The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1913-06-13

| adjournment sine die. Judging from
the sentiment that is expressed in
the senate, this resolution will have
| about the same chance in the upper
house as the senate resolution for
| recess had in the assembly.
Senator Husting and others are
now strongly in favor of remaining
On the job until the legislative calen-
dar is cleared up and all of the big
| bills have been thrashed out The
progressive forces intend to teach the
assembly a lesson by fighting any
move to hurry business and bring
about an early adjournment at the ex-
pense of any important legislation
now pending. The legislature may
or July.
Commissioner Ekern's Victory
Insurance Commissioner Ekern is
now head of the insurance depart
ment without any question existing
as to his right to serve. The deci-
sion of the supreme court was sweep
ing. There is nothing for the gov
ernor to do but accept the decision
as final Mr.. Ekern has already
drawn over $4,000 for back salary
The bill to appropriate $4,000 to his
attorneys will bring warm protest
from the McGovern men in the SEN
ate, although the outcome in the
house is not SO easy to anticipate.
Arguments for this bill will be
based upon the theory that Mr.. Ekern
was forced into litigation through
hasty action on the part of the gov
ernor who failed to make case, and
for that reason the commissioner of
insurance should not be called upon
to bear the expense of his own de-
tense.
Mothers Pension Bill.
Debate over the mothers pension
subject in the assembly was character
lied by much bitterness in which AS
semblyman Mahon, McGovern lead
er, read an editorial from La Fol
lettes magazine in which the Schnitz-
Ter bill, favored by the McGovern
men, was strongly recommended as
the most adequate bill on the subject
before the legislature.
Assemblyman Rosa, La Toilette
man, refused to break ground because
of the editorial, and said that he
knew as much about mothers pen
sion as anyone on the La Toilette
staff. The bill that was finally adj
vanced favors local administration
by the courts, as suggested by Mr..
Rosa. The Schnitzler bill favored
administration by especially appoint
ed officials, with most Of the power
Of administration centralized in the
state board of control.
Appropriations to the amount of
$1,O10,0C0 for normal schools will be
asked of the legislature according to
the testimony before the senate
and assembly committees on educa-
tion. The amounts asked will be for
these purposes:
A one-fourth bill tax which will
yield, probably, $4,000.
An annual appropriation Of $780,
600 for three years for buildings.
600 for three years to begin a system
attic plan of building dormitories for
women at the several schools.
Recognizes Old BattIe-Cry
An earnest effort was made in the
house by Assemblyman Mahon and
others to have reconsidered the vote
by which the McGovern marketing
commission bill was killed. Assem-
blyman Mahon said that in the argu-
ment of $50 slow he recognized the
old battle-cry of the stalwarts, the
railroads and big business which for
years has been raised in opposition
to nearly all of the progressive laws
that have been enacted in Wisconsin.
Mr.. Mahon declared that the mar
keting bill in it's aim to reduce the
high cost of living and improve agri-
cultural conditions was fully as i'm
portant as the laws which created
the railroad commission and the in
dustrial commission. The opposition
charged that the subject is too new
and that there should be months OF
careful investigation before the state
attempted to create marketing com
mission with the powers outlined in
the bill sent to the legislature by the
governor. The opposition favored the
appointment of a committee to in
vestigate, and it was brought out that
if the legislature took recess that
next winter it probably would have
sufficient data on the subject to pass
comprehensive and workable bill
Activity of Lobbyists.
Lobbyists have been so active at
this session that there is talk of pass
ing bill to provide the secretary of
state with a special agent or detec
tive to aid him in the enforcement of
the law relating to lobbyists. 1t is
charged that in spite of the present
law the lobbyists are operating as
successfully as they were in the old
days, and it is impossible for the Sec
rotary of state to enforce the law