Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1903-02-21
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En 1851; 2<0I6klJ.

attracting wide attention and there viii
be much activity both for and against
both. Every person that uses telephone
will be glad to have the rate reduced and
many, at least, feel that the companies
can afford to reduce them. That the
companies will resist and resist bittealy
there is not the slightest doubt. They
will claim that the charges are as rea-
sonable as possible consistent with the
service afforded. That is what the Wis
consin Telephone Company, by far the
biggest corporation of the kind in the
State, and consequently one of the most
vitality interested, claimed when Milwau-
kee merchants protested against the
rates several years ago. The company
threw open its books, but after long
investigation the rates were made more
reasonable particularly regarding excess
charges. Telegraph companies have al
ways sought to avoid any responsibility
for mistakes and the blanks of each set
forth that they are not responsible I'M
less messages are repeated and paid for
accordingly. The courts have held that
that provision is not binding one, but
the question of damage is a tickle one
and difficult to measure. Mr.. Cady's
bill will place the matter in the liscre-
ton of the jury for there is little cvi-
dence of actual damage resulting from
mental anguish that can be offered The
law at present limits the recovery for
mistakes of telegraph companies to ac-
tual damages so that Mr.. Cady's bill
opens a very wide door.
1.-THE women have undertaken big
job" is the remark frequently passed in
the corridors of the capitol whenever the
suffrage bill or the anti-cigarette bill is
mentioned. Two years ago a hard fight
was made for the cigarette bill and it
came very nearly passing. This year
the effort will be renewed with all the
vigor that marked the contest of two
years ago and it would not be surprising
were it to succeed, as it is generally con-
ceded the Legislature at present is more
inclined to reform measures than it ever
has been in the past. There are certain
interests that are vitality concerned in
womans suffrage. Of these the saloen
interest is probably most prominent, for
once woman's suffrage obtains in Wis
consin the saloons will have a hard Time.
Whether the brewers or diStillers will
see fit to take sufficient notice Of the
movement to fight the bill is a matter of
conjecture and probably depends upon
the strcngth that the movement COM
mands for solution. The opinion is that
neither the saloon men nor the tobacco
merchants will consent to woman's suf-
frage without battle.
The State board of normal school re-
gents held it's regular annual meeting the
other day, at which the amounts which
the Legislature will be asked to appro-
pirate for improvements were decided up
on. One hundred thousand dollars is
the amount which will be asked for an
addition to the Milwaukee normal school.
1t was also decided to ask for an addi-
tional annual appropriation of $4,000,
which the board says is made necessary
by the constant growth of the normal
schools, and especially by the manual
training, domestic science and kindcrga2-
ten departments. Other appropriations
that will be asked for are 100000 for the
removal of the boilers from the school
buildings at Milwaukee, Whitewater, Ste
vens Point, Oshkosh and Superior and
to place them in separate buildings; SI5,-
900 for an addition to meet the needs Of
the school at platteville. and $1,000 to
reimburse the normal school fund and
income fund for loss on a loan made to
the Eau Claire armory.
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The crusade inaugurated against the
English sparrow and likewise against the
crow by G. L. Grain and others of Ra-
cine County is meeting with cOmmen1a-
ton from the members from the farming
communities. The damage caused to
crops because of the voracious appetite
of the sparrow for the small kernel cereal
is said to be enormous and because Of
the manner in which the sparrows null
tiply and thrive, the question is becom-
ing a serious one in many localities. The
crows have been the worst enemies of the
farmers up to the present time, particu-
larly in the spring. but their ravages
were mostly confined to the oat wheat
and corn fields. The sparrows make no
discrimination, attacking everything, and
it is claimed that pair of sparrows will
do more damage than half dozen crows
because, unlike the crows, they have little
fear of the farmer and not so easily
scared Mr.. Grain and those interested
with him want the Legislature to pre-
scribe bounty for crows and sparroWs.
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According to statements made on the
floor of the Assembly there are county
judges in the State who are taking unto
themselves fees which they have no right
to exact. This is sought to be correct
ed by a bill prohibiting the county judges
from exacting or receiving a fee for is
suing certificates in connection with pro-
ceedings to establish descent in probate
cases. There is no express authority in
the law warranting the judges to make
charge of their services and the majority
Of the judges do not do so, but. it was
stated some of the judges charge S. for
such services, although lawyers agree
there is no express warrant for such
action.
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SecretarE of State Houser has issued