Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1925-04-02
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Legislature 81

EngroSsment Of the Blaine admins
tration tax bill in the same form as
passed by the senate was accomplished
Dy the assembly in one of the stormiest
and most dramatic legislative sessions
In years. During the debate the as
sembly chamber was thrown into a
state OF pandemonium at times by
mingled cat-calls, Kisses, applause and
the cries of incensed members seeking
recognition. On engrossment the vote
was 4S to 40.
Not in the memory of the Oldest
legislator has a more uproarious
gathering of state lawmakers been wit
messed in Wisconsin, Charges of .srail-
reading" 'steam rollering" and ''un-
fairness were hurled back and forth
across the assembly hall in rapid sue
cession. Feeling ran high after the
session and it appeared for time fist
cuffs might be resorted to by several
members.
Every parliamentary play in the book
OF rules was resorted to by enemies
Of the tax program in a futile effort
to stave off defeat. Three separate
moves for adjournment were made
and defeated Speaker Sachtjen. who
was accused of gross unfairness in his
rulings, ruled out two amendments
presented as substitutes by Assembly
man J. G. Thompson, of Oshkosh, and
an amendment by Assemblyman John
w. Eber, of Milwaukee The room
literally vibrated with the yells and
shouts of members seeking recognition
from Speaker Sachtjen, but the Blaine
machine was well oiled and in perfect
running order and slowly but surely
moved toward the crucial vote.
In all except one of the roll calls,
administration forces had slight
majority. They killed repeated mo-
tons for adjournment The one roll
call on which opponents of the bill
had a majority occurred when the as
sembly, by vote of 4S to AZ, refused
to postpone indefinitely the Ellen
becker amendment, providing that the
personal property offset be gradually
repealed over a period of years.
However, administration forces mus
tered sufficient votes on the next roll
call to prevent the Incorporation of
the Ellenbecker amendment
Requests totaling $1O,13S, 1877 for the
operation and extension of state penal
and charitable institutions for the next
biennium were laid before the legisla-
tive finance committee by DR.. w. f..
Lorenz, president, state board of con-
troll For maintenance, DR.. Lorenz
asked for $6,215, 1862 and for additions
to buildings, $3,922, 775 The total re-
quests exceed the last two years ex-
penditures by nearly $5,00OOOO.
DIR. Lorenz explained that the in
creased maintenance estimate is based
on the fact that the board of control
has decided to improve the food and
increase the compensation of atten-
dants. Better clothing also will be
provided, if the boards requests are
met, he said.
Two state senators appearing before
the senate committee on state affairs
declared that they and their wives are
technically violating the Seyerson state
dry law.
Senator Bernard Gettelman, Milwau-
kee, added to his remarks by declar-
ing that he defied anyone to come to
his home in Milwaukee and cause an
arrest and he shouted his home adj
dress in voice that carried to all
corners of the crowded room.
Senator James A. Barker, Amigo,
informed the committee and the audi
ence, made up mostly of prohibition
workers, that since prohibition has gone
into effect he has always had three
kinds of wine in his home. His home
had no wine before the eighteenth
amen 1ment was adopted, he asserted.
Mrs. Barker makes wine and /
want to tell you she makes it with a
kick in it." he declared.
The two senators appeared in sup
port of the Gettelman bill which would
change the state dry law to permit
the manufacture for home use Of beer,
wine, and cider
Senator Gettelman stated that 80 per
cent of the people of the state are
violating the state dry act by making
beer, wine and cider in their homes