Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1905-01-31
THE LEGISLATURE.


of interest was the election of a u. s.
senator to succeed Senator j. v.
Quarles. Gov. Robert M. LaFollette
won with much ease in the caucus and
received, with the exception of two, all
of the republican votes of the senate
and assembly. On Wednesday the
governor accepted the nomination, con-
ditional upon the passage of the reforms
which he has advocated. He re-
ceived great ovation and his speech
of acceptance was characteristic one.
At its conclusion he held an in
formal reception with Lieut. Governor
Davidson and Senator McGillivray, and
then senators and assemblymen and
citizens and students filed past him for
half an hour each giving hearty hand
shake and saying words of congratulate
ion. Senator A. L. Kreutzer of this
city, was the only stalwart who was in
the lines and who took occasion torcon-
graduate the governor
A bill to cut telephone rates has been
introduced into the assembly which
provides that in cities of the first class
the rental for single telephone shall
not be over 81 month for single tele-
phones, and where two or more tele-
phones are used by the same party the
rental is to be only SO month each; in
cities of between 10000 and 10000 in
habitants the rate is to be SO for single
telephones and 81 90 each for two or
more telephones. In cities under $1,000
inhabitants and for country telephones
81 a month is to be the rate for single
phones and 20 cents a month when two
phones are used.
One of the bills introduced by the
Wisconsin League of Municipalities,
is that giving the mayors the veto
power over school board legislation.
The league also introduced bill for
single aldermen for wards.
Rev. Mr.. Boyer, of Eau Claire has
offered very radical local option bill.
1t practically provides that any subdi-
vision of municipalities down to streets
and blocks can vote Cd the subject of
whether saloons shall be located within
their limits. The minimum population
of the subdivision where such vote
can be taken is 800.
The cigarette question has again come
up, Senator Bird introducing a bill
prohibiting the manufacture and sale
in the state to minors or adults.
Senator Rummel, of Milwaukee, So
cial Democrat, introduced radical bill
providing that all exclusive franchises
held by quasi-public corporations shall
be declared null and void, but that two
years time shall be given to existing
corporations holding such franchises to
dispose of their property or to seek new
franchises under the proposed provis.
ions of the bill. After that time, no
franchises are to be granted except on
the affirmative vote of the people and
for no longer than term of five years.
At the expiration of that term, the
question shall be submitted to the people
as to whether the business shall be pur-
chased by the people.
Assemblyman Carpenter introduced
a bill in the assembly making five years
insanity ground for divorce when it
shall be satisfactorily proven that the
insane person is incurable. The bill
provides that the plaintiff in such an
action must have been resident of the
state for five years and that neither
neglect, abuse or other cause contri-
buted in any manner to the cause of in
sanity. The defendant must have spent
at least two years in a state asylum, and
the testimony of the superintendent of
such an institution shall be taken for
the testimony of attending physicians
Stringent provisions are made for the
serving of copies of the complaint upon
the defendant or upon his or her rela-
tives and for the appointment of
guardian ad Item to protect the insane
persons interests.
A bill was introduced into the assem-
bly, onThursday providing that railroads
must furnish cars to shippers within
seventy-two hours of demand and allow
forty eight hours for loading Failure
to furnish cars within time stated makes
the roads liable to payment of damage
just as now they themselves charge
shippers for the time cars are held on
the track loading or unloading.
A mortgage taxation bill was intro
duced by Senator Ernest Merton on
Thursday providing that mortgages
shall be assessed against the owner of
the security and that mortgages upon
which no taxes have been paid shall not
be competent evidence in court of
record, thus making them valueless.
The assessment is to be made at the
place where the MORTGAGE resides and
the taxes to be paid at the same place.
The present mortgage taxation law,
which proved unavailing, is to be re-
pealed. Real estate covered by mort
gage is to be relieved of assessment to
the value of the mortgage, leaving only
the owners equity in the property to
bear taxation.
The Social Democrats are introducing
number of bills, among them the fol-
lowing: That all emery wheels be
equipped with blowers and safety de-
vices; that in an action for wages made
after written demand attorneys fees
can be recovered by the plaintiff; that
the assignment of wages of married