Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1905-04-26
NO TAX TO Be LAID
ON THE BACHELORS
CLEARY BILL KILLED BY THE
LOWER HOUSE.
EVENING OF HORSEPLAY
Humorous Speeches, Facetious
Amendments and Resentment From
Masculine SingIeness Occupy a
Rare Session of the Assembly
Author Strong in Its Support.
Madison, April 20.

Madison, April 20.
Legislative bachelors won out after
the "horseplay' session of this years
Legislature last night, killing the
Cleary bill to lay tax of So a year on
all unmarried men Of good ply steal
powers. The vote was Overwhelming
against the proposition Assembly
man CleGry is a bachelor 81 years old,
but engaged, it is said, TO a juneau
county girl. He argued earnestly for
his BILL declaring with the
reading of statistics that unmarried
men are unsubstantial, race-suicidal
and often violent. When he arose
to speak fashlight photograph was
taken of him and he declared that he
was glad to be pictured in advocating
so worthy a measure.
Cleary Defends Measure.
Mr. Cleary's desk was decorated
with flowers and flags and on each
side was a plate Of oranges. he spoke
il favor of the passage of his bill
with much earnestness, saying that he
had received correspondence fran wo-
IL en- from ali over the country who
congratulated MIN upon the introduc-
tioE of the measure and urged him to
use all honorable means in having it
passed.
An amendment increasing the rate
Of taxation from S. to $40 was report
ed with the bill Mr.. Carpenter want
ed to know why the committee report
ed the amendment after it had been
Indefinitely postponed in the commit
tee.
Would Include Grass Widowers.
Mr.. Dahl chairman uf the lmmit-
tee, replied that the members had first
intended to make the tax S25, but it
was thought best to leave that to 4
future legislature. He argued in IA
yor of having divorced men included
in the measure.
If a man is divorced and is unable
To get another wife he should be
classeG Nth the bachelors" said Mr.
Dahl. He belongs to the same
bunch"
The amendment was lost by vote
of Sc to 16.
Would Sell Them at Lowest Bid.
Mr.. Ledvina offered an amendment
providing that If any bachelors fail to
pay their taxes they shall be declared
delingr ents and present themselves to
the sheriff on certain day They
shall then be sold to the lowest bid
/ der, women over 30 being the only
persons who shall be allowed to bid.
Il the bachelors are not taken by the
maids they shall be exempt from fur
Their taxation. Mr.. Leroy called at
tention to the United States constitu-
ton which forbids slavery. Mr. Page
was Of the opinion that the amend
ment would be unconstitutional.
Menace to Society.
Mr.. Ceary, who was called upon,
thought it was time to lower the colors
on the subject. Those bachelors, he
said, who are opposed TO the measure,
are a menace to American society
He read extracts from noted men and
physicians to substantiate his argu-
ments for the bill He read figures
which showed that married men lived
longer than those who are single. He
quoted DR.. Benjamin Ide Wheeler,
president of the California university,
as saying that bachelors are properly
clsssed with bandits and outlaws.
These men contribute nothing to
the maintenance of the government
which gives them protection" said Mr.
C!eary. a man at the age of 30
with ability To get married is not fit
for society unless he gets married"
Pleads Cause of Colleagues.
Mr. LeRov pleaded the cause of the
bachelors OF the assembly with much
wit and eloquence. He said the bill
was an injustice to the men who have
not assumed the burden of the white
man. OF the 16 unmarried men in
the assembly, MIR. Leroy believed
that not one of them has not tried to
sever the tie that binds them with
the gloomy lonesome life In humor-
GUS vein the speaker referred to the
married men whose purses must now
be opened for the costly Easter bon
nets of their wives; how the papas
must walk the floor at night with the
babies in their arms and how the
wives embrace the husbands and tell
them that they are the best men in
the world
| Reflection on Fair Sex.
There ought TO be a demand for a
/ law before il is enacted" said the
speaker. This bill does not emanate
from The fair sex. 1t is a reflection
on them. can see women look dag
gers at the presumptuous member
from Juneau The girls of that
county may want to have the bach.
elors taxed but not those Of Dane.
] Marinette and other counties"
Mr. Thayer was opposed TO the bill
He said that If the bachelors are
I classed with bardits and guerillas
and were coerced into matrimony they