Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1913-02-26
Madison Letter
Continued from Page u

Ae@ " ouAAN q PoAtlCdl machine.
While this opposition has not come to
the surface with its full force It new.
ertheless is the opposition that may
ultimately result in the defeat of the
whole mother pension plan. Some
legislation along this line, however,
will probably be enacted as the Re.
publican party in its 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, waile
talking with Senator A. E. Martin was
informed that as a lobbyist he was
not entitled to the privileges of the
floor either when TIE 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 mieht in.
wade the senate when the senate was
in formal session. The resolution,
however. was defeated by a vote of
p to Z. Senator Bcsshard of La
Crosse said that the senate was the
last harhor and refuge in the state
house where the members Of the M
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 so 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 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 a
study of the amount of business be-
ing done by express companies. and
he feels that the state is entitled TO
more substantial reduction in rates
than 90 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 bin
to vine put The. present system of fees
wherever it appears in the state gov
ernmento He would put AN public. Of
icials on a-salary1 basis. He would
have all feess 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
1900 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 bin to enlarge the capitol park to
such an extent that II the plan is car
ried out the $4,000, 900 Wisconsin
statehouse of white granite and state
~ pillars will have one of the most
elaborate settings given to any public
building in the world. The plan in
eludes the wipirs out of fully one
third OF the business district of this
city. the property, including some
highly valuable sites, to be used for
a park. The park would lead direct.
ly to Lake Monona. Property that
would have to be bought by the state
and upon which options have already
been secured amounts to about $780,
600. The plan is so large that many
believe that il will take
few years of education before the
without being misunder-
stood or charged with extravaganza.
Will pass the bill.
Madison people. although It means
a rebuilding of the business section
Of the city, are strongly in favor of
the plan.
Sickness Insurance Fund.
During the week Assemblyman
Holmes introduced his bill providing
for sickness insurance fund and the
payment by the state of money for the
care of persons suffering from occupa-
Lional diseases. The measure is con-
sidered one Of the most important
bills touching upon labor which has
been introduced at this session.
In spite of many counter attrae-
tons, the most important OF which
has been the McGovern-E kern fight,
IN fact, Indications are that the num-
Der OF bills to be introduced win
break all previous records Indica-
tons are that more than 1000 bills
.-stf