Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1909-05-05
DAM BILLS MEET
ANOTHER DEFEAT
Battle OF ORATORS IN SENATE
REVIEWS FIGHT WAGED A
WEEK AGO.
FINAL VOTE ON REcoNSIDERA.
TON RESULT II TO 13
AGAINST MOTION.
Madison, April 20

B. vote o. IA TO IL the senate yes
tef5ay evening refused to reconsider
the vote by which the two bills grant
ing dam franchises to corporations in
ths northern part of the state were
referred to the special committee
which is to be appointed by the Iegis
lature to invo @tigate this subject and
report to the special session.
This action was taken after de
bate, which, during the present ses.
sion of the legislature, has only been
eQualed by the fight on the county op-
ton measure. The debate on this
question took up the entire forenoon
session of the senate, and after noon
recess, it was continued at O'Clock,
till it finally came to vote on the
matter shortly before 6. In general,
the debate was repetition of the ar
guments. that were advanced ON both
sides last week during the first stage
OF the fight on the general principle
OF the subject, when the senate voted
10 refer the two specific bills and the
whole matter to the special commit
tee 10 be appointed by the Legislature.
The debate was nevertheless intensely
interesting and not devoid of small
sensations, and the personal taunts
between the senators furnished parttc-
ula~ enjoyment to the crowd of on
lockers who attended the session dur
ing the course of the debate.
The two bills granting dam fran
chises, the cause of the whole trouble
were No. As, by Senator Thomas, to
authorize the Menasha Paper Co. to
Guild lam across the Flambeau
river in Rusk county, and No. 19s, by
Senator Brazeau, authorizing the John
Arpin Lumber Co. to build a dam
across the Chippewa river in Sawyer
county. After the measures had been
referred to the special committee last
week, they had been made a special
order for yesterdays session on mo
ton to reconsider the vote.
When the special order was reached
at 1890 o'clock yesterday morning,
Senator Husting opened the fight by
brief argument in favor of the refer
enca of the bills to the special com
miJtee. Senator Gaylord, in the
course of the debate made the prin-
cipal argument against the thought
less ,ivng away of valuable dam
franchises by the state He had
taken decisive issue on the question
when the fight was begun last week,
and in his speeches yesterday he
brought up some of his former argu-
me2ts. During the forenoon session
ne was followed and opposed by Sen.
ators Bird and Brazeau, the cham
pions of the side which stood for TAX
ing up the measures at this present
session, and the granting of the fran
chises with proper restrictions to pro
tect the state.
Ia a personal controversy between
Senators Gaylord and Brazeau, a small
sensation developed during the fore
noon session, when Senator Gaylord
limited that Brazeau's zeal for the pas
sage of the bills was due to he fact
thar he was the attorney for the cor
porations who are vitality interested
in the bills Senator Brazeau. in his
speeches, did not try to repudiate
this as he always referred to the in
terests back ing the bills in The pro
nouns I'VE" and "us." Senator Braz-
eau maintained that the state did not
OWE the water power and had no
right to refuse the granting of dam
franchises. as the people owning the
land on both sides of river had as
much right to the use of the natural
water power of the stream as people
owning timber or coal lands are en-
Titled to the natural products or con
ditlons of the soil.
n opposition to this, very able
speech was made by Senator Gaylord,
the social democrat from Milwaukee.
in which the arguments of his side OF
the question were best summarized
II part, Senator Gaylord said:
The point that | am E.aking is
this; The state has adopted policy.
That policy is stated in joint resolu-
tio1 No. 33s, introduced again this
year, which in substance was adopted
Ew0 years ago, which states the pol
icy Of the state with respect to the
requirement of water powers in this
state. II is to the effect that the
state may make appropriations tor
th- purpose of acquiring. maintaining
ana developing water powers in this
sta-e. Now, If the passage of that
Two years ago and the appointment OF
a special committee to investigate
that great subject this year don't
mean anything, then l do not under
stand the meaning of Legislative &C
rto1.
We Of Wisconsin are not alone in
the consideration of this question.
Michigan is paying attention to It and
they are awake to the considerations
The water powers can be and
- Ild be so handled by the state as
C save for the public all the value
,siblz and provide fer the largest
pc- sibl@ returns to the commonwealth
aout checking individual enter.
PRISE
Senator Gaylord's speech was main
ly on the general principle Of The sub.
j@ct and the policy OF the state regard
irS the conservation Of The natural
res 2urces. including the water powers