Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1919-01-23
ASSEMBLY WILL
TAKE UP CONTESTS
Quick Settlement of Two Cases
Predicted.
NO WORK FOR EXCISE BODY
Committee. Which Was Most Impor-
tant One of Legislature, Has Lit
tie to Do Since United States
Went Dry.
BY FRED L. HOLMES.

Madison, Jan. 21.-Two of the three
| election contests filed before the Wis
consin legislature will be taken up this
week. The prospects are that both
of the assembly contests will be given
a quick settlement, as the facts in both
cases are Sndisputed. The senate con-
test against Louis A. Arnold may be
more prolonged. No date for taking
up the latter contest has as yet been
agreed to.
The assembly election committee
fixed for Tuesday the initial hearings
on two contests. One is brought by
E. c. Werner, Seventeenth Milwaukee
district, against Frank B. Metcaife,
Socialist; the other by George A.
Ratchsack, Socialist, First ManjtoWOc
district, against John Lorfeld, Repub-
lican.
Mr. Lorfeld holds his seat by certi
ficate Of the county canvassers, who
found on a recount Of part of the dis
riot that he had two votes more than
Ratchsack. In the original count
Ratchsack was two votes in the lead.
The partial recount resulted in Ratch-
sacks appealing to. the circuit court,
alleging that the ballots had not been
properly safeguarded. Judge KirWan
ordered two ballots in one precinct
withdrawn because two more votes
were recorded as being pOlled than
were registered. This left a tie. Judge
KirWan ordered the result to be de-
termined by lot. Ratchsack drew the
lucky slip. Lorfeld still had the can
vassers' certificate and on this he took
his seat.
The Metcalfe case raises the question
whether a believer in Socialist war
policies, who had previously taken the
oath of office, is qualified to serve.
Now that the nation has gone dry
there is little for an excise legislative
committee to do. When Speaker
Young appointed the excise and fees
committee, that looks after all liquor
legislation, he went through a formal
ity, for it appears likely that it will
have nothing to do.
There are statutes pertaining to fees
and licenses other than saloon licenses,
but it is doubtful if there are enough
to justify a separate committee. Last
session 40 liquor bills were referred
to the committee. In other sessions
there have been more No booze means
shorter sessions.
There is a whole chapter of liquor
laWs-chapter 66-comprising Is
pages, which will be obsolete when the
saloon goes. They will be retained I'M
til prohibition becomes effective, which
will be one year hence. The next legis-
lature may repeal the entire chapter.
This session must enact an enforce
ment. r. P. Hutton, superintendent
of the Aanti-Saloon league, has bill
to be presented.
When the Johnsons in the legisla
ture caucused the other day they
learned that for the first time in a
number of sessions they have the
Hansons beaten. Responding to the
Johnson roll were Axel, Henry f.,
John E. and Marcus. Then there is
James H. Jensen. The Hansons could
muster only James c., Charles E. and
Robert NJ The HansOns are at a
standstill as compared with the last
session, while the Johnsons show a
gain of three.
Final disposition will be made on
Wednesday of the league of nations"
Init
upper house last week after all substi-
tutes had been defeated. When reach
ed in the lower house last week, AS
semblyman Metcalfe Socialist, Mil
waukee, offered a substitute making
the terms of the resolution more eX-
plicit This is the same substitute
which was offered by Senator Arnold
in the upper house last week, and
which was defeated. The outlook is
that the original resolution will pass
with practically no opposition.
The assembly committee on state af-
fairs plans an early hearing on the bill
to abolish the state council of defense
This was a war committee which car
ried on activities all over the state. AS
soon as the armistice was signed Gov
ernor Phillip issued a statement ask
ing for the Rehabilitation of the state
council of defense" A bill to accom-
plish that purpose has been offered. 1t
turns the duties of the council over to
the state board of public affairs.
The senate is expected to adopt
some time today the resolution provid-
ing for an investigation, not only of
Milwaukee's street car fares, but of
other public utilities Of the state. I'm
der the terms of the resolution COM
mittee of five members, two senators
and three assemblymen, is to be APP
pointed by the presiding officer in each
house This committee will begin work
in Milwaukee at once, where a car
strike is threatened on February 1 un-
less there is a wage increase. Other
public utilities of the state will be in
vestigated later
Preference in awarding civil service
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