Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1903-01-28


News. For tn first time the routine
proceedings Of both houses are being
"syndicated' or a number of papers,
the side comrlent and incidents of the
day being written by representatives of
the various papers, as they are moved
to interpret them Thus the trust"
idea creeps in at every point, though in
this case mere machinery for con-
venience.
Reforms Must Be Enacted.
1t is likely Governor LaFollette is
determined to effect his reforms this
winter; indeed, it is said he has sug-
gested extra session" in the event of
success in baking the measures to
which the party is committed He
thought bit of this measure two
years ago. Legislators don't take kind
ly to such step, for by the time a
der the white dome he is satisfied for
a long while, feeling that his $500 has
been well earned. But Il legislator
is never so under the fierce light of
publicity as at a special session, when
he must yes or mo" some concrete
proposal; and in such struggle the
governor would have smart adyan-
tage. 1t seems to be understood that
some of the Democrats VIII be Of
sel vice ut critical points, These votes
win be Of great use especially as re-
CARDS the primary election bills
Primary Election Bills.
OF these, two are now before the
assembly, one by Mr.. Frear of Hud-
son, who is said to have had counsel
from i, Ray Stevens, author OF the
1901 Measure: and the other by Mr..
Andrews. Both are by LaFollette
men. The opposition win withhold
their efforts at framing measures un-
til the compromise stage is reached.
Both bills are sweeping in scope. The
Frear bill omits school superintend-
ents and judicial officers, on the the
ory that these posts are out of poll
ties. The judges Of Minnesota do not
relish their law, and it Is likely the
effort here is to avoid that structure.
The making of the platform was a
detail of the Stevens bill that made
trouble. The Frear bill provides that
the chairman of each political party
shall determine the manner of max
ing the party platform. AG0ther new
provision Is for two ballot boxes, the
voter Geing given all the tickets as he
enters the booth, voting one, and
those not voted being deposited In the
second box, the purpose being TO pre-
serve secrecy.
In their minor provisions both bills
are similar to the Stevens bill of two
years ago
For state officers the nomination pa
per shall be signed by at least two
per cent Of the voters Of the party
he represents, by electors from at
least II counties of the state. This
provision is made for congressional
offices: two per cent Ia necessary from
one-ffth of the election precincts and
from one-half the counties Of the dis
trict. The same holds for legislative.
county and city officers.
Tho debate this year viii be more
on the "details than on the principal,
for the most strenuous Of the COVER
nor's opponents are inclined to con-
cede that the popular demand and the
party declarations call for at least an
experimental enactment.
spooner's Third Election,
Senator Spooner win have been for
mally elected by the time many read
this letter. The event viii be attended
by flowers, speeches and handshaking.
There viii be good speech by Senator
ator Spooner, but beyond a few sig
nilicant sentences 1t is unlikely the
thin Ice of the matter win be broken,
as the man shuns sensations. lie takes
himself and his public work very scTti-
ousiy, and to one whose ideas Of the
United States senate are on the Web
sterian plane, a scrap Of factionaiists
up III one little corner Of the nation
is not apt to be crowded to the front
If the senator were hum0rist,
few pat jokes about the row in the
party might blow IL all away, as Ger
vantes laughted chivalry out OF exist
ence; but Spo0ner~is no Joker He
will 20 back to Washington to a busy
winter, and / have an idea that when
the tariff debate comes on, the Wis
consin man will do something con-
structiYe.
1t is said the number who want Of
fee Of him now il big, especially on
the part Of The loyai ones in the capi-
toll bulldirs who had their heads
chopped of with a smile when the
LaFOllette men take hold.
Among the legislation proposed is
the refund of some $G0,Oo0 money paid
under the inheritance and legacy tax
law, which waB topplcd over by the
supreme court. There Is no way to
get this money back except by !egis-
latiye eEactment, and there is no OPP
position.
The increase in the appropriations
this year is due to the contemplated
Increase in the number of inmates for
the feeble-minde,i and the reformatory.
The increase in those institutions dur-
ing the next year Is estimated at 900
ORLANDO BURNETT
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