Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1909-01-21

WHOLE SLATE GOES THROUGH.
Senate Goes to Work in Chamber
Hastily Fitted Up for
It's Use.
Madison correspondence:


Misconsins forty-ninth session of the
legislature was called at noon Wednes-
day in surroundings that impressed the
legislators and scores of visitors
Rev. George E. Hunt spoke the in
vocation in the Assembly, members and
visitors standing while the first for
NAL address delivered in the capitol
wing was offered to the Almighty. At
E. Shaeffer read the list of members
as certified by the Secretary of State
and then read the roll. The members
answering Then followed a brief de-
lay pending the arrival of Chief JUS
tice Winslow to administer the oaths
of office. All members rose as the
chief justice pronounced the oath and
at u 80 o'clock the Forty ninth As.
sembly was reality, the formality of
signing the oath alone remaining.
AS soon as all members had signed
the Assembly adjourned until o'clock,
at which time it met again and elected
Clerk Shaffer giving up the Speakers
chair to Judge Levi H. Bancroft amid
applause. Drawing for seats also was
completed at the afternoon session.
1t was few minutes after - o'clock
when Lieutenant Governor John
Strange called the Senate to order in
the improvised chamber in the new
west wing. Before the opening of the
session chaos reigned III the chamber
owing to the seats being put in place.
Members assisted the force in getting
them in place. Owing to the very
straitened quarters of the chamber,
small cheap desks, much like those in
use in schools, were provided the men,
bers, the larger regulation desks being
reserved for them in committee rooms.
The invocation was pronounced by
Rev. George McAdam of the Methodist
church.
In his opening address Lieutenant
Governor Strange expressed his pleas
ure and honor at presiding over such
a body Il believe no State was ever
blessed with an ADLER lot of Senators
than is Wisconsin. l believe you are
all prompted by impulses of righteous
ness and that we are not here to pro-
mote the interest of any faction to
which we may have belonged in the
past. We should have no interest to
serve but those of the common people.
This should be progressive, righteous
session. Wisconsin expects much Of
you and l believe she will not be dis
appointed he said.
Retiring Chief Clerk A. f. Emerson
then read the list of members as certi-
fed to by the Secretary of State, fol-
lowing which the oath was admins
tered and signed by all members. Only
one member was absent, Senator J. A.
Hazelwood of jefferson County, who
is ill and was granted indefinite leave
of absence on the motion of Senator
HuSting.
When the election of a President pro
tenn. came up Senator Martin nominal
ed Senator ]. II. Stout the nomination
being seconded by Senator Randolph,
who created a round of applause by
paying a tribute to Senator Stout and
announcing that the minority party
had decided to vote for the Republican
nominees. On his election Senator
Stout briefly expressed his thanks.
Senator Thomas nominated +. E. An
drews for chief clerk and Senator Bar
ker named r. c. Falconer for sergeant
alarms. These were elected and took
the oath.
4 resolution by Senator Whitehead
to adopt the rules of the last session
was laid over on motion of Senator
Sanborn. The report of the Committee
on Committees was presented by Sen
ator Stout and adopted. To this was
added a Republican caucus committee
consisting of Senators Whitehead, San
born and Morris. The chair named
on the committee TO wait on the Gov
ernor Senators Martin and Whitehead.