Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1925-05-28
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legislature ~

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Enemies of prohibition won two
fold victory in the assembly when the
beer referendum and the move to
memorabilia congress for a constitu-
tional convention to consider repeal of
the eighteenth amendment were passed.
In the first instance, the assembly
concurred by a vote of 81 to "a in a
resolution providing for referendum
at tbs general election in 1926 to modi-
fly the Volstead act.
BY vote Of 4S to SO the house
adopted the Meggers resolution me-
morializing congress to call consti-
tutional convention for repeal of the
prohibition amendment.
The referendum measure was OPP
posed by Assemblyman Blanchard on
the contention that it would cost be-
tween $4,000 and $35, O0O
An amendment by Assemblyman
PAIL to include in the referendum the
question of the sale of beer under
governmental supervision was adopted,
however. The support of this amend
ment was based on the contention that
it would eliminate the old time saloon.
The appointment of Herman W.
Sachtjen, speaker of the assembly as
state prohibition director to succeed
himself, aroused considerable debate
in the senate with a review of his
wet leaning, but the upper house
finally confirmed his appointment by
Gov. John J. Blaine by a vote of 10
to TO-
Mr.. Sachtjen, who resigned as pro-
hibition commissioner at the opening
of the legislature has not been dis
placed
Senator Howard Teasdale, Sparta,
read the records of the prohibition
office showing a decline in the num-
Der of arrests under Sachtjen as com
pared with the administration Of w.
Stanley Smith.
1T seems to me to be disgrace to
appoint a man to enforce a law when
he has announced that he is opposed
to it." Senator Teasdale declared
The senate killed the Gwidt cigar
cite tax bill by vote of Is to IL, after
an amendment by Senator Howard
Teasdale, Sparta, appropriating $780,
600 for forest fires prevention from
the proceeds of the tax had been in
corporated in the measure.
The senate has concurred in the
Miner bill prohibiting the combining
of vegetable fats and dairy products
in the manufacture Of oleomargerine.
Insurance Commi; sioner w. Stanley
Smith dropped bomb into the investi-
cation of charges arising out of
strained relations between Atty. Gen.
H. L. Ekern and himself by protesting
against the choice of Senator Harry
Sauthoff, Dane county, as member Of
the senate investigating committee.
Mr.. Smiths protest was in the form
of a letter to President Huber, in
which Mr.. Smith set forth a number
of objections to Senator Sauthoff.
Among them was Senator Sauthoff's
invitation to Mr. Ekern to address the
senate on the insurance code bill and
the close personal and political friend
ship between Sauthoff and Ekern.
The resolution calling for the inves-
tigation was introduced by Senator
Sauthoff, and under a courtesy rule
of the senate he was made chairman
of the investigating committee named
by the lieutenant governor
Another sensation developed at a
meeting called for organization of the
investigating committee when Mr.
Smith hurled defiance at Senator Saul
hoff, who presided. The meeting was
thrown int a turmoil and quiet was
not restored until the Chairman called
for the sergeant-at-arms and threat
ened to have Mr.. Smith elected. The
Johnson insurance law codificatiOn bill
that started the controversy between
Insurance Commissioner Smith and At
torney General II. L. Ekern, has been
killed in the senate, II to IL.
Without dissenting vote the SEN
ate passed committee bill to change
the form of bank taxation froul that on
capital stock to incomes. Banks op-
pose the stock taxation. The present
law was upheld in an appeal to the
Supreme court, but request for a
rehearing is now under consideration
by the court.
Assemblywoman Helen Brooks bill,
providing for confiscation of automo-
biles used for immoral purposes, has
been killed by the assembly, Al to 81.
Assemblyman B. T. Glass declared that
the measure would work hardship on
persons holding automobile mortgages.
A similar bill was defeated at the last
session of the legislature.
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