Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1907-06-26

For the first time in q generation, II
not in the history Of the state, the
legislature 3faS been in session at the
time Of a university commencement,
and many members have had a chance
to see for the ii 81 time the interesting
ceremonies at the close of the school
year. Special invitations Were given
the members TO be present. and they
were given seats upon the platform
with the members of the faculty at
the baccaiaureate exercises. In this
way they have come TO have a more
intimate knowledge of tbe workings
Of the big institution of which they
have heard so much and for which
they are regularly asked 10 make such
large appropriations. On the whole
the university may be said to have
Jared quite well at the hands of the
legislature, although there was much
opposition to the establishment of a
medical school.
The university has seldom had cause
to quarrel with the legislature, which
has invariably come forward with big
sums, though not always understands
ing where it went. The growth of the
great school has been so rapid in re-
cent years that the management has
had the greatest difficulty in meeting
all the problems thus presented, not
the least of which is the government
and business management of 1t. Some
radical changes in this direction will
undoubtedly have to come soon, either
by the regents themselves or the legis-
lature.
Case of John f. Dietz.
There is to be no investigation by
the legislature Of the famous Dietz
case, and it is likely that this episode
of north Wisconsin history is now
completely a thing of the past, unless
the lumber companies should seek to
further haraSs the redOubtable wood
man or question the title to his hold
ings. The assembly first voted down
the Weber resolution for a legislative
investigation, and then recOnsidered
its action and adopted it, but the SEN
ate refused to take the proposition
seriously. It is believed that since the
legislature has not seen fit to show
any interest in the case the officials
of Sawyer county will not further con-
Germ themselves with 1t.
Power of Telephone Lobby.
The independent telephone lobby
demonstrated its power at this session
by killing the physical connection bill.
This is proposition periodically
waged and contested, and which will
of course recur. The argument used
this year by Mr.. Ingram was that such
law would put the independent COM
panies under the power of the Bell
corporation and would really result in
higher rates. The point was also urged
that the proposed law gave the rail
road rate commission too much power.
The fact that many members of the
assembly are holders of stock in indie
pendent companies made the defeat of
the measure the easier.
The Milwaukee police and fire chiefs
are to retain the power they so jeal-
ously guard of discharging members
of their departments on cause without
hearing. The Georgi bill, designed to
give the men a hearing, was again
killed in the senate, as it was two
years ago. Attorney AdOlph Kanne-
burg of Milwaukee, who drew the bill
and urged it, both at this session and
the last, was charged by Senator Fair
child with seeking a place on the com
mission, and this may have had some
weight in bringing about an adverse
vote.
Credit Due to Legislators.
An automobile ride was a pleasant
diversion of the members during the
closing days Of the session. There are
not many pleasures for the rural states
men at Madison, hence credit should
be given them for their long devotion
to their duties. The legislature is an
exceedingly democratic board. The
atmosphere of the chambers is as
democratic as 4 saloon, though the fig
ure is not intended TO further apply.
Most of the members are plain, strong.
headed, simpIe-lived and unaSsuming
men. and snObbishness cannot long
survive in their genuine presence.
Hence the lGS7iSid lOIS dIG llGN u tdhtI
up by the society folk Of Madison.
They live as a class apart, an outcast
class almost.
The doors Of Madison homes seldom
open to them. and the citizens have
little use for them except whom arises
m occasion for asking some privilege
or favor. Most Of the members live
quietly at hotels and spend the time
there and at the capitol. In the course
of the session much nicotine is oxi-
died. but there is little other diSsi-
patton. Tn the good old days" the
saloon divided the time with the lecis-
larive chambers, but this is a cling Of
the past. During recent sessions =
better stamp of men has come to the
legislature, and the saloon rounler
finds little fellowship there now. These
plain. strong yeomen may not always
Iogfslate most wisely, but they seldom