River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1913-06-19

~" Tie plan to DTOdueH the law re-
lating to the activity of lobbyists so
that in the future they may be bar
red from the legislative galleries
when the assembly and senate are in
session. When the present wave Of
indignation subsidies, however. this
idea may be dropped, as many feel
that 1t would be an extreme step to
take.
The last notable fight on a saloon
bill will come in the senate within a
few days, as the Teasdale bill to di-
vorce the brewery from the saloon is
still to be disposed of. The vote on
this measure will show the brewers
lining up their full strength as the
measure is considered dangerous
one from the standpoint of business
If it became a law the brewers would
not be permitted to own buildings
and rent them for use as saloons. 1t
would entirely eliminate the brewery
from the retail business, and would
make the saloonkeeper independent
Commissioners Ekern's Views.
Insurance Commissioners Ekern in
a recent speech before the senate com
mittee on education and public well
fare told why he believes it is better
for the people of the state to have
the commissioner of insurance APP
pointive instead of election.
"You can't talk politics and sound
insurance at the same time,' he said.
To return to the elective system,
Mr.. Ekern said would be to throw
the commissioner back in politics. Be-
cause of conditions bearing upon the
political situation, the fact that the
commissioner to be less vigorous as
the head of the insurance depart
ment. To make the Office appointive
and take it out of politics gave the
commissioner free rein in building up
a great insurance department. Mr..
Ekern did not believe that conditions
in the state had changed. He felt
that the same arguments which
caused the legislature two years ago
to make the office appointive by the
| governor still held good.
He said that the rule that governs
| the appointment of railroad commits
| sioners, tax commissioners and mem
! bers of the industrial commission ap-
| plies in the case of the insurance com
| missioner. He said that Wisconsin
has many laws of much merit touch
| ing upon the question of insurance
| With these laws as a foundation he
] predicted that if the commissioner is
| permitted to devote his full time to
his department that Wisconsin will
make great strides along insurance.
ed in the senate and Immediately
| killed
| During the debate before the com.
mittee the commissioner was called
upon to explain what he considers
the difference between insurance COM
missioner and United States senator
ship He said a United States sen.
| ator as a legislative officer represent
| ed the views of the people and form
ulating public policy and should be
elective. Because the commissioner
| is an administrative officer and mere
| ly carries out public policy as laid
down by legislative bodies, he believes
the Office should remain appointive.
Louis &. Meyers Appointment.
The little political row launched
when the senate refused to confirm
| the reappointment of Louis F. Mayer
| of Milwaukee as state oil inspector
promises to blow over Action on
| Mr.. Meyers appointment was delayed
because Senator Bosshard said that
the charge was being made that the
oil inspector was INDUCING in too
much politics, and he though the SEN
ators ought to be given time in which
| to look into the charge. This action
gave rise to the impression that the
senate might conclude to conduct an
| investigation. This report, however,
failed to bear fruit, and it appears as
| though Mr.. Meyers appointment will
| be confirmed during this week.
| Both houses are still at sword
| points over adjournment. The SEN
ate has again refused OF pay atten-
ton to the joint resolution adopted in
the house providing for final adjourn
ment June g. The resolution has
| been referred to the senate commit
| tee on rules and procedure, and prom
| ISIS to remain there indefinitely.
Some of the Democrats are growing
indignant over the length of the ses-
sion, and there mas been some talk
that they will walk out if the legis-
lature does not see fit to adjourn sine
die on June 2S, as suggested in the
resolution offered by Assemblyman
Roessler, Democratic leader of the
house
A decision of the United States SUI
preme court in a waterpower case has
an important bearing upon water
power legislation before the present
legislature. In this decision the
court, according to Senator Husting,
sustained the principle of the law
passed in this state two years ago and
declared unconstitutional by the SUI
preme court of Wisconsin.
A new bill is being drafted which,
Mr.. Husting says, will protect public
rights in the broadcast possible man
ner, but at the same time will be so
drawn that waterpower development
in Wisconsin will not be retarded.
FRED C. SHEASBY.