The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1917-02-09

every city of more than 5000 popula-
ton. 1t is proposed that the State
shall accept 100000 in federal aid,
the state to raise similar amount
and the counties also to raise $4,000
600. In addition the present state aid
law would be taken advantage of,
which would raise to $20,000,000 the
amount to be expended for modern
highways in the next five years.
In working out the proposed trunk
line system, which has the backing of
the administration forces, the state
highway commission would file plans
with the different counties for ap-
prevail
Governor Philip has received his
ate committee on judiciary, which has
voted to recommend for indefinite
postponement the Bray short ballot
resolution which would give the gov
ernor power to appoint the attorney
general, secretary of state and the
state treasurer. Philip made several
short ballot suggestions in his mes
sage, but it appears that none of them
will go through. The position of the
judiciary committee, however, is not
to be considered as a serious defeat
for the administration. 1t is under
stood Philip made his short ballot
suggestion with view to centering
legislative thought on this question
rather than with any great hope that
radical changes would be brought
about at this session.
Fear Centralized Power.
Those who oppose the short ballot
idea maintain that to give the chief
executive power to appoint constitu-
tional offices would work out salts
factorily if the governor proved to be
a good gvernor. But if he failed to
give the best public service, they say
the people would be at his mercy
while he remained in office. Constitu-
tional offices elected by the people act
as a public safety valve in the event
that the governor proves failure,
they assert.
During the week the legislature I'M
seated Assemblyman Charles Lentz,
democrat, in the contest brought by
Edmund j. Labuwi, republican, in the
first district of Dodge county. On the
question of unseating Lentz, who was
given a majority of twelve in the re-
port Of the house committee on cleo
tons, the vote stood 81 to AZ against
LentZ.
Assemblyman D. S. Burnett caused
a sensation when he said that inform
alton before the committee indicated
that both Lentz and Labuwi had fail
ed to conform with the corrupt prac-
tees act with the respect to the filing
of expenses statements. He said that
in Dodge county the candidates for
county offices paid little attention to
this provision of the law.
Lentz was present throughout the
debate but made no statement in his
own defense. Assemblymen Carl
Hansen, Newcomb Spoor, G. D. Rosa,
William T. Evjue and others favored
further investigation of the charges
that the corrupt practices act had
been violated. Chairman Carpenter of
the committee said the investigating
body had made careful study of the
facts and to defer action would be an
unwarranted slam at the committee.
Other members seemed to take the
same view of the situation, and the
committee was sustained in it's report
on the vote in Dodge county and the
Il -, I'D &I0 O1T1tf0 ION
formally seating Labuwi.
Scion Clashes With Board Men.
The assembly chamber was the
scene of an unusual legislative dis
turbance when Assemblyman New
comb Spoor clashed with A. F. Belitz
of the registers of statutes depart
ment. Spoor objected to hurried &C
ton on a bill to codify certain laws
because, he said, two years ago he
supported bill to codify laws which
resulted in changes not contemplated
in the measures passed by the two
houses. He said he was especially
interested in conservation provision
which suddenly and mysteriously dis
appeared.
After the formal session of the lower.
house Spoor and Belitz met. They
exchanged heated words. Belitz said
that he would not stand for the charge
made by Spoor, who explained that he
did not charge Belitz with changing
bill but added that one in which he
was interested created something
which the legislature did not act upon.
The argument grew so hot that Spoor
said he would go outside to back up
anything he said. Assemblyman W.
Woodward and others opened verbal
fire on Be1itz, and the situation was
threatening when Speaker Lawrence
G. Whittet led Belitz away.
This incident led to the report that
the assembly would be in a fighting
mood when it took up bills is and rs
which aim to codify certain laws
Much new material is contained in
Is and the point was made that the
revisor of statutes is not authorized