Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1903-02-25


sgas a good deal of quiet talk about
the bill. Two years ago the legislature
in an economical mood Topped off a
number Of sinecures, and this bill put
things back to about where they were
before. The assembly then attempted
to recall the bill from the governor
hands, but this requires joint vote
of both houses, and the senate balkeS
preferring to leave the matter in the
governors hands. He vetoed the bill.
The Veto Sustained.
There was an effort In the assembly
to pass it over the veto, but this is
always difficult business. 4 spirit OF
courtesy restraints member from over
riding the chief executive unless it is
crisis; and though one of the gov
errors chief lieutenants, Cady Of
Narshfield, led the attempt, 1t failed,
by a vote of GA Ito sustain the gov
ernor) to "a for passage. 1t seems
there are already D5 mployes--clerks,
helpers, etc.--and this bill proposed
II more. 1t was an embarrassing in
cident, but most of the assemblymen
took the position of Mr.. Root, who In
troduced the bin by request that they
did not understand It.
AS to Tax Reform.
1t is pretty clear that the ad valorem
system of taxing is In favor. 1t is
never safe to predict as TO these first
rank measures, but with the gov
ernor's following devoted to 1t, and the
tax commission and a number of the
so-called opposition wing devoted tax
reformers, the license fee may make
way at this session to the system of
assessing and taxing railroad property
as other property is taxed The attor-
ney g neral, Mr.. Sturdeyant, has given
careful legal opinion that the sys-
TEN proposed by the tax commission
is sound.
The senate and Primary Election.
OF course, the biggest topic we have
Is the primary election bin. 1t passed
the assembly easily. as everybody
Knows, and is now in the senate. 1t
is in the committee on privileges and
elections, which tonight will examine
the bill clause by clause A public
hearing will also he held Thursday
next The friends of the bill are siren
Uous now to get the measure to the
front and passed,
There is n difference of opinion as
to how the senate will treat this bill,
which at one fell swoop imposes the
full direct vote In making nominations
on the whole state, United States sen.
ntors, the state ticket, congressman
and all else down to villages 0nd
towns, which are exempt, as are judi
cial officers and school superintend
ents. There is little question that
IL senators felt free to vote their OWL
opinions such sweeping measure
could never get through that body
Some of them don't believe in abolish
ing conventions; others are afraid suct
law win depreSs their own politica
fortunes and elevate others But more
important, many OF the close thinker.
hold 1t would be wiser. in a matter
of so much Importance, to feel one.
way; for the state to experiment il
the smaller areas, as cities and coun
ties (where citizens know each othel
and can vote tntelligently on the can
didates) than to expand the plan &
include, for instance, state officer.
whom but few voters can know ever
by repute. However, some wise Oh
servers insist that this bill is goinl
through the senate, and it is even salt
the administration has a canvass o
that body which proves it. 1t is al
legged that the repeated platform dec
larations compel the passage of til
full bill, with no referendum as L
any part of It Some say if the senat
thinkers the bill the assembly will re
Ject the changes and the governor
veto it. Some senators who don't likt
the bill are reported to reason that j
the people want it. let them have 1t
Some may be fearful of going rack L
their constituents in the role Of mel
who blocked the governors reforms
and l am sorry 10 say that here ant
there is one who is no friend TO gov
ernor or primary elections that griml.
thinks that by passing the bill tn
confusion they think will follow vii
shipwreck both man and measure.
However, this week will clear tn
atmosphere not little. The senat
went home in fretful mind Frida