Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1906-1908, 1907-05-17
HATTEN IN THE LEAD
NTESTEPHENsON MEN SWITCH
FROM ESCH.
HAS 53 VOTES PLEDGED
Loses Three Votes, However, But His
Election Believed Assured by
Aid of the Demo-
Gratis.

Madison, Wis, May 16-The sena-
! torial contest appears to be nearing G
its final stage. 1t was expected
Wednesday afternoon that night
would see the end, but change of
two votes prevented this outcome
The anti-Stephenson Republicans at
a conference in the afternoon decided
to drop Esch and vote for Hatten and
SO votes were pledged to Hatten, one
more than enough to elect in caucus.
At night, however, one changed to
Stephenson, and two refused to vote,
leaving Hatten with SO on nine ballots
The caucus then adjourned without
decision, but it is expected that the
election will take place to-day by the
aid of the Democrats. After the eau
Gus the adjourned session of the legis-
lature took one ballot, as follows:
Hatten, so; Stephenson, 46; Bird
(Dem), Al; scattered, II.
Assembly Passes Bills.
The assembly on Tuesday passed
four bills, and concurred in II and a
joint resolution. One of the bills
passed was the Disch measure limit
ing the bonds that can be required Of
the treasurer of the county of Mil
waukee to $500,000. Among the 12
senate bills concurred in was the
Roehr measure making it a larceny
to tap water or gas pipe or electric
wire with intent to defraud a firm or
corporation out of light, water or
power, the penalty being from a small
fine to five years in prison.
Declaring the United States su.
ly, to be the servant of the capitalistic
classes, Assemblyman w. J. Aldridge,
of Milwaukee, social democrat, made
vigorous but unsuccessful plea for
the passage of his resolution memori-
alizing congress to investigate the
reasons that impelled the court to af-
firm the decision Of the lower court In
denying writ of habeas. corpus to
Meyer, Haywood and Pettibone, the
western miners charged with the as
sassination of Gov. Steunenberg, of
Idaho.
Estabrook Measure Dead.
The committee on education re-
ported for indefinite postponemept the
Estabrook bill providing for consoli-
dating the school systems of the city
and county of Milwaukee and placing
them under the control of board of
IA members.
The assembly concurred in the SEN
q ononn1r1nntc tn tho hill
ering the common council of the city
of Milwaukee to levy a general or
special tax to defray the expenses of
collecting and disposing of ashes,
garbage and rubbish. A slight amend
ment also was made to the title and
after that has been concurred in by
the senate the bill will go to the gov
error.
Substitute Bill Reported.
The committee substitute for the
Poss Milwaukee school board bill was
reported to the assembly by the COM
mittee on education with the recon-
mendation that it be passed. The sub
stitute is practically the same as the
original bill with the exception that
the membership of the proposed board
is made Is instead of 12, and that
the common council has the option to
provide within 80 days after the act
goes into effect for special election
to choose successors to the first mem
bers of the board who are to be ap-
pointed by the city officers.
The substitute provides that the
board shall consist of Is members,
who shall be appointed from the city
at large by a commission consisting
of the mayor, city treasurer, con-
troller, city attorney and president of
the common council. The appoint
ments are to be made within five days
after the act goes into effect. Five
Of the members are to be appointed
for a term of two years, five for four
years and five for six years. They are
to be succeeded by persons elected at
the regular city election in April, 1909,
1911 and 1913
Senate Proceeds Cautiously.
In the senate Tuesday the bill au-
thorizing the Wisconsin Valley I'M
provement company to maintain res
ervoirs on the tributaries of the Wis
consin river was up for advancement
and led to a warm debate over its
provisions. The bill provides for the
storage of water, by the creation of
reservoirs so that the powers along
the Wisconsin river will secure a uni
form fowage the year around. Dur
ing its pendency in the committee
every possible effort has been made
to safeguard every interest Of the
state as well as every private interest
the bill might possibly conflict with
Senator Brazeau showed that every
water power owner along the entire
river was unanimously in favor Of the
project and the trainers of the bill
had sought. and, he believed, had met
every objection made by any person.
He pointed out the specific provision
to protect the interests Of the state
by placing the question of tolls under
the regulation of the railway rate
commission and by further provisions