The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1917-05-09
ASSEMBLY REFUSES
BALLOT To WOMEN
Suffrage Referendum Bill Defeat
ri by a Vote of Forty-0ne
to Forty-Four.
WILL BE UP AGAIN SOON
Attorney General Demands That Price
Fixing in Wisconsin Stop-WilI
Prosecute All VIC
iators.

Madison.-In spite of the fact that
the assembly, by a vote Of Al to Al, de-
feated the woman's suffrage bill, mo-
ZION for reconsideration has been en-
tered and the bill will come up for fur
Their consideration again. The suffrage
referendum bill in its original form
provided for submitting the question
70 the voters at the general election in
1918.
When considered by the house
last an amendment was Incorporated,
offered by Assemblyman John &. Chap
pie Of Ashland, providing for the ref
crendum at the spring election in 1920,
Much TO the surprise of the suffrage
leaders. when the bill came up for con-
sideratiOn on the floor of the assembly
on final passage, IL was defeated. The
motion to kill the bill was made by AS
sembiyman Il. J, Poole Of Ozaukee
county. Assemblyman A. &. Otto of
Milwaukee announced that, as amend
ed by Chapple, the suffrage bin was
unconstitutional
Wilcox Bill Laid Over
The house laid over the Wilcox bill
and the resolution to print 50,0W
copies of President Wilson's war mes
sage. At the suggestion of Speaker
Whittet consideration was delayed be-
cause be believed that President Will
sons proclamation on cOnscription
will be issued by that time and should
be Incorporated in the issued booklet.
Because the house tabled the Wilcox
resolution to print $4,000 copies Of
President Wilson's message on the
ground that it was not accompanied
with an appropriation measure, the
Joint finance committee has offered
bill appropriating $500 for this pur-
pose This measure will be pushed
through both houses. It will be given
mediately published.
Price Fixing Must End.
Price fixing in Wisconsin must come
to an end. This is the mandate which
emanated from the office of Attorney
General Walter c. Owen after c0nsid-
ering the situation at Madison, where
the dealers and producers met and
agreed to advance the price of milk in
this city from cents to 10 cents a
quart. The mandate of Attorney Gen
eral Owen goes to all producers of the
state and declares he will prosecute
end demand full penalty in all cases
az price fixing in Wisconsin. He in
vites the public to send in their com
ittaints whenever price fixing is discOv
4 a =
WAS possible to collect a penalty of
from $50 to $4,000 for every violation
caused by combinations of persons to
Tx prices Many of the members of
the legislature have gone to the attor-
ncy generals office to inquire as to
whether there was sufficient machinery
TO protest against price fixing combi-
nations and it is probable that bin
will be introduced In the legislature
greatly extending the power of the at
torney general in this regard.
Speaker Whittet and other leaders of
the legislature are being interviewed
as 10 the ACCESSIBILITY of securing addi-
tioual legislation TO cope with the ris
ing prices throughout the state, espe-
cially where these boosts are made
through secret or open combinations of
producers and dealers.
There will be no primary election
legislation at this session. The defeat
Of the Bray bill by a vote of 10 to II
effectively forecloses the threats of
tampering with the primary election
law at this SsSiOn.
Close Fight Predicted.
The fight on the Evjue referendum
bill promises to be closer In the SEN
ate than in the house. 1t is said that
the contest may be decided by one
vote in the senate, and that this sena-
tor is undecided. The principal argu-
ment that is now being made against
the bill is that the war is on and
vote on this subject will still further
eugender strained feelings. Two men,
who three weeks ago were rated as be-
ing with the drys, are now said to be
wavering.
Senator W. 7. Stevens, chairman of
the committee which heard the BILL
said that the measure would be re-
ported out for action in the senate.
That both sides to the contest realize
that 1t is q neck-to-neck race is indi-
cuted by the regular avalanche of pc
tjtions that are being received on the
measure. Over half an hour day is
occupied in reading the titles to petit
tons on this subject presented in the
upper house.
Assembly Manual.
The assembly manual. which has
Just been issued, is regular legislative
textbook and has attracted such atten-
ton that requests have come from
number of schools for its use in con-
nection with classes in civics. The
manual is more complete than any
other previously issued. and close
reading of it gives a complete history
Of legislative procedure and how bills
are handled and disposed of in the leg
s!ature. The book was compiled I'M
der the direction of C. E. Shaffer. chief
clerk of the assembly. who is now serv-
ing his sixth term in that capacity.
No Adjournment Until June I.
All hope of final adjournment of the
legislature on May Is has been aban-
doned and the members are now work
ing to clear up the legislative program