Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1925-06-10
LOOKING IN
ON THE
LEGISLATURE

in connection with the mysterious dis
appearance of former Senator Barney
Moran of Rhinelander during the tax
bill fight of 1923; charges by former
Senator E. P. Ridgway of Elkhorn
that he had been approached in 1923
by a senate policeman posing as an
emissary from the governor and vir-
tually offered a position on the board
of control or a judgeship for friend
in exchange for his vote on the tax
bill; and the presentation of the copy
of an indictment in Iowa against
Wisconsin legislative official, caused
bristling activity during the opening
session of the special senate committee
appointed to investigate charges by
Senator SeverSOn
Moran Spirited Away"
Senator SeversOn declared that VIII
liam Decker had admitted to him that
Senat Moran was spirited away"
In Decker'S automobile and that it
was hired by Chief Clerk f.. w.
SchOenfeld of the senate, and that
when Decker attempted to obtain pay
ment for the use of his machine, he
was referred to Senator A e. Carey,
Edgerton, and Senator o. III. Johnson,
Gratiot, administration floor leaders.
Decker since has been appointed to
q state civil service position, Senator
Severson declared. Senator Carey is
secretary and chief examiner of the
civil service commission.
Senator SeversOn also charged that
Moran informed him that after return
ing from Rhinelander during the call
of the house on the tax bill in 1928,
he was met in Madison by George
Clark, senate policeman, and invited
to go for an automobile ride.
Perry Counsel for Severson
Senator Severson declared that Sen
ator Moran stated he was given liquor
with peculiar taste and that when
he 'came to- he was in Boscobel.
Former Senator Ridgway testified
that he had been approached by
George Clark posing as an emissary
from the governor and told if he would
support the tax bill that his appoint
ment to the board of control or the
appointment of his friend to a judg-
ship could be brought about"
Senator Severson sprang an uneX-
pected ace in the hole when Assembly
man Charles b. Perry, conservative
floor leader in the lower house, APP
peared as his counsel.
Probes to ProIong Session
The legislative mood for investiga-
tons may prolong the closing of the
legislature two or three weeks. Sen
ator NJ. f. White, WinnecOnne, veter-
an legislator, declares that he believes
it impossible to reach a final adjourn
ment before July 1.
The senate is behind the assembly
with it's work. A recent check showed
there were 122 bills in the senate still
to be acted upon, and many of these
are of a controversial nature. Both of
the Investigations are being conducted
independently by the senate, which
prevents the upper house holding af-
ternoon sessions. Unhampered by in
vestigations, the assembly has pushed
forward at its work.
Bank Tax Cut Approved
The measure exempting bank stock
from personal property taxation and
taxing the income of banks instead
70 ~
curing in it 81 to II.
The senate has placed its approval
on a proposal to transfer the state de-
partment of markets to the depart
ment of agriculture, thus eliminating
the position of commissioner of mar
kets held by Edward Nordman. The
bill now goes to the assembly for
concurrence.
Bars Marriage of TubercuIars
Persons afflicted with tuberculosis
would be barred from marriage in Wis
consin under the BOldt BILL which has
received final passage in the senate
and sent to Gov Blaine for signature
Milk bread and milk rolls adver-
tised as such must be made of pure
milk by provisions of the Koenigs bill,
which goes to the executive for sigma
ture following final enactment in the
senate.
Homestead Exemption Repealed
Gov. Blaine has attached his sigma
ture to the bill repeating the $500
homestead exemption law. The COVER
nor declares the law has worked an in
Justice in many farming communities
and he suggests another exemption law
be enacted with provision protect
ing school taxes
The governor has also signed the
Ellenbecker fish bill, which places a
size limit on all game fish and estab-
fishes a bag maximum for all fish
taken from Wisconsin waters. The