Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1907-05-23

isIat:On much more than imbeciIity,
idiOcy and epilepsy. He called upon
the author of the bill to substantiate
his charges Of appalling conditions III
our state institutions for the feeble
minded.
In a Scientific Rut.
Mr.. Leroy made a strong plea. He
attacked the medical profession for
frequent declarations in favor Of per-
forming the proposed operation. He
declared that the profession was
/ lodged in a scientific rut" and never
looked upon such propositions except
with the cold eyes of members of the
medical profession, eager to see eX-
periments made to test the success of
new methods and processes and OpeT
atoms. He pointed out the grave
danger of letting down the barriers Of
conservatism by passing this BILL
pressing the fear that future legs-
Iators, relying upon the action Of this
Legislature for precedent, might in
clude consumptives and many other
patients.
Mr.. Sprague argued that the pas
sage of this hill would tend to encour-
age relatives to keep their af
iicted at home and not send them to
an institution from which they would
return only with their physical pow
ers impaired. Both he and Mr. Rey-
noldS feared that the operation to rem
i i
immortality among the feebleminded
and those who were acquainted with
feebleminded who had been subjected
to such an operation.
Mr. Elver, Dr. Miller and J. F. Bak-
er spoke for the bill again, pointing
out in the main that the arguments
presented were based on sentiment
and not facts and authorities.
Mr. Ledyina called attention to tho
fact after the vote had been an
nounced that only so of the 100 mem
berS of the legislature had voted on
the bill, and that if the absent mem
bers had not been given leave Of alb
sence he would have moved a call of
the house. He objected to such an
important measure being sent along
its way by vote of only so members.
The final passage of the bill is the
elimination Of months of fighting, in
the course Of which the bill has been
referred and rereferred, amended and
amended again. The bill, for the pur
pose of facilitating its passage, was
emascuIated to a large extent. The
appropriation clause was eliminated
entirely and that matter will be taken
up in separate bill. In the form
in which the bill was passed provis
ion was made for a board of examin-
ers who shall perform the operation
but no compensation is given.
For More Park
After considerable objection from
Assemblymen HaTrass and Hebron
Of Milwaukee, the Estabrook bill pro
viding for park commissions and de-
filming the duties of such bodies was
ordered to engrossment. The bill
aims to secure an extension of park
systems and county boards may create
such commissions and may provide
for compensation. Assemblymen In
gram and Estabrook spoke in favor
of abiding by the committee recon
mendation, to pass the bill.
Assemblyman Potter offered, "
tried to offer, a bill to tax automo-
biles. The measure has been tempo
rarily withheld, pending investigation
into the form of the measure and the
manner of introducing it. Assembly
man Potter declares that machines
are not at present listed among taxa
Bile property, as is evident from re-
ports of the assessor property II
Dane county. where only two automO-
biles were on the assessors books,
though Madison alone has almost
100.
The Froemming mental anguish
bill. rendering telegraph companies
liable for suffering caused by delayfi
fa1no-roroC in,