Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1905-12-20
THE LEGISLATURE.
IN THE ASSEMBLY.

The Assembly on the 18th passed bill
providing that the old license fee system OF
taxing railroads shall stand in case the
supreme court declares invalid the ad val
orem tax law passed last winter
The Assembly on the 18th killed two
bills providing for change in the form OF
ballot The Mary Ann" bill, providing
for the expression of first anu second
choice for candidates at the primaries was
killed Tuesday night In the Assembly. The
Social Democrats amendment to the cap
itol bill providing that all labor employed
on the new structure shall work but eight
hours day, was adopted by, the Assem-
bly,. Speaker Lenroot, a candidate for gov
ernor, brought in a minority report favor
Ing the measure.
The Assembly on the 18th defeated the
Mary Ann bill, which provides for first and
second choice in the primary election. An
attempt was made also to save the oallct
chusetts ballot bill was killed was recon-
sldered, but 1t availed nothing for 1t was
vote. On motion Of Mr. Gordon the AS
semoiy by vote Of SO to % reconsidered
it's adverse vote Of Wednesday on 1oA, the
fer an amendment. Mr.. Roycraft offered a
substitute BILL which left the circle at the
top of party columns but reduced the size
Mr.. Roycraft explained the substitute and
Messrs Warner, Potter and Aldridge OPP
posed it. By vote of 81 to 70 the Roy
vote then reverted to the original biz,
top Of the party column. 1t was defeated
te ra xGge OF sic to O tx on rates
where railroads fail or neglect to do so was
passed Mr.. Cleary's joint resolution for
an Investigation Of the university went
no opposition. The Potter bill for the re-
peal of the law providing for the Dunn
pocket ballot and coupon voting system
was passed without opposition, as did the
bill to restrain railroad companies from
commencing suits against the state until
all taxes levied and assessed against them
are paid. The Metzler bill providing for
the appointing Of election inspectors and
clerks in February and the Thomas bill pro-
hibiting any candidate getting more thar
his primary election petition, went through
unopposed, as did LA, requiring that law
suits over railroad taxes be tried in the
Dane county circuit court. Mr.. Potter alone
opposed the Senate bill for a new state
capitol. He saw in 1t the beginning Of the
end Of a 100000 building. By vote
of 70 to 10 the Senate bill authorizing
temporary transfer from the general fund
to the university fund income to tide over
the present stringency was passed Mr..
Everett strongly opposed the Potter amend
He had an amendment to the present law.
leaving the placing Of fishways to the judg-
ment Of the commission, and permitting APP
peals to the courts. The Potter amendment
was voted down. 65 to 10. His amendment
for hearings In county seats then came up
and was adopted, A to 40. The Everett
amendment then went through and the bill
was concurred in. The Assembly passed
the bill making the payment of disputed
state taxes a prerequisite to suits for the
return Of said taxes with a provision for
their repayment by the state If the taxes
were declared illegal. The bill providing If
this bill should be held invalid the penalty
OF the nonpayment Of taxes was also passed.
The Assembly completed the work Of the
special session at noon the 18th and
adjourned until noon Tuesday December
10, giving the governor the customary
three days for considering bills. 1t con-
Cured In amendment to the bill making
payment Of taxes prerequisite to railroads
made. The Senate having refused concur
new capital, the Assembly receded from
it's position on the proposition after long
debate. The capitol building bill and uni
versity investigation bill were then con-
Cured in. The Assembly cbncurred in the
Senate substitute for "A unanimously. 1t
makes payment by the railroads of their
taxes a prerequisite to going into court to
set aside assessments. The Assembly gave
the railroads fifteen days within which to
pay taxes before beginning suits, while the
Senate bill gives them forty days. The
Rogers amendment to ga, which provides
that ward chairmen shall recommend cleo
ton officers, was concurred in, and IA, re-
lating to primary elections, the word
knowingly" was substituted for "willful-
ly."
The Assembly held brief session on the
18th and received reports on enrolled bills