Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1903-05-20
COMPLICATIONS WITH Law MAKERS.

IL VIII De week OF pOlltlcal ngufshk
calculated TO arrange for the great bat
lie promised between the factions for
the next campaign. To this end tine
corporation members Of the superior
snate retreated on the bill for assess
ing railroads on the same basis as other
property They contended for exempt
ion of railroad stocks and bonds from
assessment. But the big bosses in Mil
waukee gave them bunch that perhaps
it was not well to entirely submerge the
people in their solicitation for corpora
ton welfare, hence the retreat purely
because for political effect. But the
disposition and determination are good
indication of the desire and should adj
nIonish the people that the only way
they will ever secure their rights is to
be vigilant in selecting men only for the
legislature who are known to have opin-
ions and backbone to fight and work for
declared principles.
One matter that tends at this writing
to prolong the session, is the attempt Of
the Stalwart$ to galYanize back to life
the primary election matter. They de-
sire to make pretense that they have
some virtue on this matter, although
they have fought against the enactment
Of an honest primary bill during the en-
tire winter. Through Assemblyman
Ray of La Crosse, they tried their sharp
practice, last Friday, when good per
cent of the members were absent, spring
ing resolutions asking the assembly to
humiliate itself and the party by aeceed-
ing to the measure that would permit
the people to nominate their county Of
ficers by direct vote and nold conven-
tions TO nominate their members of as
sembly and other servants. What
magnanimous concession this would be-
The people can readily understand that
it means simply and positively that they
may be permitted to have something to
say in choosing their county officers but
are not wise or honest enough to join in
making the men who serve them in
representative capacity in the legisla
tive halls. The present unholy reign in
the state senate must be broken before
the people will have any voice in the
law making branch of government
The senate proposition of primary cleo
ton is delusion and snare. The peo.
pie were promised a law that meant bet
ter representatives, but the senate vetoes
the demand and tenders a fraud. The
assembly will receive the gratitude of
the people by standing for an honest
measure.
The rate bill, looking to the prevention
of railroad companies increasing their
freight tariffs because Of the ad valorem
system Of tax-paying, passed the assem-
bly, by more than two-third vote, and
was killed in the superior senate 10 to
10. A few days sinre manufacturers
and large shippers were at the seat of
government praying the legislature not
TO enact law for governing commiss-
ion. pleading that it would have ten
dency to raise rates. Presto change,
the same men came last week imploring
| the lawmakers TO spare them from p
law which was calculated to prevent
higher charges. Consistency in chip.
The Superior grain inspection bill,
which was based on the presumption
that Wisconsin men and interests would
give the western wheat growers q more
honest inspection OF their grain, and re
down to the credit CT the state and the
city nc the head of tie lakes, was again
buried by the senate, 10 10 II, after hav-
ing passed tine assembly unanimously
It Is blot en- the senate which time
will not be able to ramove. But IL we'll
tells the story of the senate of 1908
Men accustomed. 70 violate platform
pledges go the whole length of dislOyalty
to their state and its interests
Cigarette legislation took a promi-
nent part in the work of the past week.
One measure looking TO the prevention
of manufacture and sale and shipmen.
into the state was first tried. Then a
l.. use bill was killed. II will be of in
terest TO the best people of Wisconsin to
learn that the great pretended moralist
and churchman, John NJ. Whitehead,
was counted against these reform meas
Gres when the final votes were taken
Strange indeed is the attitude of this
man. 1t is revelation when compared
with his record Of first.term service in
the senate, contradictory in the ex-
treme, Bnt these are the degenerate
days n politics and politics control leg
islatlon as they do the actions of men.
II was the eccentric Senator Bill"
Price who penned in the autograph
album of the writer twenty years since
the following sentence; The politician
thinks of the next election. the states.
men of the next generation. Mr. Price
made no pretentions to great Christian
ity. but he was ever consistent man.
Made Young Again
| I nflf,