Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1905-02-03
COMMITTEES NOW
READY FOR REAL WORK
PROGRESS Of legislation as Re-
ported by Special Cores.
pOndent.

The legislature began it's fourtl
weeks work at nine o'clock last night
after vacation from the preceedin!
Thursday. Thus far, aside from tn,
election of United States senate
and the introduction of a few bills
little that is apparent on the Surfac,
has been accomplished. In reality tht
two bodies have made as much head
way as could be reasonably expected
II requires time for the members II
become acquainted. In the assembly
three-fourthS of all members were new
| to each other and to legislation
| During the past three weeks they
have found their places on committees
and are now ready for the real WORK
of the session.
While the newspapers last week
announced the election of Gov. La
Toilette as United States senator, few
of them described the really dramatic
incidents connected with his address
| when summoned before the legislature.
No one, it is claimed, in the vast
audience. knew whether the chief
executive would decline the honor or
accept it. The opening of his speech
indicated declinatiOn, little
further on it began to look as if he
would accept, and then another
reference to his obligations to the
people of the state as governor, lead
his hearers to believe that he would
not 60 to Washington. And so in his
inimitable style the governor lead his
listeners On until the climax came in
his conditional acceptance. Certain
legislation must be enacted, OF safely
out of the way, or Robert M. La
Toilette will not become. a colleague
Of Senator Spooner.
Most of the bills of any general
Importance have already been outlined
in this correspondence. The two bills
on railway legislation will be followed
at once by Others, it being the
intention Of administration forces to
press these measures to passage. In
the assembly whatever legislation the
governor favOrs will go through with
a rush. The senate indicates more
conservative spirit. There will be a
majority there for railway regulation
on the governors lines, but there
will be opposition TO radical measures.
The taxing OF mortgages, under a
bill already introduced, is meeting
with much opposition. The III ilwauKee
real estate loan agents, and those
from other places, are much opposed
to the bill, claiming that it will drive
capital from the state, and that nc
loans will be made for less than seven
per cent as against rate of four and
five per cent now prevailing.
The board of control has it's budget
ready and it runs to over a million
dollars. The penal and reformatory
institutions show great growth in
inmates and it is claimed that there
is pressing need of increased facilities
for caring for unfOrtunateS. The
board Of controls recommendations
will come very nearly being granted
There is much speculation as to
what plans will be adopted for the
erection OF the new capitol building.
No one outside the members of the
commission and a favored few have
| been allowed to see the plans presented
| but in some manner the impression
| prevails that the five million dollar
plan meets with the most favor.
| Every one feels that Wisconsin should
have capitol worthy of the great
state, in other words, that there is
| nothing too good for the Badger state.
Superior is going to make another
fight for Wisconsin grain inspection.
The new bill is similar to the one
introduced two years ago, that passed
the assembly by large majority and
failed in the senate by one vote.
All the preliminary work we'll out
of the way. the legislature will now
settle down to real business, and a
strong effort will be made for a shcrt
session. To this end resolution will
soon be passed limiting the introduc-
tiOn of new business to about the
middle of February.
| FL. S. FAIRHALL.