The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1907-05-31
BIG GATHERING
At THE CAPITAL
Joint Committee Gives Hear
ings on Public Utili-
ties Bill.
OBJECTIONS ARE UNAVAILIN ING
Passage of the Measure in It's
Present Form Practical
ly Assured.
OBJECTIONS ARE UNAVAILlNG
New Capitol Bill FavOrably Reported
June Is Favorite Date for
Final Adiournment-Pri-
mary Election.

Madison, Wis, May 2S.-The public
utilities bill, to place all electric, gas
water, power and telephone compane
under the regulation of the railroad
rate commission has occupied the CEN
ter Of the legislative stage this week.
The various interests affected have
been given public hearings in the SEN
ate chamber, before the joint commit
tee ON transportation, and the discus
sionS have attracted great gathering
of capitalists, attorneys, experts and
other interested citizens.
Representative of the various utili-
ties have inveighed strongly against
various features of the measure and
it is possible that in the light thus
given, the committee may find it ad'
visable to amend the bill in some
particulars. but most of them had
heard the same objections before and
are of opinion that the notifications
will not effect the bill in any essential
respect
Objections UnavaiIing.
The point of unconstitutionality is
made against that provision of the
measure which requires that utilities
must bear the expense Of appraisal by
the commission. 1t was urged too
that a good margin of profit should be
allowed instead Of simply a reasonable
rate in order that companies might
create a fund for extensions of serv.
ice.
Representatives of the companies
contend that the bill in it's present
drastic form would have q tendency
to keep capital out of the state; retard
the growth Of public service and there
by the growth of cities and the state,
The bill has been so carefully drawn
in committee, however, that it is prob
able most of the objections will be un,
practically it's present form is as
sured.
New Capitol Bill Reported.
The way for the building Of the new
capitol seems to be clearing at last.
A bill has been favorably reported in
the senate providing for an appropria-
ton Of 100000 year for nine years,
making the total cost Of the new struc-
ture between $5,OO0,OOO and S6,OOO,O0G.
Built of beautiful Vermont granite it
should present an imposing appear
ance, when finally completed, and be
an object Of pride to the state.
By the terms of the bill, the capitol
commission is empowered to dispose
Of the old capitol by sections as the
work on the new building progresses.
The new structure will stand on the
site of the present state house, not
Withstanding the fact that the big
scheme for the extension Of the capitol
park is still under way, which scheme,
by the way, will confront the legisla-
tive mind in very few days now.
Final Adjournment.
June Is continues to be the favorite
date for final adjournment. While
the houses have not acted Jointly on
the question there seems to be a gen
eral understanding that business shah
be wound up by that time. Many of
the farmers are already chatting at the
long delay and it is safe to say that
from now ON few of the grangers of
the two houses will be on hand When
nature calls they are easily weaned
from the drudgery Of law making,
even from the destinations of politics.
This was shown in the case of Sen
ator Wolff. who went home during the
closing hours of the senatorial agony.
The Hatten men We're in dire straits:
his vote was badly needed if it could
be had and message upon message
was sent him, but this impeturbable
Cincinnatus simply replied: Il am
planting onions and can't come" But
then Wolff held aloof from the caucus.
anyway, and took little interest in the
great game.
Hundred Day Session.
Mr.. Roethe of Grant county is among
those who believes too much time is
spent in making laws and last week
introduced a joint resolution to amend
the constitution so as to limit the
length of She session to one hundred
days. While it is entirely unlikely
that the resolution will go through.
yet it was received without opposi-
ton and all admitted the desirability
of shortening up the sessions.
.'But," said one member, 1T is prob
q col
will not need be so long. For in
stance, we need not waste much time
on the senatorial election two years
hence as the people will have settled
that for us. Then. too, we will have
most of the desired reform legislation
i'll sight on the statute books this year
and we will have the big question of
the new capitol off our hands | ad,
NIT that in the poets words. 1t is an
endless battle to be free and that
when a good cause stops it is in dam