Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1905-02-07
WISCONSIN SQIONS.


The railroads came in for some hard
hlttinS Thursday. The Assembly pass
ed unanimously bin which is but a pre-
iude to the big suits that the State will
az once begin against the railroads for
the recovery of back taxes due The bill
fixes tho limitation for the recovery of
penalties or forfeitures at six years. in
stead of two. The cause for action shall
also be construed as not having accrued
until discovered. Investigations have
been carried ON for year TO see whether
the railroads have reported their full
earnings and sufficient ground has been
discovered for bringing suits against the
roads. and as the companies pay their Ii
censes on Feb. /. it was necessary for
the Assembly TO pass the bill at once.
Another bin provides that all suits be
tween the State and the railroad COM
panies shall be tried in the Circuit Court
at Madison and that the present suits
brought by the railroad companies in
various parts of the State to test the al
valorem tax law shall be transferred tn
Madison. Senator Mobiles resolution
commencing the action of the Wisconsir.
Congressman ON the tariff readjustmeat
question was adopted unanimously. An
other bill requires the railroad COM
panes to furnish cars within seventy
two hours after a demand is made by
shippers and gives shi%ers forty
hours in which to load. prohibits rebates.
and makes other restrictions. The State
board of health decided to ask for a
stringent tuberculosis law.
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The sessions in the two houses Mon
day night We're short and sweet. the
clash expected by some in the Senate
over the bill which passed the Assembly
under suspension OF rules the previous
week, providing FOR an extension OF the
time in which suits can be brought by
the State against railways for taxes on
unreported earnings. failing to material
ize. There WAS division of sentiment
in the Senate in regard to the Assembly
bill increasing the number of legislative
employees which came up for third read
ing. On viva voce vote President Ne
Gillivray was unable TO lecidew hat WAS
the result, but upon rising vote it car
ried 13 TO 4. Senators Whitehead, North.
Roehr and Randolph opposing il. I'm the
Assembly among the bills introduced was
one by Speaker Learoot. by request,
which is calculated TO make owners of
automobiles sit up and take notice. Ii
provides that automobiles shall not pass
any team ut a rate of more than two,
miles All hour, that they must stop ON sig
nal of distress from drivers of teams,
and that if it is impossible for the team
and auto To pass on the road the auto
must back up until the team can safely
pass The name and address of the own
err is TO be put plainly on the back of
each machine and between sunset and To-
O'clock the bubbles must not be run Mt
speed exceeding four miles an hour. As
semblyman Smoker introduced the meas
ure advocated by the Wisconsin League
of Wisconsin municipalities providing
for the appointment by the Governor Of
Il commission of three to investigate and
report on the municipal charters of Wis
consin cities with the idea of adopting a
uniform charter.
-
; Architect Cass Gilbert of ST. Paul won
the competition for preparation of plans
for the new capitol building and will be
chosen to supervise the work of construe-
ton, which VIII, begin during the coming
season. The plans are said to resemble
in any respects those of the new Mime
sofa state house. 1t is estimated that il
can be completed for about S5,00000O.
but many believe that the plans cannot
be executed for less than Ss,000,000 to
$10,000,000 The style cf the accepted
plans is known as romantic. The report
of the commission was presented to the
Legislature Tuesday night. The first
prize is $1,000. second 81 800 and third
is 81, 900. The construction will occupy
a term of eight or ten years, the first
parts to he built being those of the old
building destroyed by fire a year ago. A
bill introduced into the Assembly Tues
day would repeal the Wisconsin marriage
law, requiring wait of five days after
securing a marriage license before the
ceremony can be performed.