Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1905-12-13
THE LEGISLATURE.
IN THE ASSEMBLY.


=, The Assembly met on the 9Th to hear
the governors message and announcement
OF acceptance Of the United States Senator
ship.
Three petitions came into the Assembly
from Waupaca county on the 9Th object
ing 10 the law providing for fshways In
aams and asking relief Resolutions pre-
sented and adopted were: Mr.. Smoker,
that each member be given a copy of the
laws of 1898, to be returned at the close
OF the session. also copies Of journals Of
be introduced after December I except in
committees. Three bills came in, two by
Mr.. Potts for the repeal Of the fishway
law and the pocket ballot law passed at
the last session. He asked that the bills
be put through under suspension, but with
drew his request on objections. Mr.. Dahl
way bill and not have voting in the dark.
Mr. Beedle objected to the pocket ballot
bill of Mr.. Potts. Mr.. Hageman introduced
a bill charging the powers of the railway
rate commission.
The Assembly had sensation at the very
start of its session on the 7th, when AS
semblyman Miller of Green Lake county
presented a resolution asking Gov. La Fol
lette to resign either the gOvernorship or
the senatorship at once. Mr.. Andrews
moved that the resolution be laid on the
table. Mr.. Miller asked for a roll CALL but
was not sustained by a sufficient number,
and amid some hilarity the Andrews motion
prevailed. The measure providing for the
new $2,50O,O00 capitol building, which has
passed the Senate, was favorably reported
In the Assembly. The pocket ballot bill
was reported for death It is altogether
mock primary election in day or two for
the purpose of testing the new law. Mr..
Schaut introduced a resolution to that eff
feet. On motion of Mr.. Hube 1T was laid
over.
A joint resolution was introduced in the
Assembly on the 9Th to provide for a
thorough investigation into all Of the af-
fairs of the state university. Mr.. Potter
n1y1ff Gov %lo
OF an index clerk for the Assembly. 1t was
adopted. The committee on new bills, priv
ilege and elections, presented two new bills,
one providing for an amendment to the
primary election law and one changing the
form of the official ballot. The bill amend
ing the railroad rate law was favorably re-
luton providing for a mock primary cleo
ton by the Assembly to test the operation
Of the proposed primary law was adopted.
The speaker announced that he would fix
a date for the election as soon as bill should
be printed. The new capitol bill was on the
calendar for advancement and under sus-
pension was taken up for passage. MI.
Brockhausens amendment limiting work on
the new building to eight hours a day came
up. MI. Andrew said that was proposition
of great Importance and wanted the bill
and amendment rereferred, which prevailed
Another amendment to the primary election
law has been introduced by Mr.. Thomas
to provide that no candidate can secure the
names of more than 10 per cent. of the
voters of any district in which he is run
ming for Office for his nomination papers.
The law provides that he must secure at
least 2 per cent. of the electors to sign his
nomination papers, but in some counties the
candidate first in the field has secured the
signatures of practically all the voters in
the district. Assemblyman Brockhausen,
Social Democrat, submitted an amendment
to the new capitol bill providing that the
eight-hour day shall apply in all work on
the new structure.
The good faith of members in the lower
house of the Legislature in introducing
joint resolution providing for an investiga-
tien of the affairs of the railroads and il
surance companies Of the state was ques-
toned during a discussion of the measure
on the floor on the 18th. The resolution was
an amendment was offered by Mr. Coff-
land to extend the time for the submission
of the report of the investigating commit
tee to February /, 1907, instead of NOvem-
Der /, 1906.