The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1907-07-05
the ground that it was unconstitu-

tional.
After two whole days of debate in
the senate that body has decided not
to pay the claim Of the late Fl. W.
,Chynoweth for $4,000 against the
state for legal services, during the
state tax suits. The vote was a tis
ard Lieutenant Governor w. ID. Con
nor cast his vote against the cain,
The amount asked was originally $40,
600 and Of this sum $4,000 was paid.
which was on the basis of $50 day
The heirs after his death asked ms
state to pay the other $4,000. but tbs
senate has blocked the proposal.
State Loses in Suits.
Probably one of the main rea ols
that the Chynoweth claim was turned
down was the adverse decision in the
tax suits in the supreme court. The
state sued to collect taxes on unre-
ported gross earnings on the railroads
as far back as 1883, which, it is as
serted. would amount in round num-
bcrs to 100000. The supreme court
in one of the suits tried by Chynoweth
held that the statute of limitations Hp
piled after six years and therefore the
state could not collect after Feb. i,
1899. The state will now only be alle
to collect 100000 or Whereabouts and
it is this loss of funds which has
angered the members in rejecting a
portion of the claim.
The high license bill as usual has
been slain. This year it was done in
the assembly. Senator Barker, Of
Sparta, presented bill to raise the
liquor licenses in cities from 5000 to
$500 and in towns from 800 to $500
as minimums. The maXimums in
cities that could be voted was $500
and in towns $500. 1t occasioned a
long and bitter debate, threatened by
a call of the house, but was finally
slain by n vote Of 81 to "a.
IL the meantime the liquor interests
scored & victory in passing bill which
changed the statute from a petition
of twelve freeholders to 10 per cent
of the voting population, necessary TO
mitted TO vote of the people.
Telegraphers Get S-Hour Day.
The legislature has passed IL law
limiting the hours of work for railrCa |
telegraphers to eight, after long and
bitter fight 1t is now in the hands
of the governor, but there is every as
surance that it will be signed. In the
assembly the, measure aimed to curb
the political activity of Lieutenant
Governor COnnOr by providing that
any man acting as chairman of the
state central committee could not be
a candidate for any state office, was
refused passage by a vote OF 5O to 23.
Mr.. Conner is now chairman Of the
state central committee and his enc
mics are attempting to make him
resign by adverse legislation.
The governor has signed the waite,
commissioner bill, which it is intended.
will lead to utilization of the rivers
of the state, including the MississiQ-
ri. AS result of the bill it is be-
lieved by Judge Reid, OF Lacrosse.
who is back of the measure, that
transportation rates on coal and steel
can be quartered. His scheme, which
is to be investigated during the next
two years, is to lay cable chain in
the bottom of the Mississippi river
and later it's tributaries. A boat, with
an engine on board, drawing a num-
Der of barges, will pick up this cable
chain and by means of the sprocket
propelled by the engines. the boat will
move up the river, drawing a big load
of material behind it. The chain or
cable is to remain still, the sprocket
getting grip in this manner. GOV
ernor Davidson has just signed the
bill. thereby making it law.
The governor sent lengthy veto to
the assembly Thursday, the most I'M
portant one of this session, to the bill
which proposes to legalize the acts Of
any municipality in granting aid to
railroads or public utilities. He said
the bill was so sweeping that it might
lead to a great abuse of the public
funds. He has also vetoed measure
to establish a teachers employment
bureau.
ALBERT o. BARTON.