Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1905-12-20
TWO BALLOT BILLS
GET BLACK EYES
ASSEMBLY REFUSES TO APPROVE
PROPOSED CHANGES.
BOTH VOTES DECISIVE
Assemblyman Warmers Massachusetts
Measure Gets More Votes Than
Roycraft's Adaptation for Minnesota
Law-Fishway Statute Kuined
Waterpower in Portage County.
Madison, Dec. Ia.

lHs dSSeulDly yesterday refused 10
order to engrossment either of the
ballot reform bills offered in answer
to the message of the governor ON
that subject. The bills had been re-
ported from the assembly committee
on privileges and elections without
recommendation, for the committee
was equally divided between the two
bills that have become known as the
Warner and the Roycraft bills. The
former was framed much on the plan
of the Massachusetts law and more
closely follows the suggestions of the
governors message than does the bin
framed by Mr.. Roycraft after the
Minnesota ballot. Both are designed
to destroy the great power of the
straight" ticket and require the vote,
to exercise his individual judgment
with respect to his vote on each can
didate for Office at the election The
first of the ballot bills reached on the
calendar was that of Mr.. Warner OF
Madison. and he made an address OF
some length upon the merits of hiss
/ BILL He read from the governors
message and explained how the
measure he proposed would operate
to bring the changes for good which
the governor urged upon the legis
lature. Mr.. Roycraft opposed the bill,
on the ground that the ballot pro-
posed was of such compact form as
to render great the liability of mis-
takes by the ordinary voter. He also
said that there was a better bill that
could be passed, meaning his own
measure, which was next on the
calendar. Mr.. Hanson Of Beloit also
! opposed the bill arguing that there
was no demand for a change in the
form of the ballot, that the present
system OF voting was giving tolerable
satisfaction, that the people were
familiar with it and that 10 radica!
change ough to be made at this time
witholt the demand for it was clear
and strong. coming from the people.
The roll was called, the result being
as follows:
To advance ballot reform bill, No.
9a-Messrs. .Ainsworth, Andrew,
Bauer, Beedle, Rel, Bletcher, Brad
dock, Cleary, CofHand. Curtis, Dahl.
Donald, Ekern. Gordon, Hagen,
Hanniin, Henry, Huber. Jerdee,
Henry Johnson, Leroy, McGregor,
Perry Fred Peterson, Powell, Ram
say, George e. Scott. John Scott.
Stevens. Storm, farrell, Thomt Tur-
ner. Warner and Speaker Lenroot.-
l35.
Against essrs. Aldridge, Baker,
Berner, Gohri, Brennan, Brock
Ihausen, Burdeau, Carpenter, Crowley,
Curtin, Dietrich, Dinsdale, Durland,
Eldridge. Everett, Fridd. Hamm, Han
son, Heinecke, Irvine, Frank John
son, Thomas johnson, Kinney.
Ledyina, Mckenzie, Marquart, Metz.
Her. Meyers, Miller, Norcross, Page,
p. H. Peterson, Pierron, Potter Page,
Ragatz. Reynolds, Roycroft, Saugen.
Schauer. Slight, Strehlow, Swenholt,
Thayer, Theme, Ties, Wehrwein-4S
The only debate on the following
measure, the Roycraft bill, was the
scarcely noticeable request by Mr..
Hanson for the calling of the roll.
lOnly q votes were cast in favor OF
1.-THE measure, the vote being q for
land So against. Those who favored
1.-THE Roycraft bill were as follows:
Messrs. Beedle, Bell, Brennan.
Burdeau. Dahl, Donald, Ekern, Huber,
Henry Johnson, Thomas johnson,
Kinney, McGregor, Mckenzie, Metz
Ter, Meyers, Perry, P. II. Peterson,
Roycraft, Saugen. Schauer, Smoker,
Stevens. Storm, Thayer, Ties Warner
and Speaker Lenroot-27
Decides for Eieht-hour Day.
The assembly dc cided in favor of
an eight-hour day clause on the con
tracts for the building of the new
capitol. The report Of the commit
tee was read, and also the dissenting
report of Speaker Lenroot. The
speaker ruled that the amendment
to proyide for an eighthour day was
germane and could be considered by
the assembly. The amendment was
then adopted without debate, by a
vote of Ga to "a. those voting in the
negative being Messrs. Baker, Beedle,
Bohyi, Bradd0ck, Chandler, Dins-
dale, Donald Durland, Hanson Ir-
vine, Henry Johnson. Thomas John
son, Miller, Reynolds, Roycrai,,
George f. Scott. John Scott, Stevens,
Storm, Swenholt, Thayer, Thomas,
Ties, Turner.
The bill as amended was then adj
vanced 10 third reading and adjourn
ment.
The assembly refused to concur in
the Hatten joint resolution to finish
business yesterday and adopted a
resolution by Mr.. Turner to call all
bills from committees yesterday.
The grain inspection amendment bill
was advanced and the fishway bin
WAS delayed after Mr.. Carpenter had
made a speech against it and Mr..
Potter had offered as substitute
amendment his bill to repeal the
present law Mr.. Carpenter said the
bin as framed and passed by the
senate would give the commission of
fisheries the same unreasonably
great power as the present law, which
ne said had ruined a waterway in his
district The Hagen bill. to prevent
determinations in switching charges,
was passed under suspension of the
rules.