Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1903-04-23

primary election bill is dead for this
session. AS l have pointed out before,
it is now pure case Of political dead
lock. The LaFollette men want the
legislature brought under the direct
vote of the people, and this the gov
ernOrs opponents will not grant, for
they believe it means machine control
of the elections to the legislature with
the naming of a successor to Senator
Quarles, in January, 1905. 1t is likely
the assembly will start new bill,
perhaps a referendum on the whole
subject next spring. At all events
both factions will endeavor to leave
the matter SO that the state will infer
''the other side killed primary cleo
tons. And, to tell the truth, it would
bother Solomon himself, who was a
wise man, to know where the fault
lies, So hopeless is the middle.
Fresh Interest in Freight Rates.
The administration has been taking
the livelieSt interest Of late in the
freight rate bill, which proposes a
state commission and maximum
charges. At first the railroads had
things their own way and petitions
focked in from shippers to the effect
that they wanted no politics injected
in trade relations with railroads. Later
the administration got to work and
now petitions are coming in in FAVOR
of the bill 1t will be reported favor
ably this week and the administration
figures that they can force it through
the assembly, though there is doubt OF
it. Of course it can never get through
the senate. This measure has merit
if coming as a pure business PROPOSE
ton, but, as with other bills this win
ter. the unfortunate fractional fight has
so embittered influential men in the
legislature and over the state that they
cannot be considered on their merits;
the big administration measures are
interpreted by the governors oppon-
ents as political rather than public.
To revert to the freight rate bill, if
Governor LaFollette does not get
things at this session and decides to
throw himself again on the people, it
is believed this issue will be put to
the front. IT touches citizens more
closely than does the primary election
bill, and has a fresher smack to 1t.
The railroad men, Of course, are
strongly opposed to the bill.
The Final Adjournment.
An effort is being made to bring the
session to close by May z. 1t seems
| impossible it can be done, but the COM
mittee chairmen have made report
of the condition of bills in their hands
and we shall soon know. The dlllgent
ones of the assembly made an effort to
| secure q session for work Saturday
last. but the members from remote
counties objected and the proposal was
| voted down, though by a close vote,
| 46 to 40.
The Telephone Wer.
After an exciting contest, and by
vote of to 2, the assembly committee
has reported the bill to make telephone
rates uniform 1t is in the interest of
the independent telephone companies,
which say the big Wisconsin company
| furnishes telephones at an absurdly
low rate, and even free in one city, in
| order to ruin a rival, making up the
deficit from some other city. The in
| dependent companies are pretty strong
| in Wisconsin, and will count up many
| votes in both branches, though the
question of constitutionality is raised
against the BILL 1t is a unique prop
Osition, to propose that a company
shall not charge more for telephones
in one city than in another of the same
class as to population, but these quasi
public institutions in private hands are
leading the state into unique situa-
tons. Not Until public ownership is
introduced can these vexatious ques-
tons be settled.
New Member of Board of Control.
Harvey Clark, of Monroe, who sue
ceeds Mr.. Treat on the board of con-
troll, is a university graduate and an
ex-district attorney. THE senate de-
layed the matter Of his confirmation to
| this week, but brief delay is not I'M
usual. 1t is no secret that Judge
Lyon will retire from the board soon,
| on account Of his advancing years. He
has done notably good work and his
| faithfulness in this arduous field
makes a fitting climax to a long and
untarnished career of public service.
The senate will consider woman
suffrage Thursday next. 1t is taken
vet as a joke in this state and will
not be enacted, though the senate may
be gracious to the popular Senator
O'Neil and let it go through that body.
The superior grain inspection bill
failed of a favorable report in com
mittee-3 to (which shows that even
so big a citizens committee goo OF
them as came from Superior cannot
always make a winning impression.
The fight is not yet over, however, for
neither house has yet voted.
100000 for st. Louis Fair.
The claims committee is the one
whose business it is to balance UP the