The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1909-05-28

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which shall be announced distinStly. in
the boath, with the question: ">Se
there any objections? If the voter is
challenged he shall subscribe to an
oath that he will support the persons
for which he intends to vote, if they
are nominated in the primary. The
one objection made to this bill on the
floor of the assembly was by Assem-
blyman Ingram, who feared that 1t
might disenfranchise the ever increas-
ing number of independent voters.
The Dunn pocket ballot may be
adopted by county boards for use at
general elections. Assemblyman Ham
brecht declares that the adoption OF
this ballot will work as great a good
in the election districts of the coun-
try as the installation of the voting
machine has in the city. AS the bal
lot is designed there will be no op-
portunities for fraudulent practices,
one that may be counted rapidly and
whereby complete record will be
kept in the tally sheets, showing how
each ballot is counted. The voter is
provided with an envelope of ballots
so designed that he can quickly select
the candidates for which he wishes
to vote, at the same time keeping
complete record of those candidates
for whom he does not wish to cast
his ballot.
States Water Power.
Contending that the state should re-
tain control of it's water powers, Sena-
tor w. r. Gaylord contributes a per-
tinent article to the current number OF
LaFollette'S magazine on Stopping
Water Power Grabs in Wisconsin,
Gaylord's article has special signifi-
canoe at this time in that it is the first
contribution of any considerable length
dealing with conditions peculiar to Wis
consin that has appeared in Senator
LaFollette;s own mouth-piece. BY
some the article is interpreted as one
indication of the way the wind will
blow when Senator. LaFollette opens
his campaign for a second term at
Washington. Senator Gaylord in his
contribution fearlessly reads the roll
call in typical LaFollette fashion, on
those senators who spoke in favor of
the granting of additional darr fran
chises at this session before investiga-
tion by a special committee previously
provided for by both houses.
100000 HORSEPOWER.
1.-THE total extent of the WATERPROOF
crs of Wisconsin has been estimated at
100000 horse power, which is conser-
vative," writes Senator Gaylord. "The
value of this may be estimated, as Il
natural resourse. when we say that
every hydro-electric horse power is
equal to about twelve tons of coal per
year. That means that Wisconsin has
the equivalent within it's borders of
coal mines producing 100000 tons of
coal per annum. And the development
of the reservoir system at the head
waters of the various rivers of the state
will increase this from 20 to 60 per
cent. And so it is no wonder that
nearly thirty bills were introduced at
this session of the legislature, asking
for franchises for dams. Nor is it to,
be wondered at that lobbyists filled the
corridors and committee rooms during
the bitter fight that took place in the
state senate over the question"
Speaking of the anxiety of the special
interests to force their bills through
the legislature when they learned that
an investigation had been arranged
for, Mr.. Gaylord writes:
Naturally enough those who feared
that the agitation and the education.
of the public mind, which must accom-
pany such an investigation and report,
might tie the bag from which they had
been making such rich grabs in the
past, brought all possible pressure to
bear upon the standing committee on
forestry. And they were ably seconded
on the floor by the efforts of Senators
Brazeau, Bird and Thomas, who took
the lead in the debate. The committee
on forestry selected two bills, which
seemed most likely to appeal to the
the ball. And the chairman of the COM
mittee, Senator Bird, frankly confessed
that these were to be 'feelers. Assem-
blyman Bray, member of the joint
committee. also said that to be fair he
would have to vote to recommend the
passage of all the bills So this was
the program of the committee But
the senate thought otherwise and after
a vigorous debate, voted to refer these
two bills to the special committee"
Insurance Taxation
The Northwestern Mutual Life In
surance company of Milwaukee sub
mitted to the joint committee on taxa
ton a bill changing the form of insur-
ance taxation in this state. The bill
has the following three distinct propo-
sitions:
/. A tax the coming year of 10 per
cent on the proceeds of the company
2 The annual reduction of this tax
until 1t reaches minimum amount of
2 per cent of Wisconsin premiums
3. A sax on premiums collected in
Wisconsin by foreign life insurance
cOrlouaniaS of I Der cent