The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1911-05-19
Governor McGOvern Wants Leg
iSIature to Finish Work.
MAY SEND SPECIAL MESSAGE
Many Republicans Believe Adjourn.
ment Will Take Place June 20
Express Companies OPP
pose HurIburt's Bill.

Madison, Wis, May 16.-(SpeciaD-
Tired of their jobs and anxious to get
home to attend to personal business
affairs. members of the Wisconsin
legislature are discussing date Tor
final adjournment. The Democrats IN
the lower house have taken the nrst
step in the form of joint resolution
which sets forth that the legislature
is spending an unreasonable time
here, at considerable expense to the
people of the state. The resolution
provides that no bills shall be intro
duced after May 20, except through
the committee in finance, and that all
committee reports shall be made not
later than Saturday May 20 Any
business coming before the house after
that date shall be referred directly to.
the calendar The Democratic reso-
luton sets for adjournment sine die
Saturday, June 3.
While the Republicans are anxious
clean up and get home, they do not
consider it possible to adjourn June
8. Party pledges rest heavier with the
majority party, which is showing no
disposition to leave anything undore
if it is possible to dispose of the work
at this session. 1t has been limited,
too, that Governor McGovern is un-
friendly to any adjournment until
practically all CT the important party
pledges have been fulfilled. 1t is said
that if the situation seems to warrant
it that he may send special message
to the legislature drawing it's atten-
ton to its duty to finish it's work and
avoid a special session next winter.
Approximately 900 bills yet remain
before the committees of both houses.
\ y \
There is a suggestion of politics In
the desire of the Democrats to adjourn
early. The Democrats are confident
of carrying the state two years hence
and if they can show that the Repub-
promises it will be feather in their
cap. Republican leaders appreciate
that fact, and they do not intend to
leave anything undone which will help
the political cause of the opposition
party. The Social Democrats have
their work about cleaned up and will
support any measure for early adj
journment.
Many Republicans believe that the
legislature will adjourn on or about
June 20.
One of the late bills Of general in
terest is the measure introduced by
Assemblyman Hurlburt providing for a
20 per cent reduction in all express
rates The companies are fighting the
bill on the ground that such a reduc-
ton is impossible. 1t was suggested
by Mr.. Hurlburt if the rate is reduced
that the amount of business will in
crease Representatives of the North
western railway company immediate
Iy informed the Legislature that if the
rates were cut in two and the bust
ness doubled that the Northwestern
company would discontinue carrying
express. Railway companies handle
express not as common carriers, but
under private contract. The express
companies urged Mr.. Hurlburt to per-
NIT the railroad commission to pass
upon the question of rates, but it is
his purpose to bring about this re-
duction by legislative inactment and
let the express companies fight it out
in the courts. The proposed reduc-
ton, claims the author of the bill, will
tend to reduce the high cost of living
in the cities, into which are made
oh ofc IF
tables by express. He estimates that
in Milwaukee alone the daily saving
as result of the proposed reduction
would be $500.
One of the last of the bills aimed
at the liquor tranic in this state has
been laid to rest in the assembly. 1t
was the Hahn bill which proposed to
divorce the brewery and the saloon
The measure was thought to have con-
siderable merit, but it was not treat
ed seriously.
This week farmers from every sec
ton or Wisconsin invaded the legisla-
ture to protest against any compul-
sorry law providing for the testing of
cattle. They have no particular OBJ
lection to a law making it optional
with the farmers whether or not he
shall have his cattle tested. It was
charged that the test had dangerous
possibilities. 1t was alleged at pub
lie hearing that in some cases where
animals failed to react that they SUBJ
sequently died from complications at
tributed to the test. Assemblyman
Bichler is working hard for his bill
which ne would have substituted for
the present law His bill climates the
Objectional compulsory feature except
in the case of cattle offered for sale at
public auctions. 1t also divides the
expense of testing between the state
and the farmer At present the far
mer shoulders the entire expense.