The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1903-07-03

.
Winfield Kan. Chautauqua. recently,
the po!itica! goss:ps have had little to
talk about It was vigorous talk u
the governors familiar vein Of diScon-
tent with present political and indus
trial trends He especially pitched
into trusts.
Filing Lobby Expenses
Under the lobby law Of two years
ago, representatives Of corporations
and others who do work about the leg
islature must sign book in the secre-
tary's office before they begin. This
is called registering" That is, they
must register if they get pay for their
service 1t is not pleasant task, but
the law is we'll drawn and the man
who talks to members and especially
who addresses a committee is very
apt to be publicly asked by the oppo-
sition IF he has registered"
Not only the professionals register.
but the OccasiOnals-the leading law
yers Of Milwaukee, the champions of
reform measures, etc, If they are paid
even for Their trouble, to say nothing
OF services.
But more than this is required.
When the session is over, the secretary
of state sends blank to all who regis
tered-the lObbyiS> and the interest he
represented, requiring a statement I'M
Of hn in
noting and defeating legislation; and
the legislation must be specified. This
must be done within thirty days of the
conclusion Of the session.
Fees for this sort of thing are large.
A number of Madison law firms are
active in this work 1t consists not
only in formal speeches before legisla-
tive committees, but in interviewing
members, in interesting influential
parties outside, in circulating neWspa-
pers and the like Fees of $500 are not
uncommon for an important piece OF
wOrk-legitimate work, but requiring
perseverance and cIeverneSS. Many
a bill that has merit requires Z cam
paign behind it to enable it to pass.
Many a bad bill will not die until its
defects have been made very clear to
a majority of the members and this
often requires some ones time. The
new law can do no harm and no doubt
it does good, ~ ~.
wisconsin at St. Louis.
Wisconsin is to do her share at the
st. Louis worlds fair. At a recent
meeting of the commission in Milwau.
kee the site Of the state building, the
proposed buildings and the distribution
of the money appropriated We're dis
cussed. Nothing definite was decided,
although it seems that the committee
favOrS spending on the agricultural ex
hibit Gnc!uding the dairy display SOC,
900, which is the largest sum accorded
any display. Some Of the Other large
items are as follows: Mines, 5000
fisheries and forestry, $4,000: educa
tiOnal. $1,000 or $4,000; horticulture,
$4,000; and building. $4,000. The rest
OF the $S4 900 subscribed and apprOpri-
ated, will be used for current expenses
maintenance, etc
NOOOiEen at milwaukee,
Milwaukee succeeded in capturing
the annual Woodmen convention for
1905 This will mean that 10000 will
be brought to the Cream City The
Wisconsin, delegation was headed by
Mayor -. w Agnew of OcOnomowoc
Los Angeles was after the convention
and made q strong bid. The delegates
from California had a cash offer of
500, 900 to back it. while Milwaukee
had nothing but an invitation.
The administrator las the head
officers are called We're we'll sustained
at the recent annual convention. The
opposition had only about one vote in
five and the outcome was love-feast.
For some years it has been admitted
that the present financial plan could
not so much lOnger-it is too cheap.
Moreover, there was too little differ,
ence for age. \ boy OF 20 and his IA
Their Of IS paid but little difference
But now the rates have been raised to
quite an extent. although those al
ready in the orde" will pay the adj
vanced rates on the age at which they
entered. and not on the age at which
they are now. New members will pay
some more and thus build up a fund
toward meeting their death claim
when it comes due. 1t is said that the
Woodmen rate will even then be less
than their rivals-the ForeSters and
some other orders. The Fores+ers
have over 100000 surplus Well-in
formed Woodmen tell me that the new
plan merely means a better condition
OF affairs pending a still more drastic
revision of the financial system.
Enforcing Child Labor Law.
1t is gratifying to see that an effor,
is being made to stop child labor Wis
consin has not been as negligent of hel
children as have some of her neigh
bors but the evil is great enough. The
child labor law recently passed by the
legislature is a good one according t.
Labor Commissioner Erickson. but it:
enforcement makes necessary eterna
foil thn 10