Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1909-05-26
INQUISITORS
FINISH WORK
CONTINUED FROM FIRsT PAcE)

CONTINUED FROM FIRST PACE
Tor which he intends TO vote. II 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 II
might disenfranchise the ever increas.
ing number Of Independent voters.
The Dunn pocket ballot may ba
adopted by county boards for use at
general elections. Assem5lynan Ham
brecht declares that the adoption OF
this ballot Will work as great 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 win he no or
I portunitles for fraudulent practices
one thar may be counted rapidly ana
whereby complete record will be
| kept in the tally * cts, showing how
each ballot * 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 a
complete record Of those candidates
for whom he does not wish to cast
his ballot
States Water Power
Contending hat the state should re-
tain control of its water powers, Sena-
tor w, X Gaylord contributes a per
tinent article 10 The current number Of
LaFollette's magazine on stopping
Water Power Grabs In Wisconsin"
Gaylords 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
44aF'ollettes own muuth-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 al
Washington Senator Gaylord in his
contribution fearlessly reads the roll
call in typical LaFollette fashion, on
those senator's who spoke in favor OF
the granting of additional dam fran
chises at this session before investiga-
ton by a special committee previously
provided for by both houses
100000 HORSEPOWER.
"The total extent of the WATERPROOF
ers of Wisconsin has been estimated at
100000 horse power, which is conser-
yatiye," writes Senator Gay lord The
value OF this may be estimated, as a
natural resourse. when we say that
every hydro-electric horse power is
equal to about twelve tons Ct coal per
year That means that wisconsin has
the equivalent within its 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
viii increase this from 20 to co 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-
panv such an investigation and report
might tie the bag from which they had
been making such rich grabs i'm the
past. brought all possible pressure to
bear upon the stan ling 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
good nature of the senators. TO start
the ball. And the chairman of he COM
mittee. Senator Bird frankly confessed
that these We're to be 'feelers. Assem-
blyman Bray, member of the joint
committee. also said that TO lie fair he
would have TO vote to recon Iend the
passage of all The bills. So this was
the program Of the committees But
I the senate bought otherwise and after
vigorous debate voted to refer these
two bills 10 the special committee"
insurance Taxation.
The Nor hwestern Mutual Life In
suranee company of Milwaukee sub
mitted to the ioint committee on taxa
ton a bin chan ging the form OF insur-
ance taxation in this state. The bill
has the following three distinct propo-
sitions;
l. A tax the coming year Of 10 per
cent, on the proceeds Of the company
2 The annual reduction of this tax
until it reaches 4 *"inimum amount Of
2 per cent. of Wisconsin premiums.
3. A tax on premiums collected in
Wisconsin by foreign life insurance
companies Of ] per cent
Just how the committees on taxation
stand on the bill cannot be ascertained,
although it is understood there will be
a divided report ON the measure and
that it will come TO the floor next weeh,
where the question will be fought Bit