Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1905-05-24
ADJOURNMENT
NEAR At HAND
Everybody Is Happy Over
Railroad Bill Except
Railroads.
CIVIL SERVICE YET TO COME
Senate Win Certainly Modify and
May Even Do More
Than That.
Appropriations Big This Year-Tem'
perance Bills Dying Fast-To
BE Governor Davidson
Soon Now.

the legislature will adjourn next week
Now that the railway rate bill has
passed the senate, and its passage by
the assembly will be uneventful, there
is an eagerness on the part Of the
members to get home. \ number OF
big matters have not been adjusted
but they will be put out of the way
soon.
There is a good deal Of growing
about the small pay $500 for mem
bers, for to those who live well, the
amount is not enough TO cover ex-
penses. And, in the meantime, their
home business interests are suffering.
What the legislature needs TO effect an
earlier adjournment is more activity
in the early weeks Of tho sessions and
n few Saturday and Monday sessions
in earnest. Some favor Il fixed period,
as 100 days, but with 4 growing state
there are objections to hard and fast
rules. If a precedent could be set for
the two branches to stay and work
over Sunday, say every third week, II
f%G1stk hGNl AtilllES iAiGF III 49, 'A'-aN
spasmodically n Sunday is selected
when the members are expected to re-
main at the capital city, so many Of
the members stay home that the rem
nant Is unable 10 do much.
A Rate Commission at Last.
The SENATE passed the committee
railway rate commission bill Thursday,
after considerable talking. and the as
sembly is expected to send it 10 tho
governor as it now stands. The bill
provides for three commissioners Mt
5000 each. and these the governor
win appoint before the legislature adj
journs, TO be confirmed by the senate
There has been talk of Mr.. Thomas,
the railroad commissioner. and Mr..
Erickson, the labor commissioner, for
two of the places, but no one knows
what will happen.
The bill ieself is less drastic, of
course. than the Texas law-which
leads them all in severity--but is re-
garded as a pretty vigorous measure.
AS one railway lobbyist said, Were
like the young physician, having lost
mother and child, but hopeful Of
pulling through the old man"
The measure will prohibit discrimin-
atoms, and that Is q ',reat gain. AS
the freight on a par of shoes from
Massac husetts Is about one and 4 half
cents, the consumer VIII rot often
know that anything; has happened.
The coal rate from Milwaukee, how
p57F CHI
pers who, It is said, growl q good deal
IN private, despite their strong ad-
vOcacy Of the present system. VIII be
better off Things viii be more in the
open.
All Parties Shared.
The bin Itself IS less drastic. Of
senate; moreover, in its drafting, men
Of both factions co-operated. so, with
all honor to Governor LaFollette for
the aguatiou, the new law win he re-
garded as u measure In the making OF
which mer Of all parties shared. OF
course, it carries the appointlve fea-
ture The history Of Iowa and some
other states Is that the carly commits
sions are appointed, after which the
people demand n change to the elective
systems, and all parties seek TO obIige
them.
Senator Whitehead hoped to effect
certain changes-especi0Ily as to COM
modify rates-and made a notable
speech Just before the passage OF the
bill; but, as with others, he said he
waived his objections in view Of the
hard work done by the committee and
the impossiblIity Of agreement il each
man insisted for all he wanted. and
voted for 1t. Nine-tenths of the volume
of freight traffic Is Interstate business
under the purview Of the commission
at Washington, but there will be
enough for the three commissioners to
do on the balance
VIII They Hold Their Jobs?
The civil service bill has vet 10 run
the gauntlet Of the senate. 1t viii like
~ be amended there, and between the
two houses may die the death As II
is. the present Office holders IN capitol
state institutions, etc. must undergo a
non-competitlve examination. and the
'outs," not only the Stalwarts. hut the
non-offlce holding half-brecds. are
anxious to get at them But good men
of all parties hope civil service may he
established
Fighting Fire. Etc.
The forestry bill has passed The
senate and will undoubtedly become
a law. This should mean ahating
of forest fires and a lot Of planting o(
pine trees and the safeguarding Of the
water supply up north. 1t does not
appea. that there IS much room fol
patronage I'm the bill. Ne township
may spend more than $1,000 In a year
for local wardens, at the rate Of -
cents an hour in fighting fire, etc. thG
money TO come from the local treasury.
The trouble is said TO be in getting
good men to 20 TO the woods and en-
gaze in the work. which may be in
beating out the flames or in preyeuta-
tive work.
Temperance Bills Slaughtered.
The Thayer bill died easily. a few
more voters would have carried il, 81
even had its original backing beer
held, this residence district bill
might have been sent to the senate
The 3O0-foot bill has been delayed and
amended. and it Is predicted 1t VII
,,n+ noes Tho parnfy nntfon bill has