River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1917-03-08
State Legislature

Madison, Wis, March "a few
pleasant days last week put the
members of the Assembly into an
anxious mood, and the first Saturday
session was attempted. 1t resulted
IN disclosure that forty-eight mem
bers Of the Assembly were absent.
.Assemblyman Carl Hansen of Mani
toWoc Immediately clapped on Call
of the House, in order to get the de-
llnquent members back to Madison
on Monday. The weather alone is
not to blame for this condition. The
members have just discovered that
they have been in session five weeks
and have enacted four laws. There
has been introduced at this session
Of the legislature, Eve hundred bills
in the Senate and about six hundred
bills in the house. No important fl
nancial bills have as yet been report
ed to the floor of either house. Speak
er Whittet is demanding action.
The legislature is ever interested
in national politics. At last weeks
session, Senator ]. Henry Bennett of
La Crosse, offered a resolution criti-
cising the course Of Senator Robert
NJ. La Toilette in the United States
Senate, for holding up naval and
military appropriation bills, and cal
ling upon him to get back of Presi-
dent Wilson, in putting through a
program for preparedness. Senator
George B. Skogmo promptly made
objection to the introduction of the
resolution last week, on the ground
that it is a plain political move.
Through a maneuver, the resolution
went over until Wednesday of this
week, which is three days after Con-
gress has adjourned.
By vote Of 43 to AZ, the Assem-
| bly, has sent to engrOsSment pro-
posed amendment to the Constitu-
ton, permitting municipalities to in
crease bonded indebtedness in case
cities desire to purchase interest
bearing municipal plants. 1t killed
the Metcalf resolution for the call
s;ag of a Constitutional Convention
and engrossed the Spoor bill, giving
the chief of police of any city power
to post persons for excessive use of
Intoxicating liquors. The C. E. Han
son bill to require thirty day resi-
dence in voting precinct. in order
to exercise the elective franchise has
been killed by the Assembly,
A separate bill has been offered in
the Assembly. providing for $500 in
crease in the salaries of members of
the legislature. This action was
taken in order to release No. 2, S.
Revisor's Bill, to which an amend
ment has been attached containing
the salary provision. 1t was finally
agreed that the salary amendment
might be considered in a separate
measure, and bill carrying these
provisions was introduced by Assem-
blyman w. A. Campbell Of Milwau-
| kee.
Last week, brought two of tie
most important committee hearings
that have yet come before the Legis-
lature. Hundreds of business men
| came to Madison, to protest against
the Bray bill, backed by Governor
Phillip in his message, providing for
the repeal of the personal property
offset to the income tax. The man
ufacturers claimed that they largely
bore the burden of the income tax
and that the repeal of the personal
property offset would be an added
tax upon them of upwards of $500
900, annually. Meantime, there was
being staged in the Assembly cham
bers. one Of the most enthusiastic
hearings ever held before the Wis
consin legislature. 1t was on the
Evjue and Skogmo bills. to submit
the question of statewide prohibi
ton to vote of the people in 1918.
Strange as it may seem, Thomas J.
M h n. Milwaukee, representing
that branch of the liquor dealers
which deal with Whistles, came to
Madison, and asked she legislature
to mass the referendum bill, in order