The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1917-03-02
SALARY DISPUTE
BLOCKS SESSION
House Members Insist on Get
ting More Pay.
WOULD IGNORE CONSTITUTION

UUULU tUNUtll UUUOItlUItuU
Amendment for More Pay Is Tackled
On to Revision Bill and Threatens
Its Defeat-Session Being Prolonged
Skogmo Precipitates Bread Discus
sion-European War PeriIs Basic
Law Plan.
Madison, Wis. (Special.)-At the
close of the sixth week of the session
the Wisconsin legislature finds it.
self in the very midst of a zone OF
legislative submarines. A blockade
that threatens to seriously delay work
has been established because of a
desire on the part of members of the
house to increase their salaries $500
by lacking an amendment onto re-
vision bill 2 S, which relates to appro-
pirate measures that have no bearing
on salaries.
The compensation provision was
made a part of the bill in the assem-.
bly,, the senate refusing to concur in
the amendment The bill was then
returned to the house which refused
to o. K it as acted upon by the SEN
ate. Now it will be necessary for
leaders of both branches to take the
matter up in conference committee
with the hope of bringing the rival
factions to some understanding. I'm.
less the assembly is willing to recede
from it's position, 2 S will probably be
thrown out, which means that practi-
cally all of the early work of the
finance committee will have been dis
counted, and the session may run along
as late as the record breaking ses-
sion of two years ago.
To close observers of the situation
here the blockade is the biggest crisis
that has developed thus far and it
will require not little diplomacy on
the part of administration leaders to
unravel a perplexing situation. In
fact, it looks very much like a hope
less task, and the men who have been
fighting the hardest for short ses-
sion are discouraged over the outlook.
Had S been favorably acted upon
in the house, practically all appropria-
ton measures, which constitute the
bulk of work, would be acted upon
early and messaged to the governor
at a much earlier date than two years
ago. AS the matter stands, the whole
financial program hangs in the bal
ance, and the finance committee finds
itself stalled.
The only possible relief is the COM
mittee on conference, and there is
little hope that this committee will
succeed in bringing the two houses
together.
The principal argument against the
salary amendment was advanced by
administration men who took the posi-
ton that the provision amounted to a
violation of the constitution. They
stated, however, that they would well
come consideration of the matter if it
were presented in a separate bill
Rider Would Kill Whole Bill.
There is a feeling in some quarters
that leaders in the salary boost move
ment wanted to tack the amendment
to 2 S, because they feel that the ad-
minisration might be willing to accept
the amended measure than let the
whole proposition go down to defeas.
It is known, however, that the admin
istration forces will not accept 2 S I'M
less the salary provision is taken out.
Constitution or no constitution, not
a few members of he assembly will
stand their ground for more pay. E.
J. Vincent said that some of the law
makers are so hardup that they buy
five cents worth of doughnuts and
D. S. Burnett read resolutions adopted
bv the chamber of commerce of Wau-
sau. indorsing ga suitable compensa-
ton for our representatives in the leg
islature"
One member raised the point that
it would be no more unconstitutional
for the members to increase their sal
aries than it is for the legislature to
nav an additional $500 to the speaker
of the house because of the extra work
he is called upon to do. They said
that this violation of the constitution
never has been questioned because the
people regard it as a sensible position
The assembly has taken formal &C.
ton to break another blockade, not
of it's own making, growing out of the
work that the legislative reference
library can not turn out. steering
committee of seven, of which Speaker
Whittet is a member, has been ap
pointed to arrange work so that action
on the more important bills will moi
be delayed. The committee will group
I'D bills which deal with the same sub
iect so that they can be acted upor
at about the same time. 1t was re
ported that the library cannot draft
bills as rapidly as requests come IL
from the members. Carl Pieper de
clared that if the lawyers would prom
Use not to raise so many constitutions
questions that the members would b.
hi