The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1907-03-01
RATE DECISION The
ABSORBING TOPIC
Legislature May Not clay
Down" on Two-Cent
Fare Deal.
MANY HAVE BILLS ON SUBJECT
Senatorial Battle Is Shifted in
Several of the Measures
Introduced.
Death of Gen. Bryant Removes FamiI-
lar Political Landmark
bIyman Hughes Anti
Tights Bill.

legislative chambers has been the ac-
ton of the railroad commission re-
ducing the passenger fares OH the prin-
cipal roads of the state from 3 to 21A,
cents. For the nonce the big public
utility measure, which is to tremen-
dously enlarge the scope and author
ity of the commission, has been for
gotten. The effect Of the decision has
been to produce a relaXatiOn-a de-
mOraliZation, if one will, on the legis-
lative mind. and sentiment has not yet
crystalliZed upon it.
On account of WaShin@ton'S birth
day the two houses cut an .uneventful
week rather short, and. having had
several days to think over the fare
proposition at home, it should be easier
to now get line on the minds of the
members. The consensus Of opinion
seems to be that all the various two
cent bills introduced at this session
will now be withdrawn and no legis-
lati0n attempted in the face of the de-
ciSOn. But it would be far from safe
to assume that this will be the upShOt
of it all. The state has been greatly
wrought up Oh the 2-cent fare idea,
and it is keeping within the bounds
Of truth to say that the act of com
mission in reducing fares but half a
cent came as quite surprise to the
mass of the people and produced not
a little disappointment. This feeling
finds most expression in the more pop
ular branch of the assembly.
Considerable Muttering.
There is much muttering here, and
some of the members who presented
2-cent fare measures may not consent
to seeing their pets nnceremoniously
thrown into the legislative junk heap.
There is apt to be some impassioned
oratory on the subject, at any rate,
and new issue be created for the
next campaign if nothing more. The
more StOlid body of the senate seems
disposed to stand by the commission,
and this fact coupled with the alacrity
of the railroads to comply with the
order Of the commission may put the
desired Quietus OH the agitation: 1t
appears to be safe presumption that
the railroads and the commission ar
rived at an agreement on some main
points of contention at least. The &C.
ton of the railroads in quietly acqui
escing in the commissions order is of
course wise. Were they to put up
hostile front nothing short of 2-cent
legislation would probably result. The
Democrats and Social Democrats. with
not Il few Republicans. are still eX
pected to contest for the lower fare.
But" says Rev. Carl Thompson,
leader of the Social Democrats, 1.-The
present system of private ownership
and regulation is a failure. If people
can ride for as low as one cent Il mile
in Mexico, Japan, Germany and other
countries where government owner
ship of railroads is practically Il fact.
it is folly to say that in a wealthy
state like Wisconsin people could not
be carried for > cents with proper man
agement of the roads,
Time Is Slipping Away.
The legislature is getting FESTIVE
over the fact that time is fast slipping
by, yet the legislative hopper is not
very productive. And more time is
| being spent debating how to get more
work done The senate wants earlier
sessions in the morning; the assembly
is willing, but also wants evening SEES
sions. the idea being to thus get in
committee meetings both forenoons
and afternoons. Regular evening SEES
siOns of both houses would be quite an
innovation, but the members seem to
think if the session is to he shortened
some action of this kind must be re-
sorted to.
The death of General George e. Bry
ant last week temporarily delayed the
wheels of legislation In his going
passed one of the most potent factors
in Wisconsin politics for Il generation.
AS a soldier, judge, member of both
houses of the Legislature and 1.-The dis
coverer of LaFollette" he filled a large
place in the affairs of the common
wealth and retained his active interest
in affairs to the end
Senatorial Battle Shifted.
The senatorial battle % two years
hence can be shifted in the air al
ready, as several resolutions bearing
on the senatorship have been intro
duced. ASsemblyman Grassie has one
resolution seeking to morally bind the
members of the next legislature to sup
port for senator the candidate secur-
ing a plurality Of the votes in the pri-
mary election. This is understood to
be move in favor of Senator Spoon
er. as it is felt that there will be no
opposition to him On the part of the
so-called stalwarts, while the sO-called
half-breeds may have several candi-
dates. which would give Spooner the