Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1903-03-12

| the license zee 50 as to yield about
| 100000 more from the railroads. This
! plan may be revived in the senate but
the thought now is that the ad valorem
plan will be adopted.
| Aimed at Insurance Combines.
Baron Won Cotzhausen of Milwaukee
| agitated for ad yalorem taxation of
railroads a dozen years ago, but his
| connection with the reform Is forgot
ten now. AZ present he is interested
with nj Of Milwaukee and else
w!e-, T. reak Up insurance combines
III he cities. In 1897 an act was
passed thar prevented insurance COM
panieH uniting 20 raise premiums but
a provso left the door open for agents
to do so. And SO in many cities there
is union OF underwriters with
superintendent through whose hands |
all business goes. Milwaukee people !
claim they have a splendid fire depart |
ment and are ever increasing its effec- |
tiveness at large expense, only to see
their premiums advance. In 1902 the |
premiums collected in that city were
81 49, 14T: fire losses paid, S46S, Hosp. |
Ten years premiums collected were:
$12 ,GS7 800; fire losses paid, $5,013,9S2. |
A booklet issued by Mr. Won Cotz- |
hansen states that the average losses
for the last ten G0) years have been
less than forty (40) per cent of the
premiums collected, although the fire
loss of 1895 was exceptional, and plac-
ed by them at nearly one and half
Il ~ million.
Reforms In Mr.. Hosts ONCE.
The insurance commissioners office
Is yet in the enjoyment Of fees and the
Barker bill to abolish these is attract |
ing much attention. During the Prick
term records We're begun showing the |
extent of fees received, and while the |
Peck. OConnor administration put an
end to interest moneys as perqulsite
for state treasurers, the insurance com
missloner's Office has seen fees IL
creased until now that official receives
three or four times as much income as
the governor of the state.
State Control of Railroads.
At last we have the bill to establish
state commission with power to
name maximum freight charges. 1t
provides for three commissioners, |
whose salaries shall be $4,000 each, to
be appointed by the governor, confirm
ed by the senate, except that the
present railroad commissioner shall
serve as commissioner during his
term. The term of office will be for
six years. One shall be an expert ac-
countant and statstican, and the
other shall have a general understand
Ing of matters relating to railroad
transportation and the laws pertain
ing thereto. Whether the best talent
can be secured for the money Is doubt
full. Certainly the railroads pay more
than that for first class ability and
training. The clerks appointed by the
board shall receive "A salary of $1,000
and the stenographer a salary of S75
n month. The fullest powers are Civ,
en- the members to DO what railroad
commissioners DO in Iowa and llli-
nois.
Rattle snakes and crows are in peril
country members have bills that pro-
vide bountios on the pests. 1t is even
urged that the crows attack sheep and
children, showing there is Il lot OF
things that Milwaukee statesmen do
not know. The compulsory education
bill Is very important-it Is still being
considered with the women's clubs es.
pecally back of It,
Socially the session Is quiet; in fact
despite the important measures there
Is less excitement anywhere. The lob
by on all sorts of measures is very
active and large, but no evidences of
ohjectional features are in sight. There
Is more order and dignity about the
corridors than ut some sessions, and
while the pay rolls of the two houses
carry some people who do nothing ex-
cept draw pay, the former spectacle
of llght-minded females and handsome
oilers joking and engaged In ques-
tionable intimacies has been abated
There never was Il higher class of fe-
male clerks and employees than at this
session.
The notion that there is legislation
bought and sold Is almost fanciful. One
of the largest corporations, the North
western Mutual Life Insurance Co,
has long made II n rule not to allow
n cent to be spent indirectly" not
only on ethical grounds but because If
a start were made on this line there
would be no end of the demands on It,
Nor Is II check often drawn, or a
cash transfer 1t is too risky, nor are
these many lawmakers sufficiently dis
honest. When II is necessary" to do
dirty business OF this sort, II is usual
ly done by gambling. The man whose
vote or influence is wanted finds him
self winner OF large amounts and
before he knows II is so tied up to