Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1913-06-18

take such an active part in the de.
ieat OF legislation The forces led
by Senator Skogmo and Senator
bosshaFd, however, were compelled
to bow to the opposition, and bill
! favorable to the brewery interests
was advanced on the calendar.
Signals from a Lobbyist.
The charge has since developed
I that during the debate one member
Of the senate received signals from a
brewery lobbyist who occupied a seat
IN the gallery. These signals, il is
said, were TO aid the ssDator in his
course Of action on the floor. II is
now the plan to broaden the law re-
lating to the activity Of lobbyists so
that in the future they may be bar
red from the leg Islative 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 ii 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 d.
Yorce the brewery from the saloon is
still to be disposed of. The vote on
this measure viii show the brewers
lining up their full strength as the
measure is considered a dangerous
one from the standpoint of business.
II II became law the brewers would
NOT hn narrf7ff%ad
and rent them for use as saloons. II
would entirely eliminate the brewery
from the retail business, and would
make the saloonkeeper independent.
Commissioner Ekern's Views.
insurance Commissioner 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 ap-
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
office was elective might cause 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
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 men,
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
The Hanson bill was fayorably report
ed in the senate and Immediately
killed. 49,
During the debate before the CON-
mittee the commissioner was called
upon to explain what he considers
the difference between insurance com
mi e cfnpav
Zip. He said 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 r. 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 1t 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 IS. The resolution has
been referred to the senate commit.
tee on rules and procedure, and prom
ISIS to remain there indefinitely. Il
Some of the Democrats are growing
indignant over the length of the SEES
sion, and there has been some talk
that they viii walk out if the legis-
lature does not see fit to adjourn sine
die on June IS. 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