Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1907-04-18
BOTH SIDES OF QUESTION PRE-
SCENTED TO COMMITTEE.
QUESTION OF IMPORTANCE
Rights of the People to Determine
the Question Should Not Be Denied
Taxpayers Outside the Cities and
Villages Have Interests That Com
mand Consideration and Respect.
Madison. April IL.

RAa0iSoht <ARAh
Bill No 55S A, known as the county
option bill, introduced by Assembly
man l. N. Clausen, was before the
committee, on state affairs yesterday
and for more than three hours was
the subject OF discussion by its advo-
Gates and opponents.
Attorney j. B. Smith spoke for tue
measure, declaring that the bin was
one of the most important before the
legislature and that its passage is de-
manded by the people generally
throughout the state without regard
to party affiliations or religious faith.
He characterized the measure as one
tending to a larger democracy in that
IT. extends the right of local option
from the limits now prescribed by
law to the larger unit, the county:
that the rights of the people should
be held supreme; that inasmuch as
the bill could only affect those com
munities wherein there is or may be
a majority of the electors who favor
the exclusion of the saloon il would
in no wise ahect those counties
where the sentiment is favorable to
their retention. Ii was urged that
under the present arrangement, the
will of any village which votes for a
dry town is circumvented by IL
censes being granted in the town and
in the county for the establishment of
saloons in close proximity. In this
way the will OF the people is practl
cally rendered void.
Other advocates of the measure
We're I. w. hare of Milwaukee, Mr..
Larson of Waupaca. Mrs. M. A. b.
Smith and Rev. II. A Miner of Madi-
son and Assemblyman ID. f. Mains oil
Vernon county.
Mr.. nare contended that the sys-
tenn of town, city and village option,
where licenses are granted forces
upon the taxpayers of the entire
county the charges for the expenses
arising out of the evils which always
follow the curse of alcohol. poor
houses, asylums, and iails.
/ cochems in Opposition.
+ In opposition TO the measure were
Attorneys H. +. Cochems, w. J. Nc
Elroy and II. w. Austin of Milwau
kee. they each made q special plea
Tor the smaller unit and commended
that the county option measure would
take the question outside the realm
OF the community of inerest and
place il in the political field TO BIZ
buffetted and abused; tnat 1t woull
eventually lead to prohibition, con
dition mat Is not now commended for
Mr.. Cochems even made a covert
threat that IL the measure Is pressed
to passage disaster would follow.
Transportation Questions Discussed
The committee on transportation
considered two bills, one involving
the appointment of a superintendent
of street railways in cities of the
first class. City Attorney J. T. Kelly
! OF Milwaukee presented arguments In
favor of the proposition. He pointed
out that many of the small complaints
which caused considerable trouble In
Milwaukee quite recently might have
been avoided II an officer like street
railway superintendent had been al
hand. The informal disposition o,
trivial matters h, itself rendered jus
tifiable and expedient the creation
Of the Office.
Attorney Rosencrans of Milwaukee
appeared In behalf Of the Milwaukee,
Electric Railway G Light Co, ant
objected, not to the principle of tn,
BIN, but to some matters of detail.
The committee will probably recon
mend the bill which provides that M
company may put In poles or brack
cts without the consent Of the prop
erty owner. and all wires must be re
moved on five days notice.
as r~f