The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1909-04-30


ties to Governor Davidson he had seer
the latter frequently, but the subject OF
the contribution was never mention ed
by either Of them Only recently Gov
ernor Davidson said he had never been
able to see or speak to Stone after be
received the contribution.
O. G. MuDson, secretary to the gov.
ernor, told the committee that among
other contributors to the governors
fund was George Curtis. Jr, a member
of the state tax commission, who gave
, $50
Burden on Railroads.
A bill by Mr.. Twesme, throwing the
, burden ot proof for lack of care on
the part of persons injured by railroad
companies at crossings on the rail
road was ordered engrossed by the as
sembly last week.
Following the defeat of spring shoot
ing in the assembly the committee on
fish and game, which recommended tbs
bill for passage, has now gone the as
semhly one better by Introducing new
bill absolutely prohibiting the shooting
of any aquatic birds until 1912. The
fight on the spring shooting PROPOSE
ton was u sharp one. although it ht,c
been defeated in several other legisla-
lures The press Of the state was pref
ty generally opposed to it and this fact
doubtless had great weight in revers-
ing the recommendation of the COM
mittee. 1t is not probable, however,
that the more drastic bill will so
through.
Board of License Revocation.
The defeat OF the county option bill
did not put an end to the issue OF
liquor regulation in the legislature.
and to meet the demand of the people
that some progressive step be taken in
line with the movement now sweeping
the country, the assembly state affairs
committee has brought in a new meas
ure creating what is to be known as
a state board of license revocation.
The bill was largely drawn by for
mer senator, w. Fl. Austin of Milwau-
kee. counsel for the big brewing inter-
ests, and whether this fact will infiu-
ence its fate or not remains to be seen.
Briefly, under the terms of the Aus
tin bill. the newly created board is to
have authority to revoke the license
OF Liquor dealer in any community of
the state for any of the following rea-
sons:
II licensee maintains a diSOrderly,
riotous, indecent or improper house.
II he permits gambling upon the
premises.
If he sells to minors without order
from parent or guardian, to intoxicated
persons or to habitual drunkards.
IF he permits girls under seventeen
years. unaccompanied by parent. to
participate III any ball or dance ada
cent to or within premises on which
liquor is sold.
If he has failed to observe and obey
any order of supervisors, trustees or
aldermen Or county superintendent of
poor made pursuant to law.
The Austin bill creates a board of
five members to be appointed by the
governor for terms ranging from two
years to ten years, the regular term
being ten years. Members must not
hold any other public Office. Compen
sation of members is to be 500 a
year and actual expenses Money for
the support of the board is to be raised
by collecting each year from every
town, village and city treasurer 3 per
cent of all saloon license money paid
in. The committee is empowered to-
employ stenographer and a secretary
and to pay the usual fees to witnesses
Suffragsts May Invade Madison.
There is a possibility that suffragists
from Wisconsin will emulate their H.
inois sisters and descend upon the leg
islators this week in hopes of carrying
them off their feet for the passage Of
the Stout bill This bill. which has
been passed by the senate, has been
adversely reported by the assembly
committee but a warm fight is expect
ed on it just the same The Stout bill
does not grant suffrage at once, but
provides for referendum to the peo
ple--that is, the male voters of the
state-at the election in 1910 Should
it be ratified then, however, full and
adequate suffrage is conferred upon
women at once. Yet even this prop
osition is feared by the majority of
the assembly committee
However. two of them will contend
for the cause of woman -Assemblymen
ingalls, and Twesme. Ingalls, is from
Racine. the hotbed of woman suffrage
propaganda in Wisconsin and the home
of Rev. Olypia Brown, the well-known
woman preacher and suffrage leader
The Racine members are seemingly
quite loyal to Mrs Brown and her
cause. for ASsemblyman Hamper ut
Racine county has also introduced n
suffrage bill! and is expected To take |
the floor for the women Not few
members believe that the committee
report will be overturned and That the
governor VIII sign such bill
Joint Body on Claims
I. Perhaps the busiest committee in the |