Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1913-07-30
BY GEORGE P. MATHES

BY GEORGE P. MATHES
Madison, Wis, July % The
legislature of 1918 closed it's work late
Friday night, so far as the passage of
bills is concerned.
The closing scenes in the assembly
were marked by expressions of good
fellowship, some dramatic entertain
ment by members and considerable
horseplay. Assemblyman o. F.
Roessler of Jefferson, the funmaker of
the house, took charge of affairs and
called on different members to furnish
entertainment during the long periods
between work.
Mr.. Roessler sang several songs,
other members joining in the choruses.
Assemblyman Don G. Hall Of Stevens
Point, the picturesque actor member,
gave several TecitatiOns; Assemblyman
T. A. Manning of Milwaukee gave
some amusing representations and As
semblyman Dennis Bowe of Mellen
told some dialect stories. When
other amusement was lacking the
members engaged in shooting paper
pellets at one another, throwing bill
files and books across the chamber and
winding Up with noisy parade
through the corridors of the capitol
singing "We're Going Home To.
morrow.
DELAY IN SENATE.
At 80 a. M. the senate was still
in session, in conference over some
of bills acted on in the closing hours.
The final adjournment is still from
a week to ten days away, depending
on the time taken in getting the bills
to the governor and his handling Of
them. He has six days after each
bill that is passed has reached him in
which to decide whether to sign or
veto it.
The session now nearing its close
is the longest ever known in Wiscon
sin. Up to Saturday it has been in
session 300 days This will be in
creased by at least six more days be-
fore the gavels will fall in both
houses on an adjournment sine die.
The long session is due in great
measure to politics. The session be
gan in politics and ended in politics
1t commenced with an attempt on the
part of Gov. MeGovern to Dust In
surance Commissioner Ekern for his
IL IL
L. johnson to the speakers chair,
and closed with the defeat of an at.
tempt to have the state pay the bill!
Of Mr. Ekern attorney for keeping
him in his state,
THE extern QUESTION.
For the first five months of tie ses-
sion the question of whether Mr..
Ekern should or should not retain his
Office was uppermost in the minds Of
the LaFollette senators and the pro-
gress of legislation was not hurried as
they wished to be in control in case
the supreme court decided against Mr..
Ekern. When the decision was hand
ed down in his favor the brakes were
released and since that time the
Legislature had been struggling to
handle the work which has been held
back by political manipulation,
Had it not been for this dominat.
ing political phase the session could
have been concluded six weeks ago.
The end Of the work came at the
close of a week Of hard labor on the
part Of both houses. The assembly
men came back with the determine
tion OF closing up work this week.
The senators, too, were firing of re-
manning in Madison and seconded the
efforts of members of the lower house.
As a result, morning, afternoon and
night sessions were the order from
Tuesday morning to Friday night.
At the beginning it was not certain
the legisla ture could finish its work
this week. In the last two days it
was seen the end was in sight.