Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1903-04-22
OUR MADISON LETTER
Ad valorem Tax Safely Out of
Committee and Likely
of Passage.
NO PRIMARY ELECTIONS Law
AT Least the Conferrees Faiied t,
Agree-New Bin LjKely-PusL-
ing Freight Rate Bill.

Madison, Wis, April 21.--Wc had
an eventful week Two of the issues,
yes three, that have been in the back
ground, yet Of prime Importance. wee
given a dednite If not final shape.
The committee on assessment and col
lection of taxes reported the bill fay,
orably which proposes the ad yalorem
system of taxation of railroads. That
the senate members of the committee
were willing to do this indicates the
passage of the bill, for the assembly,
1t has been conceded, would readily
fall in with this policy. There VIII
be an effort, no doubt, to defeat it,
and even IL passed. it viii likely carry
a provision of delay before going into
effect, as recommended by the commit
tee, bur 1t certainly is in excellent
shape at present. 1t means drastic
change OF system, and so convenient
is the present license system that it
must be regarded as a landmark In
state legislation,
AORuAaE AAAttfA0h 0E ntnAtOfHE
The resolution putting Wisconsin in
line of the states calling for con-
stitutional convention to provide for
the election of United States senators
by direct vote was tied in the senate,
the vote of the presiding officer
Lieutenant Governor Dayidson--iT.
favor of the movement deciding 1t that
way. Senator Morse was absent, Semi
tors Eaton and Mosher, Sarau ana
Reukema, Wyiie and Roehr were
paired, the first named of each couple
favorlng the resolution; the balance
Of the senate voted as follows:
Aye-Senators Burns, Hatten, Hud-
nall, Martin, McGillivray, Merton.
Miller, Munson, North, Randolph,
Stout, Wipperman. Wolf and Mr. Pres
tdent
Noes-Senators Beach. Bird, Gave
ney, Green, Hagemeister. Johnson,
KreiItzer, McDonough. O'Neil, Rior-
dan, Rogers, whitehead, Wiley.
Primary EIeetsoa's Deadloca.
Most important Of the week was the
failure OF the assembly and senate
conferrees to asgree an any sort of pri-
mary election bin Each side sent
three men, representative respectively
of the sentiments of the administra-
ton and the Observation-Disclosures senti-
ment. 1t WEES up to the three assem-
blymen to propose q blsis of agree
ment and they made six overtures I'm
writing. The LaFol8ette men offered
A.. ~. iFtttaf fs1y
election plan included mot only city
and county officers (coIrce4led as the
senate passed the bib, but also sena-
tors and assembly men. But this ana
all else was rejected. Mamy think the
primary election bill is dead for TINS
session. As / have pointed cut before,
it is now pure case of political dead
lock. The LaFollette men want u.e
legislature brought under the "-'ect
vote Of the people. and this the gov
ernor's opponents win not grant, Tor
they believe it mans machine controi
of the elections TO the legislature win
the naming of a successor to Senator
Quarles. in January. 1905. 1t is likely
the assembly viii start Il new OIL
perhaps a referendum on the whole
subject next spring. At all events
both factions will endeavor to leave
the natter so that the state will intT
"the other sldC'' killed primary cleo
tions. And. to tell the truth, it wonld
bother Solomon himself, who was
wise man. to know where the fauit
lies. so hopeless Is the muddle.
100000 for ST. Louis Fair.
The claims committee Is the one
whose business it is to balance mp the
bills asking for appropriations. 1t
gave 100000 for WiscOnsin's repre-
sentation at the st. Louis Fair. which
seems to some of us most handsome,
vet the boomers ask even more.
There are always bills which pro
yoke more or less fun, and one Is the
crow bounty bill. which the state
affairs committee allowed to come In,
provided enough crows be allowed 70
live to provide meal for those
obliged to eat the dish.
The blue book still drags, but when
it appears it VIII be a hands onne vol
ume. An assembly bill provides that
each member shall have 300 copies
with which TO keep his constituents
happy.
The state pays the funeral bills Of
dead state oificials- In the case Of
Judge Bardeen it IS matter Of some
500. and this, with the qu"Tteriy in
stallment Of salary, makes an appro-
priation Of some 81, GO 1t viii be ap-
propriated
ORLANDO BURNETT.
Coon VALLEY Wis, April 2i, 1903.
CHAS. S. SLAClS q 10,