Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1905-03-17
GREAT PROGRESS
MADE In LEGISLATURE

not many bills of large Importance
got through both houses last week
great progress was made in the
legislature. A great many bills were
reported from committees and several
received final action.
The Hudnall bill creating a state
grain and ware house commission for
wisconsin was passed, ana Superior'S
long cherished desire seems now
certain OF consumation.
The Henry Johnson bill giving the
state board of assessment power to
list, assess aud tax property in the
state that has escaped it during the
last three preceding years was passed.
The first of the two cents a mile
| railroad passenger bills introduced in
| the legislature this session was put
| through the lower.house. The bill was
introduced by Assemblyman Henry
johnson, of Oconto, who has been
| advocating two-cent fare since he
| became a member of the legislature
four years ago. The measure is simple
in its provisions and is intended to
| effect only the big companies Of the
state. It makes it unlawful for anv
| road whose gross earnings are So, 500
or more d mile year to charge more
| than two cents mile for the trans
| portatiOn of passengers.
One Of the important bills sent to
engrossment by the senate was that
of Senator Noble relating to the sale of
foods containing chemical preserva-
tives The bill is specific ia its nature
as to the personalities that may be
used lawfully, and imposes penalties
from S25 to 800 and from thirty to
sixty days for the use of illegal
preServativeS.
The bill appropriating $4,000 for a
state exhibit at the Portland eXposi
tiOn passed both houses and will
doubtless receive the governors
signature.
The anti-cigarette bill. which was
defeated in the senate two years ago,
passed the assembly with one dissent
| ing vote and this week will un-
doubleday go through the senate. 1t
is sweeping and absolute in it's
provisions.
The social democrats are having
| hard Shedding, and two of their g.
hour-day bills were ruthlessly turned
down by the assembly. One sought
to prohibit employers making their
men work over eight hours, and the
others permitted cities, if they chose,
to fix an 0-hOur day for municipal
work. But while the assembly turned
down these Semi-socialiStic measures,
it endorsed resolution for amending
the constitution SO as to permit the
legislature to fix graduated income
| tax, which some of the opposition
denounced as socialistIc.
Last week, believers in railroad
regulation of rates had their inning
and several speakers Of power appeared
before the committee, among them f.
P. Bacon and f. III. Magdeburg, OF
Milwaukee; T. G. Richmond and F.
w. Hall, OF Madison, and w. D.
Common, of Marshfeld, chairman of
the state republican central COM
mittee. 1t will probably be weeks
before the bill in it's final form will
be passed by either house. This week
there was a big hearing on the ad-
miniStration civil service bill. High
officers of national civil service
leagues appeared and argued for the
bill. A new idea was sprung by
Senator Frear last week by the
Introduction of resolution providing
for an examination into the feasibility
Of state life Insurance. A committee
was appointed which will report for
the next legislature.
The visit of w. j. Bryan was one
of those unexpected events that give
pleasure and variety to the legislative
session. Col. Bryan was entertained
by Gov. La Toilette, and in his speech
in the assembly chamber came out
f1atfOoted for the governors reform
ideas, and consequently was not
lacking in applause. Thursday
evening the governor was the chief
guest of honor at a banquet given by
the Scandinavian members of the two
houses, where he was enthusiastically
proposed for the next president of the
United States.
There was no Saturday session last
week, the members who did not GO
home going inIa body to Baraboo to-
see the Ringing circus, on invitation
of the management.
Milwaukee automobilists were in
Madison Tuesday to attend the
meeting of the joint committee on
bills. Effort will be made to prevent
unfair legislation against automo-
bilits.
Ii the report of the educational
committee be given favorable action
the normal schools at Milwaukee and
Platteville are to be rebuilt. The call
for appropriations aggregating 1892,
600 for normal schools is as follows:
Milwaukee S240, 900 for new site |
and building.
Whitewater-s7,0 900, for repairs and |