The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1911-06-16

A4AoNC IAAO OdOJOGI vi oil l1lfCSLAE
charging crookedness On his part
However, sentiment will not be per-
mitted to play a part in the movement
to GUST Senator Stephenson, ano Sena-
tor LaFoiiette will lead the fight
against his old-time friend and bene-
factor.
The legislature is in chaos over the
question of apportionment of the state
into assembly, senatorial and congress
sional districts. Democrats and Social
Democrats, are eager to get as many
favorable districts as possible. The
Social Democrats have presented an
apportionment proposition Of their
own; the Democrats probably will do
likewise, and the Republicans are try
ing to handle both of the minority
parties and make them agree to the
apportionment outlined by the Repub-
licans. Unless the three parties reach
some sort of a compromise the session
may drag until July The Social
Democrats are espec\.ly insistant re-
lative to the situation in Milwaukee
county, where they want 10 assembly
districts instead of IS, as promised by
the Republican apportionment propo-
sition There is some possibility that
the Democrats and Social Democrats
will exchange friendship to head off
the Republicans if compromise is
not reached within a few days
~ a. -
The assembly got into a mix-up
over the state tax for highway i'm
provements. A proposition was
brought up to compel the farmers to
pay the tax in cash and. not give them
an opportunity to work it out as has
been the custom. This met with much
opposition from the farmer members
Assemblyman AXel Johnson tried to
smooth over things by offering an.
amendment providing that it would
retain option with the county board
in several counties as to whether the
work it out. Before this amendment
could be acted upon, however, the bill
was referred to the assembly commit
tee on highways. 1t is not believed
that the legislature will go on record
to make farmers pay their highway
tax in hard cash if there is any dis
position to pay it by work.
K X X
The Bichler bill relating to the test
ing of cattle for tuberculosis and re-
pealing the compulsory feature of the
law appears to be in for rough
Shedding in the senate. The bill pass
ed the assembly after a long, hard
fight, and was referred to the joint
legislative committee on finance This
committee made favorable report
with three senators and one assembly
men dissenting. With three senators
on the committee against the bill it
is certain that the measure will meet
powerful opposition in the senate.
Are the progressive of the state
losing confidence in the railroad COM
mission, which has been lauded to
the skies by reformers and men rep
resenting the interests of large public
utilities? Up to this time the pro-
gressives have considered the commits
sion strong body of men who in
vestigated large public questions
scientifically and with fairness to the
general public Representatives of
the public utilities whose private bust
ness affairs have been aired before
the commission have welcomed inves-
LEGATIONS by that body because of it's
fairness in readjusting rates and other
matters pertaining to the interests of
the large corporations Not it de-
velops that the commission is too
slow in getting to the bottom of GER
tain questions of vital interest to the
people, and the popular method of
getting immediate results is by direct
legislation. Milwaukee in its fight
for cheaper gas resort to this meth
cd, and thus far has been successful.
The lower house has gone on record
for 60 cent gas for Milwaukee, rep
resenting an annual saving to the
people of that CITY of about STA 900
A bill covering this question was in
troduced early in the session by AS
semblyman Jockey. Is ~as thorough
ly discussed before an assembly COM
mittee, which reported the bill for in
definite postponment. Mr.. Yockey,
however, by a brilliant speech and
earnest appeal to the legislature turn
ed the tide and the bill was ordered
engrossed. The significant part of the
debate was the following statement
by Speaker Ingram, who is supposed
to reflect the views of the progressive
party in Wisconsin.
''The people of Milwaukee have come
to the legislature for protection and
they are entitled to it. The railroad
commission. with its army Of experts,
is too slow in getting to the bottom
of big public utility questions
This statement by the speaker has
caused considerable gossip because it
indicates that the progressives may be
with the railroad COM
X < +
Small in numbers, but hard, earnest
~