Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1905-01-20
CAPITOL NOTES
legislature Gets to W0rk==U. S.
Senatorial Contest is on and
Railway Legislation Promi=
mont
Special correspondence J


Special Correspondence
| MADISON, Jan. 1.-THE legislator,
met last week on Wednesday and or
ganized. A caucus of the republican
members having decided upon the
officers, there was no friction in set
ting the legislative wheels in motion
The caucus demonstrated beyond
doubt that the administration, ol
La Toilette element of republicans
was largely in the majority. A resolu
tion binding participants in the
caucus to support the platform Of the
republican party as enunciated last
fall was adopted, fourteen republican
assemblymen of the Stalwart faitt
walking out of the caucus. These
men claimed that they would not be
| tied down as to their future action
| The administrator forces insist that
the pledge demanded does not inter.
fere with individual Judgment as tC
| the best methods of carving out
party promises.
The administration element is sc
largely in the majority. that there
seems little DOUBT but that the way is
clear for Gov, La Toilette to enact
into law the principles he has been
urging for four years or longer. There
will, of course, be opposition. but it
cannot withstand the votes that the
| administration will command. Some
mOdifica tiOn Of the governors views
of affecting the general propositions
| he has in mind. Included in the
ranks Of the administration members
are many strong men. who, while
entirely in accord with the governor
| feel that they must use their own
Judgment in all matters.
Assemblyman LenroOt. of Douglas
county, was reelected speaker with.
out opposition and Senator McGil.
livray president of senate pro TEN.
Both men have made fine records and
in their speeches Of acceptance fore
shadOwed the determination to carry
out the republican platform pledges.
There were few contests over minor
positions.
On Thursday the governor read his
message to the two houses in Joint
session. 1t was three hours long, but
the large audience was deeply inter
eSted throughout, as the governor is
most attractive on the platform and
he discussed many lively topics. The
railroad question was the most prom
inent one treat q and in a forceful
way the executive outlined legislative
measures that are in accord with his
former addresses and documents.
More safeguards around the state
treaSurer's office were urged, the peO-
pie were cOmplimented upon the
triumph of the primary election law
and the needs of the various state
institutions were discussed. The
message will make a formidable
volume and will prove one of the
most valuable state papers.
After hearing the message, the
legislature adjourned until Tuesday,
many of the members returning to
their homes and some of them remain
| ing to secure accommodations for the
session. This is serious question,
for living in Madison is expensive and
the salary of each member does not
warrant patronizing hotels. A num-
| Der of the senators and aSSemblymen
| bring their wives and secure accom-
mediation in boarding houses or
| private families.
Many matters of Importance will
come before the legislature. The
election of a successor to United
States Senator Quarles will first
attract attention. Senator Quarles
and his friends are making a strong
fight for his reelection. Other
avOwed candidates are Judge Webb
and Congressman Cooper and Esch
All of these gentlemen have opened
headquarters here and will wage ar
active campaign. Whether Gov. La
Toilette will he a candidate in the
active sense is not known. 1t is stated
on reliable authority that the Dane
county members will vote for the
governor in the caucus and that othel
members will do the same. There i:
a strong feeling in administration
circles that the governor should fl
out the term for which he has just
qualified in order that the legislation
he has so long favored may be enacted
but on the other hand it is urged tha
all such legislation can be safely pu
out of the way before Coy. La Follett,
need leave tie executive office. Their,
| is still some talk of a new man bein,
introduced as a candidate but it i
very certain that Senator Quarles
successor is among the gentlemen
named above.
While railroad legislation will b
/ the chief work of the session, on
j subject that will be prominent is tina
| of a new capitol building. The oil
\ structure has clearly outlived it
usefulness and money spent apo
rehabilitating it after the fire
! largely wasted. 1t is estimated tha
| it will cost at least two millio