Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1903-03-12

ASSURANCE COMMISSIONER HOST
vocate of diligence and is securing
some Saturday sessions. By the way,
there has been some pleasant talk Of
this gentleman for governor-a post.
with which he for years has been as
sociated in the public mind. 1t is re-
marked that the administrat ton is very
courteous to The gentleman from Eau
Claire county" but. no doubt, he is
wise enough 10 base himself on the
support of all the people
Primary Election Bill Later.
The effort to get the primary cleo.
ton bill to The front at once in the
senate failed and it lies fallow until
March 26 There mas been much said
as to the obligations of members to
enact the bill just as it is, without
any exercise of discretion or amend.
4ment, on the theory that the state plat
form says so. 1t is a moOted ques-
ton, how far q member SurrenderS his
power and duty to legislate. in view of
I binding pledges. We allknow that as
regards Senator Spooner the drastic
did not fairly voice the will Of the
people behind it. Senator Rogers of
Milwaukee expressed in good spirit
the reasoning of the members who in.
sisted the measure should be thought
fully considered and by vote of %
to 4, the delay was ordered. 1t cannot
be regarded as victory" for either
r,sd IL ~ Oh, I,o% No -
unlike the assembly, is more disposed
to be independent than the assembly,
which passed the measure off-hand.
AS there is much curiosity as to the
factiOnal lines in the senate. the test
vote was really on the amendment to
limit the delay to March 18th Gnstead
of March go The vote was II to II
with two pairs" Senator Rogers
was right when he said that when the
time came he proposed to live up to his
pledges. made before election time, III
favor of n primary bill 1t is his inn
preston that a bill will pass the senate
ultimately that the governor will sign
Tax Question to the Front.
The passage by the assembly of the
ad valorem assessing and taxing
railroad property as other property
is taxed-is, Of course, most important.
1t is in the senate that any hitch must
come in this matter. if at all The
authority of the tax commission is be-
hind this bill. 1t is a giant change
but we'll matured The governor. of
course, is for it though some little fric.s
ton has been generated over the ques-
tion Of whether the tax commission
shall be the board Of assessment for
railroad properties (as of all others)
or whether 4 special board nearer to
the governor shall be erected. Mr..
Bradford's motion to take it out of the
hands OF the tax commission was lost
GA to 81
The Bradford amendment provided
that one member of the board of as
sessment shall be elected by the peo
pie. one appointed by the governor.
and one appointed by the supreme
court. This board to sit as a tribunal
and determine the value of railway
property from facts and arguments
presented on both sides
What VIII the Senate Do?
The present license system of tax
ing railroads is simple. It is 4 per
cent. of gross earnings for the big
roads The new system will involve
much work and considerable expense
to ascertain the value of every bit
of railroad property, even hand cars
and office desks; but the theory is
that it will be fairer to the state. The
ad valorem plan iS expected to yield
more to the state than at present Two
years ago there was plan to increase