The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1915-05-25
SUNDAY CLOSING
BILL POSTPONED
ASSEMBLY KILLS MEASURE CIV
ING LOCALITIES OPTION TO
REGULATE SALOONS.
PLAN ENDORSED BUT DIES
House Favors $1,000 Maximum Fine
for Intoxicated Drivers of Motor
VehicIes-Refuses Tax Re-
missions to Old Soldiers.
Madison, May II, 1915.

Madison, May Il, 1918.
Reversing itself on the question Of
Sunday closing Of saloons; refusing to
exempt property of old soldiers from
taxation in certain cases; providing
for increased penalty-both fine and
imprisonment-fo intoxicated per
sons driving automobiles, were the
major accomplishments of the assem-
bly, at it's session today.
Measure Is Killed.
The Crell bill, providing that city
councils and town and village boards
may provide by ordinance for the sus-
pension of the law relating to keeping
saloons closed on Sunday and election
DAYS, which was ordered to engross-
ment by the assembly on May IL, was
on the calendar to be ordered to third
reading Mr.. Frederick moved indefi-
mite postponement and roll call was
ordered. The bill was indefinitely post
poned, 40 to 20.
The Budlong bill, exempting from
taxation the homesteads of soldiers of
the Mexican and civil wars to the ex-
tent of $1,000, prompted wide dis
cussion. Opposition by the Socialists
was based on the contention that the
legislation proposed was class legisla-
ton and an amendment was offered to
make the exemption apply to all poor,
deserving widows. Speaker Whlttet
ruled that the amendment would not
be germane and could not be accepted.
A roll call was ordered first on the
question of indefinite postpOnement
and this was refused, AZ to 20. Then,
upon division on the question of order
ing the bill to engrossment, the vote
was negative, 81 to SO, and the assem-
bly, refused to engross the bill
Provides $1,000 Fine.
The Jensen bill, as amended, provid-
ing that any person who shall, operate,
ride or drive any automobile, motor
cycle or other similar motor vehicle on
any public highway while intoxicated
shall be punished by imprisonment in
the county Jail not less than five days
nor more than three months, or by
fine of not more than $1,000.
ton to give assent to the federal act
providing for cooperation between the
federal government and Wisconsin in
the promotion of agricultural extension
work.
The Ackley joint resolution, to
amend the constitution so that sheriffs
may be permitted to succeed them
,5,,l
reading.
Speed Up Session.
The assembly made another attempt
to speed up with a view of getting
through early in June.
Assemblyman Axel Johnson intro
duced a resolution which provides that
all bills in the hands of the commit
tees of the house, with the exception
of the financial committee, shall be
placed on the clerks desk on or before
noon ON June L. All senate bills re-
ceived after that date shall be referred
to the calendar, it is provided.
1t was the intention to treat the
resolution as privileged, but Assembly
man Prescott objected and it went
over to the next calendar day.
Assemblyman Bud1ong presented a
resolution which has the same end in
view. 1t provided that only one recon
sideration could be had on any bill.
The resolution was referred to the
calendar
Constitution Is Cited.
The attempt to prevent circulation
of campaign literature within four
days of an election came to a sudden
and inglorious end in the assembly
Assemblyman Weber called attention
of assemblymen to that section of the
constitution that guarantees free
speech, and the bill was indefinitely
postponed.
The assembly Indefinitely postponed
five other bills. In the list were the
Laursen bill relating to qualifications
of insurance agents; the Everett bill
relating to subscriptions by munich
palities to stocks and bonds of rail
roads; the Nordman bill regarding call
ing in of judges in certain cases; the
Lauren bill relating to the regulation
of public utilities, and the Duffy bill
relating to municipalities bonding
themselves for railroads.
Marriage Bill Passes.
Bills passed by the assembly includ-
ed the Duffy bill, relating to removal
of cases to the Circuit court of Mil