Watertown leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1909-1911, 1909-04-02
THE LEGISLATURE,
SENATE.

THURSDAY, MARCH %.
Senator Owen started war in the Sen
ate today by introducing resolution ask
ing for 4 separate investigation of the
Stephenson primary campaign. stating that
1t would be impossible to hear all the teSu-
mony before the expiration, of the time set
Tor the committee to report. In an effort
TO discourage the flood of petitions in favor
OF county option Senator BodenStah pre-
clpltated Il merry war in the Senate by in
Producing 4 motion that no more type
Bird Immediately protested. He waved 4
handful of petitions. one of which had 800
his people and he wanted them received.
Senator Iehr rather favored the motion and
said he was Withholding some petitions till
he could investigate their authenticity. Sen
ator Blaine warned that such motion would
be an abrtdgment of the right of petition
guaranteed by the constitution. The clerk
then started to read the enormous stack Of
petitions but the action finally decided to
leave further reading TO the end of the
calendar.
FRIDAY. MARCH &c.
The Senate was in turmoil today in the
discussion of the Owen resolution for
separate investigation committee of the
Senate to probe the election of Senator
Stephenson. Senator Hudnail attacked the
authors of the bill saying that 1t was
merely part of political game and that
1t would result in the election of Demo
cGrauc governor two years hence. Senator
Owen defended his resolution with the
statements that the present investigating
committee had failed to perform the work
cut OUT for it by reason of the Assembly
members attempting to smother the Ste
phenson end of the testimony. The reso!u-
tlon was finally carried 10y a vote of 10 to ..
SATURDAY, MARCH p
Leut-Gov. Strange appointed Senators
Marsh. Morris and Hustmg as members OF
the special Senate investigating committee
to probe the election of Isaac Stephenson
to the United States Senate. The bill re
curing cuSpldorS and waste baskets on in
hon ,,1NlN~
ny the committee on public health, rs was
the bill appropriating 5000 for maps to the
state park hoard by the appropriations COM
mittee. Only eight senators were in their
chairs.
MONDAY. MARCH %
Although only ten members of the Senate
were in their seats when the session opened
Il good-sized calendar was gone through A
number of bills were laid over, among them
Senator SanbOrn'S bill creating Il naval
militia, and Senator Gaylord's resolution
memorialiZing the federal government to
give work to the unemployed. The latter
was on the calendar for slaughter but was
saved on request of the Socialist senator
A number Of bills were advanced and sew
eral We're killed in accordance with com
mittee recommendations.
TUESDAY. MARCH 80
Senator Stout's bill giving women the
right to vote in Wisconsin was passed by
the Senate today without dissenting vote
A motion by Senator Bird to reconsider the
bill was Killed There was no discussion of
the bill on the floor of the Senate, the upper
house acting entirely ON the recommends
ton of the committee on elections, which
reported the bill for passage. The bill il
it becomes law, will submit the question
to the electors of the state ut the next gen
eral election and. if ratified becomes opera
tive at once. The bill allowing the state
to appeal in case the state loses in Grim
tnal cases was recommended for passage
new bill relating to the payment of de
pOsts in two names was introduced by the
committee on banks and insurance.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 81
Before an audience of men and women
which crowded every available nook in the
tiny Senate chamber the Senate engaged in
the lOng-lOOked for county option debate.
No action was taken this morning, Il recess
being taken at O'Clock. At times the air
became yO vitiated and nauseating that
listeners had to crowd out of the inadequate
chamber. The arguments were what might
have been expected and included all the
points that have been made for and against
on street corners. in buffets, in the pulpit
and from the lecture platform through the
last decade and before. The debate CON
tinued throughout the afternoon, no vote
being taken.