Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1909-01-21
INITIAL SET-TO
IN TIE SENATE
PRIMARY ELECTION EXPENDI-
TURES CAUSE OF A BREEZY
DEBATE
HUSTING BACKED BY BLAINE
AND OWEN BY e,RD-NO
QUORUM DEVELOPS.
Madison, January 90

Madison, January 90.
] There will be no inQuisition into
| primary expenditures of senatorial
| asprants-at 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
toriaI primary election made, a special
order for 1920 this morning. Sena-
tor Owen, republican, moved an
| amendment, that it be referred to the
committee on elections. Then Sena,
OF Husting urged fair play. 1t was a
mere subtC rfuge, 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
quiry No politics is involved in the
question as yet, though it will be if
a thTottling policy is pursued. What
has become of the demand for re
form? he asked. What Of the WiscOn-
sin idea? | 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 a
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-
cIGred that he had come to the legis-
IatUre 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
elCnCe implies delay. | am not afraid
to 1neet nay people if l vote for the
adoption OF this resolution now
Senator Blaine modestly apolOgized
for taking the floor, being a new
number, but it is duty" Investga,
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.
Il 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
pigeonhoIing 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 sugges-
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 II for and 4
against-total Is. Those for refer
ence were Senators Bird, Bishop,
Burke. Donald, Fairchild, F'ridd,
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 Husting
Iaughingly yielded; and Senator Page
moved adjournment. His motion pre-
vailed. thus leaving the resolution in
the posture Of a pending measure,
and with an overwhelming number
obviously inimical to immediate con-
sideratiOn.