The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1911-03-10
system is causing considerable COM
ment among the members.

eyStcu 10 CduSiu6 COnSiuCIdUiC Gull
ment among the members.
j. ! +
Milwaukee is to be given smoke
law all of its own. Assemblyman
Vint, one of the young Socialists in the
lower house, introduced a bill to ex-
tend the smoke zone in all cities two
miles outside of the city limits. In
the case of many of the smaller cities
of the state, it was argued that such
a law might drive out manufacturing
institutions and discourage others
from coming in. The judiciary COM
mittee decided to change the bill SO
that it applies only to Milwaukee.
Representatives of the Brotherhood of
Firemen and Engineers opposed the
bill Pulling heavy loads, it would be
impossible to get locomotives in and
out of many cities of the state with
out violating such regulation. they
said
This has been big week for the
Socialists. Congressman-elect Victor
Berger and Mayor Seidel of Milwau-
kee were in Madison on the same day
They came here in behalf of Milwau-
KEGS home rule bills. To date Mil
waukee and it's dozens of bills have
occupied most of the time and atten-
ton of the legislature. AS mark of
courtesy, Speaker Ingram invited the
two prominent Socialists to occupy
seats on the platform with him. Both
of them made brief addresses to the
legislature. Mr.. Berger said he was
the first man the country had sent to
congress to represent the new idea,
but he predicted that within a few
years other men representing the new
idea will occupy seats in congress. Be-
cause the Socialists and Speaker In
gram have been on noticeably friend
ly terms, this incident caused much
political gossip. 1t has been whisper
ed about the halls of the statehouse
that Mr.. Ingram is ambitious to some
day become governor Those who are
quick to take up word or act OF poll
tical significance, were inclined to
think that Mr. Ingram made political
capital out of the visit of Congressman
Berger and Mayor Seidel. Milwaukee
county is in the hands of the Social
lists, and this county cuts big figure
in gubernatorial campaigns.
Superior needs money and Assembly,
man Nye has bill to permit that
city to tax the terminal property of
railroads. 1t is not likely that the
bill will be recommended for passage
by the assembly committee on taxa
ton. During hearing on this mea-
sure, Nils P. Haugen of the state tax
commission was called to give the
commissions side of it. While he had
no personal interest in the matter,
Mr.. Haugen said that to permit the
city of Superior to tax terminal prop
erty of railroads would be to trans
gress upon a constitutional provision
for uniform system of taxation
Such law for Superior would inspire
other cities with large terminal in
terests to want the same thing, re-
sulting in readjustment of the states
system of taxation. Years ago Super
ior was planned upon an extravaganza
plan. 1t was built on the lines of a
city of 100000 population, but it's pop
ulation is less than $4,000 Today
Superior has high rate of taxation.
The Nye bill was opposed by the
Great Northern railroad.
X \ \
Opposition to the various bills to
conserve the waterpowers of the state
is raising the legal question of, does
the state really own it's waterpowers :?
The opposition in addressing Joint
hearings has taken the position that
no one of the bills now pending on
this subject would hold water IN the
courts. Experts of note, however, as
sisted in the drafting of these mea-
sures, and it will take loads of elo-
quence and much argument to con-
vince the legislature that the state
does not own it's waterpowers
FRED G. SHEASBY.