The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1909-02-19


are Isaac Stephenson, S. A. Cook, w.
II. Hatton and F. e. McGovern, Repub-
Leans; Neal Brown and NJ. r. Hoyt,
Democrats, and Jacob Hummel, Social
Democrat.
In order to forestall inJunctions and
other possible obstacles toward meet
ing the expenses of the probe the SEN
ate members of the committee have
introduced a blanket bill to cover all
expenses that may be incurred by the
Investigations. However, Senator
HEIR, and others say that this will not
mean the end of their fight against
such expenditures if there is possible
other way to head them off. While
the committee has until March Is in
which to report it is expected the find
ings will be returned before that time
or at least that the taking of testi-
mony will be concluded before such
date.
Bill to Amend Primary Law.
Of the many bills that have come
in for amending the primary and cleo.
ton laws as a result of the senatorial
tie-up the most unique and what would
be the most deterrent is that intro
duced by Senator Martin, which pro-
vides for a graduated tax scale that in,
creases with amazing rapidity. Some
interesting calculations on the basis
of last summers expenses have been
made and show it's fearful possibili-
ties. Thus had the bill been in eff
feet last year Isaac Stephenson would
have paid 1891, O97.41 for the privilege
of complying with the law and filing
his primary election expense account
of $107, 1896. By the same token, his
rivals in the senatorial race, according
to their accounts filed last October,
would have paid according to the fol
lowing table:
Name Amount Spent. Fee.
s. A. Cook -. $29,587.65 46,370.33
III. Hatton ..... 26,413.18 3S,226.61
F. E. McGovern 11,063.S6 7.17O.60
Neal Brown -. 1,025.85 10000
Disposition of the Fund.
The bill provides that detailed state
ments shall be filed, and then directs
the method by which the fee is
charged and the disposition of the
fund as follows:
Every such person on or before the
time when such statement is required
to be filed, shall pay to the officer with
whom such statement is required to
be filed, sum computed on the basis
of 10 per centum upon the first 500
or fraction thereof expended by such
candidate Or in his behalf with his
consent, and an additional one per
centum upon each additional 500 or
fraction thereof expended by such can
sent One-half of all sums so paid
to any city or county clerk shall be
paid to the state treasurer on or be-
fore the fifteenth day of December in
each year, and together with the
amounts SO paid to the secretary of
state, to be credited to the school
fund. 1t shall be the duty of the Sec
rotary of state and the attorney gen
eral and the respective county clerks
and district attorneys to institute and
prosecute civil action in the name of
the state for thesrecovery of all fees
not paid as aforesaid"
Last Day for Bills.
This is the last day under the res
olution by which new bills can be in
PRODUCED and the chief clerks of the
two houses were fairly swamped with
them. An Indication of the near ap-
proach of this date was seen last
Thursday when over $50 bills came
into the assembly alone. Of course 1t
does not mean that no bills will come
in after today, but the procedure will
have to be more formal and this will
discourage the introduction of more
measures
Of the large number of interesting
measures that have come in the past
week are several that would necessi-
tate amendment of the constitution.
One of these aims to increase the sal
airy of members of the legislature from
$500 to $1,000. A like resolution was
adopted two years ago and has been
introduced again by Assemblyman In
gram of Durand for a second adoption
must be submitted to a vote of the
people at the next general election,
and if Endorsed by them will become |
operative two years hence and the next |
legislature will get the benefit
Revision of the Constitution.
The agitation for revision of the |
state constitution, which has been !
made periodically in recent years, will |
be brought up again at this session. |
Assemb1yman Zimmerman today in |
PRODUCED a resolution to that end, and |
other members are said to have sim |
liar measures in preparation The |
point will be made that the state has |
outgrown it's ANTICIPATED ark, and that |
it is not pliable and comprehensive |
enough to meet certain conditions.
At a previous session Speaker Ekern |
made a strong plea for such revision, |
but was not sustained. The Socialist |
members of the legislature are espec-