The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1909-01-22

telephone companies which provides
for the nter-communication between
the two systems, Italy and Sweden
have similar plans in operation.
The Speaker of the House.
The election of Judge Levi II.
Bancroft of Richland Center as speak
er and the organization of the two
houses has left no rankings and the
indications are for fairly smooth sail
ing of the legislative seas. Bancroft
is keen, forceful, able man and
pended upon to push things along. His
ability as presiding officer was
abundantly demonstrated as chairman
OF the Republican state convention
held In the gymnasium in Madison in
1902 when LaFollette was nominated
for the second time for governor The
taking away by Governor LaFollette
OF the convention from Milwaukee to
Madison that year marked radical
departure in political procedure and
greatly incensed the old wheel horses
OF the party. Consequently the con-
vention was a somewhat stormy affair
and many trying situations arose but
Bancroft was equal to them all.
The present speaker had impressed
himself upon the governor and other
reform leaders previously by making
a fOrceful address before the legisla-
ture in favor of the legislation urged
by LaFollette. Before that he had at
tracted the attention of the state by,
his able and unfagging defense of
Rose Zoldoske, the Richland Center
Polish girl who was sent to Waupun
for murder but pardoned by Governor
Upham the last day of his term 1t
is said that on her release Miss Zold-
oske went to Oklahoma and was mar
ried to farmer there. Bancroft is
40 years old
Accommodations Inadequate
At the very outset the legislators
have grown FESTIVE over the accommO-
datiOns provided them in the new
west wing The dignified senators
would naturally chafe at the provis-
ions made for them as they are hud-
died into very small room, SO small
in fact that they cannot use their reg
ulation desks, and had to be provided
with small school desks, while the
lieutenant governor has nothing but
table and chair and the chief clerk
only small table chair and no desk.
The members have gone on the war
path for better quarters and will
doubtless bring about some sort of
change.
But the assembly is also dissatisfied,
notwithstanding the fact that its
chamber presents a scene of luxury
and pomp, with brussels carpet on the
floor, $4,000 painting over the
speakers desk, the best of seats and
trouble is that the chamber is actually
too small for that body The desks
are crowded right up against one am
other, making the quarters exceeding
ly cramped. 1T is probable that
change in the plans of the new build
ing viii be made by which the sem
ate will be given this chamber and
larger chamber provided for the as
sembly in another wing, To this end
Assemblyman Estabrook of Milwaukee
has already presented a resolution
and interesting developments are ex-
pected to follow 1t is highly desir-
able that the two bodies be near to-
gether, but under present circum-
stances it may now be awkward to
make such arrangement
United States Senatorship
Under the law balloting for United
States senator will begin in joint ses.
sion Of the two houses at noon Jan
rs. From present indications there wilt
be no serious opposition to the cleo
ton of Isaac Stephenson of Marinette.
The much-heralded probable investf-
cation of the senatorial primary ex-
penses may be held, but indications
are that it will not At any rate it cam
not affect this years election as un-
der the action taken by the two
houses before adjournment last week
no other business but the introduc-
ton of bills will be considered be-
tween now and the date of the cleo
ton.
Joint resolutions for such investiga-
ton were introduced in both houses
by Democrats last Thursday, Senator
Husting presenting it in the upper
house and Assemblyman Kalaher in
the lower They set forth in their
resolution that in presenting it they
are but acting in accord with the
pledges of the Democratic platform
for such investigation. The resolution
provides for a joint committee OF. the
two houses with large plenary pow
ers to make a thorough overhauIfng
Of last summers election and report
to the legislature by April next.
AS there are but seventeen Demo
Gratis in the assembly and four in the
senate, it is plain to be seen that they
can do nothing without the aid of
large. Republican element which they
probably will not be able to summon.
The Republicans recognize the seri-
BUSINESS Of the charges and the i'm