Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1903-04-30
WISCONSIN Legislature.

Madison, April 21.-The advance
ment to third reading Of the barber
license bill after it had been weakened
by number Of amendments, a speech
by Senator McGillivray in opposition
to the exemption of railroad bonds
from taxation under the ad valorem
law, and the delay of confirmation of
the appointments of Harvey Clark to
the board of control and L. E. Spencer
OF Wausau as a member Of the state
board of health, were the chief de-
velopments of the senate. Senator
Hudnall, who is making the barber
bill one of his chief cares, offered
amendments, which were adopted, re-
ducing the time of required appren-
ticeship from three to one year. re-
ducing the fee for the first certificate
from S. to 81, and raising the fee
for renewal of certificates from so
cents to 81. The Dudgeon bill re
lating to excise and sale Of liquors
was nOn-concurred in. 1t provided
that where a suburb was annexed to
a city no liquor license could be grant
ed in that suburb without the consent
of the people. The assembly killed
very important bill-that to abolish
contributory negligence as a defense
in damage suits. The bill came from
the judiciary chamber in the form Of
a substitute which took cognizance
Of the negligence of the man injured,
being a much milder proposition than
the original bill, yet Mr.. Lang prompt
ly moved that the bill and the amend
ment be Indefinitely postponed. This
action prevailed after a debate, Sc to
80. A bill that created much discus
sion in the assembly yesterday was
| that amending the law authorizing the
governor to make a settlement of war
claims against the federal govern
ment. Mr.. Barker moved that action
be deferred for the time being. He
said that as he understood it the gov
eminent had been willing to pay some
S45S 900 of old war claims and that
$4,000 Of claims were yet in doubt,
also that this bill proposed to give a
commission for the collection of this
would have to pay commission to the
same man who had been receiving
salary for getting the S458,000. Mr..
Root, chairman Of the state affairs
committee which had considered the
bill, explained that the government
had allowed as claim to the extent
Of $45S,677.99. He also said that the
state had not accepted the amount be-
cause of fear that if it did so some
minor claims ranging from $4,000 to
$50, 900 might be sacrificed. The bill
proposed, he said, to allow commits
sions for the collection of these minor
claims as follows: On the first S10,-
600, Is per cent. On the second $10,-
900, 10 per cent; on the next 100000,
5 per cent. and for all above $4,000,
! 21a per cent. The states commits
sioner who had negotiated the matter
so far with the government had been
on salary and it was deemed wise By
the committee to stop the salary and
stimulate the energies Of the commits
siOner with the premium Of a commits
sion Then the bill went to the claims
committee on motion of Mr.. Barker.
Senator's Green's bill authorizing
certain life insurance companies to do
accident and health insurance was
concurred in. The house concurred in
a senate amendment which requires a
| fee of 50 to be paid when judges issue
an order permitting people to wed
| within the 5-day limit after the license
I has been obtained. There was intro
duced by the state affairs committee
bill charging the powers of town
meetings.
| Madison, April 22-The mornins