Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1909-05-26
INQCISIT0RS
: FINISH WORK
Senate Committee Will Re-
port Results.
ALSO INTRODUCE A BILL


er the Adjournment of the Leeisla-
ture the Committee viii Probably
Resume Its Sittings-5iIls to Change
the Primary and General Election
Laws of the State.
Madison. Wis, May 25.-With the
examination of persons connected I'm .
business way with the MilryanKee
Free Press, which was carried on In
the Cream City on Saturday. the sen.
ate investigating committee has prac.
acally completed its work for this ses-
sion and will spend several days GO
ing through the mass OF testimony
gathered since the Independent senate
probe was begun on April 10. AS soon
as the members of the committee
have formulated their ideas, they will
report the result of their labors and
introduce bill calculated to cure the
many evils in the existing primary
law, especially those relating to the
expenditures of money by candidates.
No matter what is recommended by
the committee. however, there is no
likelihood of the committees measure
going any further than the senate. AS
surance in this case is made doubly
sure by the fact that on Thursday the
assembly by an overwhelming vote
sustained the action of several OF
their numbe: in their refusal to an
swer the summons Cf the committee.
This indicates clearly the sentiment
among a majority If the lower house
members, that the upper house or a
committee thcreof has no right to
transgress the legislative privileges of
assembly members, and there is no
doubt but that the measure offered and
probably passed by the progressive"
senate will meet sort shrift in the less
progressive assembly.
koehler Before Committee.
An interesting feature of last weeks
session was the testimony of Peter ).
Koehler, who was Milwaukee county
manager for s. A. Scott in the sena-
torial primary. Koehler, who is a
member of the Republican state cen.
trail committee, said he called on Gov
ernor DavidsI Immediately after the
primary campaign and asked the state
executive to use his influence toward
the reelection of Lieutenant Governor
Connor as state chairman He said
the governor. however, stood out for
Edmonds. Edmonds, of course, was
chosen state chairman, and Koehler
said that since that time the rest OF
the committee has had nothing to say
about the eampaigns-t that Edmonds
was dictator"
The investigating committee will
probably resume its sessions when
fifteen days after final adjournment
have elapsed, after which time mem
bers of the Legislature no longer can
claim their legislative privilege and
refuse to answer to summonses This
will enable the committee to call AS
semblymen Ledvina. Reader. Towne,
Farrell Ramsey and l'rank Smith. to
quiz them regarding their connection
with the Stephenson campaign, both In
the primary and In the legislature.
Towne. Farrell and Ramsey are the
three Democrats whose absence from
the joint convention on March re.
suited in Stephensons election, and
who were charged by Frank Wagner
who is now under arrest for alleged
perjury--with having received money
from A. H. Puelicber, Stephenson's
manager, In a Milw aukee hotel Led
vina and Frank Smith are reported to
have had help from the Stephenson
managers in their primary campaigns.
while II was testified pefore the com
mittee that Assemblyluan Readers
special train that brought him to Madl-
son on March in timo to vote for
Stephenson was paid for by Bob"
Shields, Of Superior, a Stephenson
worker.
Changes In Election Law.
Important changes win be made In
the primary and general election laws
of the state If the senate concurs In
three bills which have been passed by
the assembly. The Twesme bill would
secure closed primary and prevent
members OF one political party ;oting
in the primary of another party. The
Hull bill which has also been passed
by the assembly, delays the holding OF
the primary until the second week in
September to obyiate two holidays In
the same week. At the present time
with the primary held on the first
Tuesday in September 1t Is declared
that many Of the voters. tired from the
exertlons OF Labor Day program tHe
Monday before dc not attend the pri-
maries. This bill would obvlate this
difficulty. TIE Dunn pocket ballot bill
has also bet passed. This measure.
fathered by Assemblyman Mcconnell.
OF Lacrosse, II adopted by the coun-
ty boards will secure secret ballot
In the general elections.
To prevent one political party par
ticipatng in the nominations of an
other party at tho primary. the
Twesme bill provides that ballots shall
be printed upon paper Of different
tint or color from that upon which is
printed the ballot Of any other party.
The secretary OF state designates the
color OF the paper to be used by each
party aud il shall be uniform through
out the state.
A voter upon entering the booth
asks for the ba lot of a certain party,
which shall be announced distinctly in
the boath, with the question:: "Are
there any objections?" If the voter is
challenged he shall subscribe to an
oath that hA will si.-.--,-+ the nersons