The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1905-04-21
the senate. Our bill or none.'' They
will accept reasonable changes.
The COMMISSIONS New Rate.

Issue, the veXing question is as to
when the rate named by the commits
sion after complaint and hearing is
to go into effect. The assembly bill
says at once. while the conservatives
want the old rate continued until the
commissions new one is affirmed or
Oyerruled; or compromise is limited at
by administration senator's in the way
OF an appeal acting as a stay of pro-
ceedings for a period of sixty or nine
ty days. If the old rate is thus con
tinued but lowered later, there is COM
pensati0n due the shipper from the
railrOad-and so ON.
There are many details to be worked
out If the senate is to get together. as
many confidently believe they WILL If
they do. then the question is, will the
assembly agree to it and will the gov
ernor sign It? No one can at this time
more than outline the problem.
The War on Rum.
There are over fifty bills before this
legislature aimed at the saloon 1t is
as it is in New York state on this
issue, the city versus the county to an
extent. That is the Milwaukee dele
CATION are pretty solid against any
thing of the sort, and of course there
are counties where the home people
have an idea that even the Thayer bill,
which allows the people of residence
district to say whether they want
saloons or not-a majority, home-rule
propositions; yet, there are counties
whose people seem to think this
smacks Of prohibition and their
members can oppose it safely. But.
as rule, the farm districts are as
sound as Il writ on this question and
it is refreshing to see the big, honest
men from these districts-politician
tOO-whO art out in the open. Thayer,
the author. is a United Brethren
clergyman from Boomer, Chippewa
county, one of these active Christian
mem who is attractive to all the assem-,
blymen, and when he lobbies for his
bill he talks to his friend as man to
man and appeals to the best there is in
him. Never have the brewers been so
worried, for it is believed the senate
will pass the measure and once on
the statute books it can hardly ever be
recalled, for, the measure is SO just
that no objection can be made to it,.
The brewers have nothing to say ex-
cept to promise that they will them
selves reform the saloons and to talk
of vested interest" as to which in
saloon property the United States SUI
preme court has said there is none.
If the bill gets through the assembly,
it will be great day for Wisconsin:
and patriotism, which has been dor
mant before the invincible power of
the saloon in politics for thirty years,
will spread her wings. Men like
Houser. Sturtevant, LenroOt, Marsh
and Ekern are active for the measure
The 3O0-fOot bill and county OPP
ton are for the moment transcended
although the interest of Archbishop
Messmer in the former has given it a
big impetus
Civil Service.
The civil service bill has not been
| threShed out on the floor, but it will
| afford room for talk. In fact, there is
| a good deal of talking these days as
| members find that anybody can make
| a speech The Illinois legislature has
| turned down the League bill, but adj
! vances one confined to state institu-
| TONS The Wisconsin bill provides five
| classes
| In the classified service one deputy
| or assistant of each principal executive
| officer and the chief clerk or secretary
| of every board OF commission are eX-
| empt from the requirements Of the
| law; one StenOgrapher, and the
| clerks and other assistants Of the SUI
| preme court. Still other exceptions
are provided for ION account of the
| temporary character of the employ
| ment Or special reason satisfactory to
| the commission The unclassifed
service includes officers elected by the
| people, officers and employees appointed
by the governor, teachers in the uni
versity, normal or public schools, and
| legislative officers.
Times Have Changed.
Fifteen years ago the bill empower
| ing a few men to store up water pow
ers on the Wisconsin river would have
| gone through easily and these men
hailed as benefactors; but there has
| been SO much talk about giving away
| franchises" that the opposition is very
strong and the original measure
doomed. Beloit has 10 street railway,
| but wants one, and it is amusing to
read the pleas of citizens to capital
to come in and equip the town-to
compare this with the down with
monopoly cries of cities that have
| street railways. The fact is, of course,
| these utilities mean everything to a
community: Though all reasonable men
agree that when capital is fairly we'll
| rewarded citizens interests should be-