Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1905-12-22
Wisconsin
Legislature.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
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Gov. La Toilette bumped the bumps
in both houses of the Legislature We'd
nesday and after his defeated supporters
recovered themselves sufficiently to sur
vey the situation they found every polit-
ical measure urged by the Governor in
his message to the specially convened
Legislature had been defeated. The
Senate by an overwhelming vote, II to
10, killed the general investigation reso-
luton providing for a sweeping investiga-
ton into life Insurance. railroad and 9TH
er corporations and political committees
and organizations. The Assembly by the
vote of 43 to 40 defeated the 'cumu-
lative" or second choice" primary cleo
ton bill, called the MARY Ann or
How old is Ann" bill because of the
complicated nature of the proposition.
Two ballot reform bills, either of which
would have tolerably we'll satisfied the
demands of the Governor, were defeated
by decisive votes One was fashioned
after the Massachusetts law and was
defeated by vote of 4S to 35. The 9TH
er was adopted from the Minnesota law.
1t went by the board on a vote of So
to II. This makes four bumps for the
administration program.
-
The "Mary Ann primary election
bill, designed by Gov La Toilette to
give voters at primary elections Sec
ond as well as first choice for candi-
dates, was killed Thursday. The lower
house of the Legislature, by vote of AZ
to 20, refused to reconsider its action
of Tuesday night, when the measure was
voted down. The Assembly also stood
pat against the ballot reform bills advo-
Gated by the Governor and these meas
ures were also killed. There will be a
rigid investigation by joint committee
of the Legislature of the affairs of the
Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance
Company of Milwaukee. This is the
crumb Gov. La Toilette saved from the
wreck of the extra session. The Senate,
following the defeat of the Governors
general railroad, Insurance. corporation,
politics investigation resolution, decided
to provide for the increase of the COM
mittee of three Senators appointed at
the last regular session by the addition
of four members of the Assembly and
give large powers and ample expense al
lowance and charge the committee with
the duty of thoroughly investigating the
operations and affairs of the life insur-
ance companies of Wisconsin.
The Legislature Friday completed the
work at the special session and adjourn
ed until noon the following Tuesday, Civ
ing the Governor the customary three
days for considering bills. Most of the
members went home. The Assembly con-
Cured in an amendment to the bill max
ing payment Of taxes a prerequisite to
railroads going into court to set aside
any assessment made. The Senate hav-
ing refused concurrence to the eight-hour
day in building the new capitol, the AS
sembly, after a long debate, receded
from the contrary position. The capitol
building bill and the university investi-
cation bill were then concurred in
Robert NJ. La Toilette Tuesday sent
a message to the Legislature resigning
the office of Governor for the remainder
of his term, the resignation to take effect
at noon on the first Monday in January
next. He will go to Washington a few
days later to qualify as United States
Senator to succeed J. V. Quarles, whose
term expired last March, and who failed
to secure reelection. The special ses-
sion of the Legislature adjourned at y
O'Clock noon Tuesday, the last business
being the reception of Gov. La Fol
lette's resignation. It passed sixteen bills
in all, which embodied all of the Gov
ernor's recommendations except those re-
garding amendments to the form of bal
lot and the primary election law. The
Governor wanted ballot which would
prevent the voting of straight party tick
cts by the making of one mark or cross
at the top Of a column. The following
committee was announced to conduct
legislative investigation of insurance COM
panies Senators Frear, Roehr and Rum
nell, Assemblymen Ekern, Braddock,
Beedle and Potter. The following COM
mittee was announced to conduct an in
vestigation of the State university: Sena-
tors Patten and Kreutzner, Assembly
men McGregor, Donald and Fred Peter
son.