Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1909-01-27
INITIAL SET-TO
IN THE SENATE
PRIMARY FL EcTIoN ExPENDl-
TuREs CAUSE OF A BREEZY
nEBATE.
HUsTiNG BACKED BY BLAINE
AND OWEN BY BIRD-No
QUORUM DEVELOPS.
Madison, January 20.


There will be no inquisition into
primary expenditures of senatorial
asprants- least not yet In both
houses of the legislature action was
| taken-or inaction-which sidetracks
| that issue for the time being. In the
senate, Senator Husting, democrat,
| sought to have his joint resolution
authorizing an inquiry into the sena-
torial primary election made special
order for 1920 this morning. Sena-
tor owen, republican, moved an
amendment, that it be referred to the
committee on elections Then Sena-
or Hnsting urged fair play. 1t was
mere subterfuge, he declared, to refer.
| That meant no investigation till after
| the election of senator. Those whose
conduct has been called into question
should be the first to demand an in
curry. No politics is involved in the
question as yet, though it will be ii
throttling policy is pursued. What
has become of the demand for re-
form? he asked. What of the Wiscon-
sin idea? l said before election there
should he investigation, and | propose
to be consistent, and l want to know
| the sentiment of the senate.
Senator Bird, republican, observed
that the senate really was not fully
represented, that there had been
| tacit agreement that during this week
no general business would be trans
acted, but only bills be introduced,
and that it was not right to take up
such a matter as this under the cir
cumstances He thought the proper
course was to refer the resolution.
But Senator Blaine republican, de-
clared that he had come to the legiS-
lature pledged to his constituency to
vote for such an investigation and he
was determined to be faithful to- his
trust Il do not want to see the res
olution smothered," he added. REF
erence implies delay. l am not afraid
to meet my people if I vote for the
adoption of this resolution now.
Senator Blaine modestly apologized
for taking the floor, being a new
number, but it is a duty Investiga
ton after a senator has been elected
is nothing but nonsense, he insisted.
The charge of questionable conduct is
general, he went on. 1t does not rest
against any one candidate, but against
all. Let in the light; don't cover up.
81 can't help it if senators are not
here to act now" he added. Il am
here and ready to do my duty There
should be no snap judgment taken by
pigeonholing the resolution. Thirty
| three senators should in fact be here
today to go on record"
Senator Husting insisted that he
was not a party to any tacit agree
ment as to the way business should
be conducted this week. Some one,
he said, had merely made a suggcs-
ton last week that general business
be suspended this week. That was
all. There was nothing of the kind
in the resolution adopted covering
the course of action.
The vote on Senator Owens mo-
ton to refer showed IL for and 4
against-total Is. Those for refer
ence were Senators Bird, Bishop,
Burke, Donald, Fairchild, Fridd,
James, Owen, Page, Stout and Thorn
as; against Senators Blaine, Husting,
Kleczka and Randolph.
Mr.. Husting raised the point of no
quorum before the vote had been an
nounced, and Secretary Page inter-
posed objection based on that cir
cumstance. which Senator Husting1
laughingly yielded; and Senator Page
moved adjournment. His motion pre-
vailed. thus leaving the resolution in
the posture of pending measure,
and with an overwhelming number
obviously inimical to immediate con-
| sideration.
other Business.
Senator Stout presented, as the IN
| itial business of the session, petition
| in behalf of county option legislation
| from "a residents of Dunn county.
Senator Burke offered bill making
an appropriation of $4,000 Tor the
purchase of a site for normal scnool
at Green Bay; Senator Thomas one
empowering the Menasha Paper Co.
| to dam the F1ambeau river in Rusk
county; also making incurable insan-
itv valid justification for divorce;
and one by Senator Page authorizing
tbe amendment of an additional
Judge in the second circuit.