Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1913-02-28

offer Governor McGovern an cppor |
tunity to build political machine |
While this opposition has not come to |
the surface with it's full force it nev !
ertheless is the opposition that may
ultimately result in the defeat of the |
whole mother pension plSn. Some |
legislation along this line, however |
will probably be enacted as the Re |
publican party in it's platform pledged |
itself to create a mothers pension |
fund.
Lobbyists Forbidden Floor.
The floor of the senate is to con-
tinue forbidden ground for lobbyists |
One day last week Harry W. Bolens, |
Democratic candidate for lieutenant
governor in the last campaign, while |
talking with Senator A. E. Martin was
informed that as a lobbyist he was
not entitled to the privileges of the
floor either when the senate was in
session or when it was informal
This led to the introduction by Sen
ator Martin of a resolution to change
the rules whereby lobbyists might in.
wade the senate when the senate was
in formal session. The resolution, |
however, was defeated by a vote of
% to T. Senator Bosshard of La
Crosse said that the senate was the
last harbor and refuge in the state
house where the members of the up
per house might attend to business
without interruption. He also de.
clared that men of high character
who are here to work for or against
bills are satisfied to present their
side before the proper cimmittee hav
ing under consideration the bill or
bills in which they are interested.
Reduction of Express Rates.
That express rates in Wisconsin
will be reduced seems certain, but
the exact amount of reduction has
not yet been settled upon.
Assemblyman Hurlbut Of Omro has
introduced a bill which provides for
a 30 per cent reduction in express
rates. On March /, the state railroad
commission will issue an order re-
ducing the rates 20 per cent. This
order is being withheld until the re-
cent order Of the interstate commerce |
commission shall go into effect for
the reason that If the commission or
dered a reduction of rates in advance
of the new schedule of the interstate
commission it would probably lead to
litigation in Wisconsin.
Assemblyman Hurlbut has made q
study of the amount Of business be
ing done by express companies, and
he feels that the state is entitled tc
a more substantial reduction in rates |
than 20 per cent.
The Fee System.
During the recent debate before a
committee of the house Assemblyman |
O'Connor of Waushara county was
furnished with a new idea concern |
ing the collection of fees by public |
officials, and his ideas on the subject |
have already been put in regular bill |
form
Mr. O'Connor has proposed bill |
to wipe out the present system of fees |
wherever it appears in the state gov !
eminent He would put all public Of !
ficials on a salary basis. He WOULD |
have all fees turned over to the coun- |
ty, city or village.
At a recent committee hearing it
was brought out that the fees re-
tanned by county clerks from hunt |
ing licenses amounts to $4,000 to |
$4,000 in the larger counties of the |
state He believes that the general !,
plan of allowing officials to retain |
fees is all wrong. He will make a !
fight to have his bill passed There |
will be considerable opposition to |
the measure, as many officials will !
summon their friends to oppose it.
To Enlarge Capitol Park.
Assemblyman Bowe has introduced !
a bill to enlarge the capitol park to !
such an extent that if the plan is car
ried out the $10,000,000 Wisconsin |
statehouse Of white granite and state |
ly pillars will have one of the most !
elaborate settings given to any public |
building in the world. The plan in |
cludes the wiping out of fully one |
third of the business district of this |
city, the property, including some |
highly valuable sites, to be used for J
park. The park would lead direct |
~ to Lake Monona. Property that |
would have to be bought by the state |
and upon which options have already |
been secured amounts to about $4,000, |
coo. The plan is so large that many |
members believe that it will take q |
few years of education before the |
legislature, without being misunder
stood or charged with extravaganza, |
will pass the bill.
Madison people, although it means |
a rebuilding of the business section i
of the city, are strongly in favor of |
the plan.
Sickness insuranc. Fund.
During the week Assemblyman |
Holmes introduced his bill providing |
for a sickness insurance fund and the !
payment by the state of money for the |