Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1911-05-31
TO INCREASE POWER
Of MERIT BOARD
Senate Adopts Measure to
Strengthen Commission.
WOULD IMPROVE HARBORS
sill Requiring lnterurban Cars to
Have Headlights Screened Upon
Passing Through Villages and
Cities Advanced.

&iAtGS FAHaNCSQs
Madison. - The senate adopted
measures looking 70 more power for
the civil service commission and also
providing for license fees of vessels
on the great lakes.
The civil service bill seeks TO give
.he commission increased power in
dealing with experts in the state serv-
ice. The bill gives the appointing Off
Ger the right TO suggest candidates
for examinations and also gives him
power to assist the examining board
In making up questions As soon as
the appointment is made the eligible
list is to expire. There is nothing in
the bill that prevents the importa-
ton of candidates from outside the
state.
The vessel license resolution by
Senator Randolph memorializes con-
gress to fix the license and to devote
the money thus received TO the i'm
provement of inner harbors. This has
been one of the troubles OF the ports
all along the great lakes and Senator
Randolph thinks that his resolution
will force the vessel owners to pay
Just fee and at the same time assist
the lake ports to improve their har-
bors.
The senate also advanced the Gay
lord bill authorizing cities TO pur-
chase park lands by mortgaging the
lands purchased This bill is of Inn
portance to every municipality that
Is cherishing desire to create
parks.
The senate advanced the assembly
bill requiring interurban cars to have
headlights screened upon passing
through villages and cities. The bill
authorizing county boards to issue
bonds for the purpose of establishing
agricultural and domestic science
training schools also was advanced.
Another bill by Assemblyman Ber-
ner requiring factory owners to have
the doors swing outward was ad-
vanced.
The long deferred appointment Of
the members of the Joint committee
on apportionment-the body which
will introduce the bill providing for
the redistricting OF the state into new
senate and assembly districts-was
again delayed, although it was expect
ed that the appointments would be an
nOunced in order that the committee
could begin its work at once and thus
! ~ hsec npfh n
gram and President Martin of the SEN
ate, had their lists prepared. but u was
discovered that some of the senators
named were in the same assembly dis
tricts as certain lower house members
of the committee. and this would have
made trouble.
1t is now expected that the lists
will be announced this morning. after
a conference called for last night.
A new plan Of expediting appo~tion-
ment business has been evolved 10 the
scheme to pass the bills for assembly
and senate districts separately. This,
1t Is said, would eliminate much Of the
political squabbling that usually &C
companies an apportionment.
While sessions of the Wiscon-
sin legislature are held daily ex-
cept Sunday and there frequent
ly is much debate and sometimes
material amendment Of important
measures on the floor, a great deal Of
the work accomplished at this session
has been provided for in advance by
means Of conferences. Not party eau
cuses. as the Democrats have been
wont to hold and which the Republi-
cans themselves used to hold in the
old days. but confabs of leaders In the
Republican majority. who really seem
10 be holding the balance Of power.
Especially Is this proving true in
these latter days of the 1911 session.
During the last few days political
measures OF momentous Importance,
many of which previously had been
worked upon for weeks have been
gone over and used as the basis for
determining party policies
Attention just now is being paid TO
the various election bills. Only two
important ones have gone forward
without having been gone over care
fully in conferences. One is the sec
ond choice primary. or Mary Ann"
bill, and the other is the bill providing
for rotation o. names on the primary
ballot.
The Republicans are just now pre-
pairing 10 redeem a promise made to
the lower house Democrats some
weeks ago. whereby the minority
members for the most part helped
pass the home rule" Blll and indica-
ted their willingness TO support a bill
for nonpartiRar elections In cities, in