Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1913-07-16
CHANGES IN THE
WOLF MEASURE
Senate Body Introduces Amend
ments to Reservoir Act.
PART OF EARNINGS TO STATE
One Provides That Wolf River Inn
proyement Firm Shall Pay One
Half Of One Per Cent. Of Prof
its TO the People.

Madison.-The senate conservation
committee has introduced two amend
ments to the Wolf river reservoir bill.
both with a design TO protect the
states interests in the waterpowers.
The fight on the bill centered
practically exclusively on these amend
ments. One provides that the Wolf
River Improvement company shall pay
one-half of one per cent. of its annual
earnings to the state. An assembly
amendment proposing a one per cent.
return to the state was rejected earlier
in the session, following the finance
committees adverse recommendation.
The second amendment of the con-
servation committee provides that the
franchise shall be revocable.
The senate prefaced long calendar
by a half-day's discussion of the Wolf
river bill The fight for the amend
ments of the conservation committee
was led by Senators Husting and Boss
hard, and for the bill without the
amendments by Senators Scott, Kileen,
Burke and Linley. Senator Husting
declared that to pass the bill without
the misunderstanding clause would
leave the state without any string on
the waterpowers of the Wolf river.
Senator Bosshard resented an impu-
tation that the amendments were I'M
fair Conceding that benefits would
come to the people along the river by
he 80 m
company, he maintained that still
greater benefits would accrue to the
waterpower owners and to the users
of power Furthermore, he added, to
require a six per cent. limitation on
earnings will not work a hardship on
the owners, for it would be possible by
a transfer of funds to earn much more
than that amount. He declared that
the one-half of one per cent. return
would mean only $500 per year for
the states share, which he did not
think exaorbitant, and at least not con
fiscatory 1t would stand as a mark OF
the states right to control
Senator Scot explained that the bill
without this amendment would not
give away the states right to control
Senator Burke agreed with Scott.
The Kileen circuit court revision
bill came before the senate. Senator
Kileen found opportunity to seek re,
lection of an assembly amendment
which prohibits any judge except
county judge from holding any pub
lie office during the time for which
he was elected to a judicial office
This amendment has the effect OF
barring Judge A. c. Backus of Mil
waukee from running for governor
Senator Bosshard stated that the
amendment merely carried out the
principle now applied to circuit and
supreme judges. Senator Kileen then
offered a bill providing that the
amendment referred to be placed al
another point in the bill, claiming ii
was in the wrong position. There
was no objection to receiving the bill
Two weeks ago Col c. Z. Town
send. at the special request of AS
semblyman Dolan of Platteville, Wis
tied the Wisconsin legislature for the
purpose of making an address on the
methods of passing legislation i'm 1861
when he was a member of the assem-
bly,. A memorial was presented to the
assembly on his death, which occurred
at his home in Shullsburg last Sunday
Discovery was made that the
legislature had passed a very in
nocent looking law. which has been
signed by the governor, that prohib
it's any employee OF person selling
or doing contract work for the city
or state from holding Office 1t is
said that this will drive many of the
Socialists out OF office.
The senate concurred in a slight
amendment to the Tompkins bill pro
viding for the application of the rule
of comparative negligence to railroad
employees. The bill now goes to the
governor, who has publicly announced
that he intends to sign it,