Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1925-06-11

Vs(0IlSlnlNlIsS
Legislature lat 81,
Sensational charges in connection
with the mysterious disappearance 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 SEN
ate policeman posing as an emissary
from the governor and virtually of
fered position on the board OF con-
troll or a .judgeship for a friend in
exchange for his vote on the tax bill
and the presentation of the copy of
an Indictment in Iowa against Wis
consin legislative official, caused bris-
ting activity during the opening SEES
sion of the special senate committee
appointed to investigate charges by
Senator Severson
Senator Severson declared that Will
liam Decker had admitted to him that
Senator 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 0. III. Johnson,
Gratiot, administration floor leaders.
Decker since has been appointed to
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 1923,
he was met in Madison by George
Clark, senate policeman, and invited
to go for an automobile ride.
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 hat his appoint
ment to the board Of control or the
appointment OF his friend to 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.
The fight Of vets in the Wisconsin
legislature to obtain a popular refer
endum on the question Of memorable
ing congress to modify the Volstead
act is likely to lead to the supreme
court as a result of action taken by
the state senate in adopting, 16 to IA,
the Polakowsli resolution ordering the
of state to place the issue
on Nthe referendum ballot in the gen
eral election of November, 1926.
Atty. Gen. Ekern had previously
submitted an opinion that the resolu-
ton providing for the referendum on
the beer question was faulty in that
1t needed an enabling act properly to
carry the issue to the people, but in
attempt by Senator Polakowski to in
troduce such an enabling measure
failed
Polakowski, receiving legal advice
at variance with the view of the at
torney general then forced through
his mandatory resolution requiring
the secretary of state to submit the
referendum
It Is regarded as certain that Secre-
tary of State Fred r. Zimmerman will
demand a ruling from the supreme
court before he follows out the man
dates of the resolution.
DR.. J. J. Seelman, president of the
Wisconsin division of the Association
against the Prohibition Amendment,
has been appointed a member OF the
state board of health and vitalstatistics
by Gov. Blaine He will fill the I'M
expired term of DR.. Edward S. Hayes,
Eau Claire, resigned.
Fred M. Wilcox, Appleton, was reap
pointed a member of the state indus
trial commission.
The measure exempting bank stock
from personal property taxation and
taxing the income of banks instead
goes to Gov Blaine, the assembly con-
curing in it 80 to IL.
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.
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.