Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1903-04-27
ASSEMBLY SUDDENLY STOPS
PROGRESS OF BILL.
NOT GUARDED ENOUGH
Commissioner Negotiating for a Set
Element Might Pocket an Excessive
Amount for Fees-At Least Solons
Seem to Fear Such a Possibility
Judge comstock Explains.
Madison, April %.

A bill that created much discussion
in the assembly yesterday was that
amending the law authorizing the gov
ernor to make a settlement of war
claims against the federal government.
Mr.. Barker moved that action be de-
ferred for the time being. He said
that as he understood it the govern
ment had been willing to pay some
S45S, 900 of old war claims and that
$3.50, 900 of claims were yet in doubt,
also that this bill proposed to give a
commission for the collection of this
$3.50, 900 and it might be that the state
would have to pay commission to the
same man who had been receiving a
salary for getting the $45S,0OO. Mr..
Root. chairman of the state affairs
committee which had considered the
bill. explained that the government
had allowed as a claim to the extent
of $45S, $3.50. He also said that the
state had not accepted the amount be
cause of fear that il it did so some
minor claims ranging from $4,000 TO
$4,000 might be sacrificed. The bin
proposed, he said, to allow commits
sions for the collection of these minor
claims as follows: On the first &c.,
600. 10 per cent. On the second $10,-
900, 10 per cent; on the next $4,000,
per cent. and for all above $4,000,
215 per cent. The states commits
sioner who had negotiated the matter
so far with the government had been
on a 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.
Mr.. c. II. Smith thought that the
! fact that a man who was willing to
go from a good salary to a commits
sion might show the presence of "a
niger in the woodpile."
Mr.. Osborne said we should be gov
erned by nothing except the provi-
sions of the bill, which declare that
the commissioner shall have a per-
centage on what he collects, and that
if he collects any part of the S45S,0oO
which the government has allowed
then plainly under the terms of the
bill he would receive a commission on
that too. Mr.. Dudgeon rather limited
at the desirability of the state obtain
ing possession of the $45S,000 as soon
as possible, and not needlessly delay
ing accetance by the state, as interest
on such an amount multiplied very
fast He wanted to know if the gov
eminent during this delay was paying
| interest to the state. Mr.. Root did not
know. Mr.. Dahl wanted to know if
the minor claims were not already al
| lowed To a considerable extent. Mr..
Root answered no. Mr.. Wallrich
thought that the bill clearly provided
for an appropriation to the commits
sioner of the percentage and therefore
ought to go to the claims committee
under the rules. The chair held other
wise. Mr.. Gilman offered an amend
ment providing that nothing in the
bill should apply to the $45S,OOO al
ready allowed by the government.
Then the bill went to the claims com
mittee on motion of Mr.. Barker.
In Committee.
Later in the day the bill to commits
sion Judge Comstock to act as the
agent of Wisconsin in the collection of
the civil and Spanish war claims
against the federal government was
before the committee on claims and
Judge Comstock explained the bill in
detail. He frankly stated that he was
not disposed to remain in Washington
for the state at a salary of $4,000
year when much better pickings were
to behad at home. He told that the rate
of commission to be allowed under the
bill was from 21a to Is per cent,
while the agents for other states were
receiving as high as 20 per cent. The
bill, at the suggestion of Judge Com
4 /.