Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1905-06-07
BUSINESS WILL
END THIS WEEK
Senate Slaughtered Thirty
Seven Bills by One
Vote.
NEW CAPITOL ORDERED BUILT
Commission May Build One or
Two Wings with the $780,.
900 at Their Command.
Mortgage Taxation at Mercy of Sem
ate - Water Power Topic of
Growing Interest-Attacks
on Corporations.

Madison, Wis, June G.-These are
busy days with the lawmakers, but 1t
will be over this week in all likelihood,
barring three days in which hand
ful of the members sit around await
ing action on bills by the governor,
with an opportunity to pass them over
his veto, etc. They must, too, con-
firm his appointment Of railroad COM
nissioners. Never before has the Wis
consin legislature been In session on
June LIST. 1t seems a long time since
crowds packed the Park hotel wonder
ing if Senator Quarles had any chance
of returning to the senate, or whether
Mr.. Esch or Judge Webb would be the
choice.
The senate calendar the other day
carried 40 bills, That body ''killed"
thirty in one bunch. The as
sembly is having hard work TO keep
its members here, although the SEN
ate is practically complete in It's ranks.
Each day sees important matters
threshed out and settled; proposals TO
lay bills over are not popular 1t is
time when those disposed TO do sharp
work In the handling Of bills have an
opportunity TO do so.
Two Capitol Questions Settled.
The long and merry unrest, for
which Senator Stevens, OF Oshkosh,
was chiefly responsible. in loyalty TO
his home town, looking to moving the
state house came to and end when the
senate, after having twice passed the
referendum bill, killed 1t.
Not less important to Madison, and
indeed to the whole state, IS the
adopted policy of proceeding with
new capitol building The bill as II
passed the senate provides for the
present construction of one or two
wings as the commission sees fit; but
beyond this the commission may, and
no doubt will plan for an entirely
new building. There will be q fresh
call for plans and a selection will be
made. With this accepted plan before
them successive legislatures win ap-
propriate for the building by parts as
they may choose This scheme is
practically by general consent OF all
the members and the bitterness has
melted way. II was a great relief
when on motion of Senator Whitehead
the rules were suspended and the mat
ter pushed 10 passage. Senator Burns
conducted the financial end of the pre-
sentation with much ability.
Money for the University.
The state university's claims were
also nicely carried. having the hearty
support OF the administration. 1t is
TO have 100000 every two years for
building purposes I'm addition to its
regular increasing income from the
two-sevenths of mill tax as the as
sessed valuation OF all property In
creases.
Mortgage Taxation.
The senate has vet TO pass on the
mortgage taxation bill as passed In the
assembly, but its action on a similar
measure betokens that the bill may
fail. 1t got through the assembly by
a vote of A 10 SO. The governor years
ago promised that he would catch the
man whose money is In mortgages II
he had TO chase him around the world,
and, although the state tax commits
sion have opposed the plan, the present
plan Is vigorously urged. The assem-
bly, bill forblds agreement between the
man who loans the money and the Dor
rover, with the Idea OF preventing the
lender from including the tax in the
loan. But nothing can prevent the
rate of interest from going up from =
per cent. where now money IS easy.
and 1t is freely predicted that this Will
follow as we'll as the cOnCeaiment or
transactions of this sort, and the re-
moval of business TO other states.
However, it Is unnecessary TO worry,
as the senate will probably stop the
measure.
Monopoly and Development.
There has been some informal talk
rs to the place of water powers In de
Veloping the state. The fear of mon.
opoly is abroad in the land. ana when
n big project came before the leglsla
ture looking toward controlling the
hugh powers of the Visor sin river q
cry was raised that capital was trying
TO encroach upon the rights of the PEG
pie Originally n Wisconsin dam had
reference to logging operations, but
Tow that logs are disappearing. river
dam suggests water powers. electric
light plants, and other sources OF
revenue.
The sentiment III the valley Itself
seems to be towards n liberal policy n
the granting OF these rights to build
and maintain dams. while the econ
omists away from the scene look for
ward fifty years and see how valuable
these powers VIII become Wisconsin
valley wants factories and the like