Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1903-04-18
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The Cowling bill in the Assembly and
the Sarau bill in the Senate relating to
removing the limitation of wages Of
workmen from garnishee process will be
reported for indefinite postponement and
in their stead the Assembly judiciary
committee has reported substitute
measure. The substitute retains the 10
per cent feature of both bills, which are
known as the retail grocers' bills, but
changes will be made in relation to the
! garniShment proceedings which will do
away with most of the objection urged
! by the labor unions and those who have
appeared to protest against the passage
of the bills The substitute provides
that not more than one garnishee pro-
ceeding shall be instituted in one month
and that the costs in the action shall be
| limited to So. The original bills fixed the
costs at 81 and in the event of four ac-
| tons being instituted it would be possi-
| bic to seize every cent of mans earn
| ings. Under the substitute bill 10 per
cent of every persons wages, whether
| they be great or small, will be subject
to garnishee process to recover on bills
for necessities. Members of the judiciary
committee say the substitute meets all
|
whose behalf it was contended that hon
est labor paid its bills, but in cases Of
misfortune and sickness the original bill
would work a hardship. The Judiciary
committee is anxious to protect the I'M
fortunate honest workmen; it is the class
of dead beats that the bill is aimed at.
Honest workmen, those who pay their
debts, the members feel sure, will have
little difficulty in making satisfactory ar
rangements with their tradesmen. The
question of class legislation may arise,
| however, inasmuch as some of the mem
| bers take the view that the bill will give
the grocers and dealers in commodities
greater privileges than other classes Of
merchants enjoy.
The fate of the Worlds Fair appropri-
alton still hangs in the balance. At the
| request of the fair commission the Sen
ate committee on State affairs that has
| the matter in hand has withheld action
and nothing will be done by the commit
| tee until the commission have had an
other hearing. AS matters stand the
appropriation will be greatly reduced in
amount unless the commission is able to
convince the committee by tangible proof
| that the full amount asked for, 5000, 900,
is absolutely necessary. When the COM
mission appeared before the committee
many questions were asked as to the
exact purposes for which the money was
wanted. The members were unable to
! set forth in detail how much would be
necessary for various departments or just
exactly how great, in detail, the display
was to be. The members explained that
was very difficult thing to do and
| a. ~I, nod
prehensive idea as to the scope of the
exhibition they were unable to present
such detail as the Senators wanted so
that they might be able to answer ques-
tons put to them on the floor in defend
ing the report in the event they recon-
mended such large appropriation. The
commission is now at work, it is under
| stood, in securing facts and figures so
| that when next it appears before the
committee it will be able to furnish the
precise information that is wanted. In
any event, however, it seems improba-
BILE that the committee will recommend
| the amount asked for because Of the
many appropriations that are asked for.
-
| The appointment of a special commit
tee to investigate the needs of new quar-
| ters for the Supreme Court is generally
considered to mean that the petition Of
the judges for more room, and increased
facilities will be granted. The commit
tee will undoubtedly be composed of law
yers and as all of them have practced
more or less before the court no argu-
ment is necessary to convince them tEat
something ought to be done, particularly
in view of the fact that the number of
| judges is to be increased from five to
seven. The only question is as to rhe
manner in which the improvements shall
be made. There is a possibility that a
new building may be recommended, as
there is not room enough in the north
wing of the capitol unless an addition is
erected. The judges would probably pre-.
fer q separate building, as that is tho
only manner in which it is possible to
give them as much room as they feel is
necessary and to afford ample accommo-
dations for the library.
| Former Speaker Ray made a gallant
| fight in the attempt to save his bill oblig-
| ing every voter to pay a poll tax who
does not cast his ballot at the spring
elections. The purpose OF the bill was to
| oblige the voters to turn out and While
it was conceded by all Of the members
that the bill would result in polling pref
| ty near the entire vote, nevertheless it
| was held that it would work hardship
| in the country districts, where the farm
ers have to travel FIVE or six miles to the
voting precincts. There would be little
difficulty in the cities. During the de-
bate the opinion was expressed that il
the voter has not a sufficient interest in
casting his ballot it will be impossible to
bring him to the polls by force.
Senator Hatton's resolution on the ne
gro question is slumbering quietly in rho
! committee box of the committee on edu-
cation. 1t is not to be overlooked, how
ever, and will be given attention just as
| soon as some Of the greater problems
are out of the way. Senator Hatton is
as firmly convinced as ever that the res
oIution is a good one and believes that
! if the convention is had, such as he
seeks, it will be of very great value to