Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1909-02-04
HORNS LOCKED
ON INVESTIGATION
ASSEMBLY AMENDMENT TO LIN
1T SCOPE OF INQUIsITIoN
NON-CONCURRED IN.
INCREASE OF REPRESENTATION
IN LOVER HOUSE NOT &C
CEPTABLE TO SENATORS.
Madison, February 8.

hduESOu, L SUI udlg
After an all day session in the SEN
ate yesterday in which the question
primary expenses was thrashed over
again, the amendment adopted by the
assembly limiting the investigation
and seeking to get a larger represen-
tation for that house on the investi-
gazing committee was returned with
out concurrence. The senate mes
saged it back by vote of % to 7.
A constitutional limitation to the
investigation was pointed out by
Senator ]. E. Lehr of Appleton 10 the
ed originated with the democratic
party and could not be legally car
ried on at the expense of the state.
Senator Lehr is a republican repre-
senting the fourteenth district and
has not been heard much on the ques-
ton until yesterday.
COnfning the investigation to the
corrupt use of money instead of in
vestigating the amount of money
spent at the election was one of the
points brought out in the debate.
Senator Sanborn, expressing his SEN
ciment, declared that 1t isn't how
much money was spent in the last pri-
mary election but how it was spent
that it is planned to investigate.
The morning and afternoon SEES
sions were devoted to discussions OF
the measure, and it was nearly five
o'clock before Senator Sanborn's
motion to non-concur in the assembly
amendment was acted upon. The
votes for non-concurrence were:
Senators Barker, Bishop, Blaine
Brazeau, Browne, Donald, Fairchild
Fridd, Husting, James. Kleczka
Krumrey, Lockney, Lyons, Marsh
Martin, Morris, Owen, Pearson, Ran
dolph, Sanborn, Stout Thomas-23.
Those that Endorsed the assembly
amendment were Senators Bodenstab
Burke, Hudnall, Lehr, Page, White
head Wright.
Senators Bird (rep.) and Hazel
Gaylord (sOc. dem.) was called out
of the room at the time
The provision of the amendment
that the constituency OF the commit
tee be five members from the lower
house and three from the upper
house instead of three from each
house as provided by the Blaine res
olution was the stumbling block of
the day. Senator HudnaIl, leading
the prO-StephensOn men, declared that
a larger representation of the assem-
bly, has always been the custom in
joint committees. Senator Husting
at the head of the democratic mem
bers asserted that the assembly de-
sired five places on the committee
because that number is a majority Of
eight. An endeavOr to pack the
committee was charged by each side.
The constitutional phase Of the in
vestigati0n was revealed for the first
time. Senator Lehr argued that as
there was no appropriation for an in
VestigatiOn, the passage Of the reeo-
luton would be unavailing. Holdir G
the demand for an inQusition to be
a political move on the part of the
democrats, he believed that it is I'M
lawful TO expect the state to pay the
expenses of an investigating commit
tee.
The taxes of the people are not
collected for the benefits of any
party he said They are in the
treasury to be used for the generaI
purposes of the state. The dollars
and cents of the man with the dinner
pail should be disbWsed with great
est economy. Some day We win be
called to account for our work here,
and every dollar We misapply will be
charged up against us"
IF we pass a resolution and incur
the expense" he continued, who Is
to pay for it? If an injunction Is
served upon the committee to re
strain payment what an embarrassing
situation that will be In justice to
! the members that are likely to be ap,
pointed to serve in the inves legation
let me say. that they individually
will be liable for the payment of the
expenses that the committee will in,
cur. There is no authority under
which we can draw on the state for
funds for this purpose. The taxes of
the people are not placed before the
senate to juggle with in any sporadic
ways. Let US first investigate to see
if we can go ahead with an investiga-
ton lawfully"
The senators of the left" wing
demand equal representation in the
committee because the "exigencies'
of the case demand it, they declared
IF there are no precedents for
equal representation on joint com
mittee," demonstrated Senator Hust-
ing, then let US appoint it because
the exigencies of the case demand it.
The senate has equal power with
| the assembly on the passage Of bills
let it have equal power with the as
! sembly in carrying on the investiga-
ton"
The friends of Senator Stephenson
averred that the Blaine-and-Husting
forces wanted equal representation
because the senate would send all
anti-Stephenson men to the investi
eating committee.
sThe provision TO have five men
from the assembly and three from tbs
senate" declared Senator Hudnall,