killed by the as
sembly late at night after a debate
that occupied morning, afternoon and
night. Three roll calls were taken at
the close of the speaking, the last
showing that the governors side
could muster only % votes in favor
of the bill to which he has devoted
his most strenuous efforts. The first
call was on a referendum amend
ment, proposed by Mr.. lie Roy, to
submit the law to the people at the
spring election of 1904. This vote
was 81 to Sc, the majority against
the bill. The second vote was on the
amendments proposed by the COM
mittee and resulted 81 to 60.
The features of the night session
were the speeches in opposition by
Messrs. Cowling and Cady, and In
favor Of the bill by Speaker Lenroot.
Messrs. Kinney. Root, Irvine aud
Frear spoke in its favor. During the
daylight debate the chief speaker was
Mr.. Gilman for the bill and Mr..
Wallrich against.
Mr.. lie Roy offered the referendum
amendment and 1t was debated by
himself. Messrs. Gilman. Lenroot and
Smoker in the Affirmative and was
opposed by Messrs. Ray and CowlinG