River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1910-04-14
PRIMARY LAW MAY
GO TO HIGH COURT
Van AIstlne viii Probably Carry
Suit to Washington.
ASK FEDERAL COURT RULING
Attorney Lehr of Appleton Announces
That United States Senatorial
Election Affords Basis for APP
peal to Highest Tribunal.

Election Affords Basis for APP
peal to Highest Tribunal.
Madison.-Although the Wisconsin
primary election law has been de-
clared constitutional and the findings
of the lower court In which the case
was tried have been affirmed by the
supreme court, the attack Of the law
Is not to cease. Attorney ]. E. Lehr
of Appleton, representing A. B. Van
Alstine of Dale, Outagamie county,
complainant in the case, declared that
In all probability the action will be
appealed to the United States SUI
preme court and effort will be made
to get decision before the next Sep
tember primaries.
Inasmuch as the state supreme
court. in its opinion and decision,
made ruling affecting federal mat
ter In so far as the primary election
law applies to the nominating of can
didates TO the United States senate,
Senator Lehr declares that the case
Is appealable to the nations highest
tribunal Discussing the matter Sena-
tor Lehr said:
while / have not as yet received
my copy of the supreme courts opin-
Ion in the case Of A. B. Van Alstine
against the state secretary and treas
urer, involving the constitutionality of
the Wisconsin primary election law,
have CLEANED from newspapers that
handled the opinion sufficiently at
length to lead me to believe that the
state court dealt with a federal mat
ter in that feature of it's opinion
treating on the applicability of the
primary law to the nomination of
United States senators.
"If the copy of the opinion of the
case substantiates my present under
standing and belief, l can say at this
time that in all probability the case
will at once be appealed to the United
States Supreme court, and every eff
fort will be made to secure an opinion
before the primary election next fall"
Trust Companies Must Settle.
State Treasurer Dahl will notify
the nine trust companies which have
not complied with his demand for pay
ment of license fees and income tax
that unless liquidation is promptly
made he will bring suit for recovery.
The amount involved is $4,000, and
the trust companies have withheld
payment probably upon the theory
that the law of 1909 exempts them
from obligation to the state. This
law, however, did not become opera
tive until 1910, and inasmuch as the
companies have not heretofore fol-
lowed the practice of paying in adj
vance, but have made their settlement
at or near the end of the term, Treas
urer Dahl holds that they are liable
and that they must pay.
Two of the II trust companies in
the state the Portage Mortgage, Loan
and Trust company and the Manito-
voc Trust company, made prompt
settlement on demand of Treasurer
Dahl. The others have advised the
treasurer that they first desired to
consult their attorneys.
Treasurer Dahl says, however, that
the time for consultation is limited,
and that unless prompt settlement is
made he will bring the issue before
the court, as he has the assurance of
the attorney general that his position
in the matter is correct and that the
companies are liable.
Capitol Contracts Are Let.
The capitol building commission has
awarded contracts for the interior
work of the south wing of the capitol,
for the completion of terrace wall
around the building, and for the lay
ing of water mains around the capitol
park and the capitol lighting and heat
ing plant The successful bidders
were: George Nelson of Madison,
terrace wall, $8,946; McNulty Bros. of
Chicago, mason and plaster work on
interior of south wing. $4,000; ]. H.
Findorff of Madison, carpenter work.
SAL 900; Charles Williams & Co. of
Minneapolis, Mimi, plumbing, $21,S 800;
Vulcan Iron works of Milwaukee, or
namental iron work, $35,550; Joseph
w Mitchell of Madison, water mains,
S1O,630. The work of tearing down
the old south wing will begin in two
months.
A. D. ConoVer Reappointed.
Governor Davidson reappointed Al