Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1917-01-24
AVAILABILITY OF IMPORTATION
FACILITATES WORK OF APP
PREPARATIONS COMMITTEE.
BUSINESS-LIKE METHODS
PRESAGE SHORT SESSION
Especial Correspondence to HeraId.)
By II. B. PIXLEY.

Madison, Wis, Jan. o. The
legislature has been in session
two weeks, and nearly half of
the work of the finance commit
tee is completed.
Readers of the Herald may
not realize what this means, and
they will not unless they have
been members of the legislature
or conversant with it's duties,
but it is the most practical sign
of a short session ever exhibited.
In former years the finance commit
tee was the one which by tradition
could not get started early or work
very fast. 1t was handicapped by lack
Of information, and had to go out and
get it before it could begin passing
on appropriations. This year the
budget prepared by the state board of
public affairs has furnished that in
formation, and on the first day the
committee met seventeen bills were
recommended
One bill carrying an appropriation
has already been passed by the senate.
which breaks all records, and several
others are on their way to engross-
ment.
The prediction has been made that
the finance committee will complete it's
work in month. If it does ninety
day session may be possible, and the
saving Of 100000 mentioned in this
column several weeks ago will become
a reality instead of suggestion.
Frank Hammill, of Spooner, the ed
itor who was a candidate to succeed
Hans M. Laursen in the Burnett and
Washburn district, visited Madison
the other day and received a warm
welcome. The news that 1900 voters
had written his name on ballots at
the election had preceded him, and the
members had profound respect for
man who stands that way III his
home town.
The legislature will give the state
fair S125,000 to spend this year, if the
recommendation of the finance com
mittee prevails The board will be al
lowed to spend $4,000 in 1917 for fenc
es, and 5000 for the same purpose
in 1918.
There seems to be a difference of
opinion among members of the legis-
lature as to the state fair. Some of
them declare it is an educational in
stitution which should be encouraged
more than it has been, and others do
not reel that way about it. 1t is safe to
say. however, that the fair advocates
are in the ma jority. County fairs, too,
have come in for discussion The
practice of holding two fairs in one
county is not any too popular. There
may be some new laws affecting coun-
ty fairs this session.
On the day that Assemblyman Carl
Hanson Of Manitowoc was making
speech for his resolution supporting
President Wilson in any effort he may
make to bring about world peace, the
state of Wisconsin was honoring
man who was a hero of war. In 1898
an American who had been brought up
in the regime of warlike preparation,
and who had served his country for
many years but was then only an Of
iicer in the navy, said 'You may fire
IThen you are ready, Mr.. Gridley," and
the news was flashed around the world
that the United States had possession
Of Manila. On the day Mr. Hanson
was arguing for peace Admiral Dew
ey died i'll Washington, and over the
executive wing of the capitol the flag
went up and stopped at half mast Mr..
Hanson's resolution was adopted, but
somehow there wasn't the same thrill
about it after one glanced at the silent
tribute to the hero of Manila Bay
Without saying anything as to the
merits of the issue, it is safe to pre-
dict that the suffrage cause is not any
too popular in this legislature and that
the bill which will amend the consti-
tuition so as to give Wisconsin women
Z vote for president will not pass.
The assembly especially seems adj
verse to it. A great many women at
tended the annual convention of suf-
fragists here and they may have turned
the tide. They will be back here in
numbers.
*
The Evjue statewide prohibition bill
has not made an appearance, as was
expected 1t is said that the author
is waiting for a favorable opportunity
and wants to have his bill in the best
possible shape before submitting It,
The one argument which will be used
against it in the minds of many mem
bers will be that it will give the legis-
lator from the north part of the state
the opportunity to say that the mem
Der from the south shall have. The