Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1911-05-10
VOTE SWAPPING
UP TO GOVERNOR
Bill Prohibits Log Rolling Among
Members of Legislature.
VIOLATION is MADE FELONY
Punishment is a Fine Not Exceeding
$1,000 to Imprisonment of Three
Yesrs-No Chance for Ad-
joCrnment June IS.

Years-No Chance for Ad-
journment June is.
Madison Hull bill prohibiting
log rolling and vote swapping among
members Of the state legislature.
which was eoncurred in by the senate,
is now up to the governor for his APP
proval.
Vote trading among members of the
legislature has become SO common
during the last decade as "a seriously
menace the enactment of neritorious
legislation.
The bill not only prohibits vote
swapp.ng among members of the leg
islature. but also prohibits members
from agreeing to support or oppose
any measure on condition that the
governor approve or veto any other
act or appoint to or remove any per
son from public office. Violation of
the act is made felony. punishable
by fine not exceeding 81 900 to i'm.
prisonment for three years.
The Scholtz bill providing for the
sterilization of criminal insane, feeble
minded and epileptic persons confined
in state and county prisons and asy-
lums, which has been recommended
for passage to the house, provides for
examination Of criminals and insane
inmates by alienists and surgeons I'M
der authority of the board Of control.
II is expected to cause spirited fight
when II comes before the assembly
for consideration.
The so-called Wehrwein bill, en-
abling graduates of any free high
school of Wisconsin TO enter the state
university without examination. was
recommended for indefinite postpone
ment in the assembly At present the
state university has an accredited list
of high schools, the graduates Of
which are admitted TO the university
without examination. Other high
schools claim they are not fairly
treated by the university inspectors.
The legislature is not yet through
with the liquor proposition. in spite of
the fact that each house has gone on
record unequivoeally against several
drastic measures directed against sa-
ons and the sale of liquor generally.
The principal amendment is the one
to inject into the states basic code a
declaration that the legislature shall
not have power TO interfere IN the
enjoyment of personal liberty by the
people The effect OF this amendment,
If adopted, would be to prevent there.
after the passage by the legislature
of almost any kind of regulatory act
applied to the liquor traffic, especially
county option and Sunday closing.
The amendment viii be vigorously
fought. there Is no question, but there
is reason to believe that unless the
leopard changes his spots,' It will
come close to being Incorporated in
the resolution which represents the
desires of the administration in fulfill.
ment of the platform declaration In
favor of the initiative and referendum.
Another one of the amendments
prohibits the legislature from inter.
fering with the right of parents 10
educate their children in either pub
lic or private schools This is in
jected by the Democrats, II is said,
largely in order that they may com
plicate the debate and possibly con
fuse the Issue.
There seems to be little chance for
final adjournment Of the Legislature
before June 10, in view of the fire.
quent delays occurring by reason Of
r. considerations and laying over q
fully two-thirds of the measures on
the assembly calendars. The house
has not yet been able to convince f.
self that such tactics will not clean
up the regular business In the time
desired, and much time is spent daily
on bills of minor importance--exc
to individual members.
In the assembly G. p Filing
son Of Burk county, by hare fight
ing, secured reconsideration OF the
vote by which his bin to license real
estate agents was killed and the
measure was re-referred Mr. FL
lingson'g purpose is the curing OF the
lana bhark evil as IL OBTAINS IN
northern Wisconsin. He was support
ed vigorously by T. ]. Mahon Of Shaw
ano. who said the land sharks" are
the greatest of all obstacles TO the de
yelopment Of northern Wisconsin
similar bill TO license auctioneers
was refused reconsideration
without debate the house adopted
the Hahn (Socialist) resolution for a
legislative investigation OF the liquor
traffic When the Rays (administra-
tom bill, to equip and maintain the
binder Irvine plant at WaupUn. came
up. Mr. Brockhavsn (Social-Democrao
offered an amendment limiting the