Watertown Republican

Legislative Summary.
Senate.
Friday, February 6.-Remonstrances against the repeal of the Graham law.--A resolution to extend the time for receiving new business to the 18th was laid on the table.---A resolution requiring the Superintendent of Public Property to issue six copies of Spencer's Digest was adopted.-A joint resolution for an amendment to Sec. 23, Art.4, of the constitution, was offered. A joint resolution was adopted allowing the select committee on tariff to report at any time.---A resolution looking to a higher minimum price for state lands, was adopted after discussion -Bills were introduced: to repeal the act giving aid to the West Wisconsin Railroad Company ; by Wagner, to repeal the law creating the office of County Superintendent; by Black, to legalize the lease of the Milwaukee and Northern Railroad, and authorize the purchase thereof by the Central Railroad; to create the county of Pine ; to establish maximum rates for passengers on railroads, the fare not to exceed 3 cents per mile.—-A memorial to Congress relating to the improvement of harbors and rivers in Wisconsin. A number of bills were reported back by committees, with various recommendations.
Assembly.
Remonstrances were presented against the repeal of the Graham Law.---Resolutions were offered, that the Superintendent of Public Property place a copy of Chapman's Sectional Map in the Assembly chamber; for furnishing the Blue Book to members: for printing 3,000 copies of S. D. Carpenter's speech on transportation.--A joint resolution relating to the removal of the Indians was adopted,-The resolution requesting Congress to build a ship canal around Niagara Falls was concurred in.- The resolution instructing the judiciary committee to report a bill requiring private banking firms to report the same as public banks, tabled.- The resolution fixing the time for final adjournment was again postponed one week,--Bills were introduced; authorizing Racine to adjust its indebtedness; to incorporate a farmers' joint stock association; to compel railroad trains to stop at certain stations; by Mr. Kuntz, to provide for county academies, and to make principals thereof county superintendents, ex-officio; to amend the laws relating to weights and measures; to fix the boundaries of the 3d ward of Milwaukee; relating to the purchase of Legislative manuals; to protect employees against fellow employees; to prevent the sale of adulterated liquors; to amend the law providing for support of the poor in Milwaukee county; to amend the law relating to the sale of mineral oils; of the manner of conducting elections; to establish fair and maximum rates on railroads.— Bills were passed for the repeal of the registry laws requiring town treasurers to make annual reports of moneys paid to district clerks; appropriating pay to the Visiting Committee of 1873; to protect the people in their legal rights; to prohibit certain provisions in contracts; authorizing Racine to regulate and license hawkers and peddlers; to provide for the construction of fishways in La Crosse river; to establish a ferry across St. Croix River; to amend the law incorporating Green Bay City Railroad Company.- The bill providing for letting the county printing to the lowest bidder created considerable discussion, and agreeably to the recommendation of the committee was indefinitely postponed.
Senate.
Tuesday, February 10.-The joint resolution for printing 3,000 copies of Carpenter's speech on transportation, etc., was indefinitely postponed.--A joint resolution asking Congress to repeal the act authorizing the North Pacific Railroad to build a bridge across the St. Louis river, was adopted.--A resolution instructing the Secretary of State to supply legislative employees with the Manual was laid on the table. The bill authorizing a ferry between Prairie du Chien and McGregor was passed. Also one fixing the salary of Assistant Attorney General at $1,200 a year.--Adjourned.
Assembly.
The joint resolution for submitting an amendment to the Constitution prohibiting towns, cities and villages from increasing their bonded indebtedness beyond five per cent., was concurred in also, to prevent depositing poisons on land.----The bill for depositing the public funds of the State in the banks of Madison or Milwaukee was amended and referred to the Judiciary Committee.----The bill increasing the tax on the gross earnings of railroads from three to six per cent. was amended by substituting five per cent. and ordered to a third reading.
Senate.
Wednesday, February 11.-Several remonstrances against the repeal of the Graham law were presented.-The Governor's nominees for Normal Regents, Messrs. Weisbrod and Weld, were confirmed.--The memorial asking Congress to give bounties to Mexican war veterans was concurred in.--Bleckman offered a resolution providing for a select committee to investigate the use of gas in lighting the Capitol during the session of 1873.-The substitute bill conferring the St. Croix land grant upon the North Wisconsin Railroad was taken up, and an amendment adopted making the forfeiture $50,000 per mile for each mile not constructed according to the conditions of the bill: providing, that such forfeitures shall not take effect until the title to the lands is assured to the company. This bill requires the company to construct the road from St. Croix to the west end of Lake Superior and to Bayfield within seven years from the passage of this act. Further action on the bill was cut off by adjournment.
Assembly.
A dozen remonstrances against the repeal of the Graham law were presented.--Also a number against changing the line of the Central Railroad from Portage to Stevens Point. The bill authorizing the Trustees of the Northern Hospital for the Insane to remove its treasurer, was reported back from the Senate with an amendment that destroyed its force, and the Assembly refused to concur. Bills were passed: Requiring a paper to be published one year in a county before it can publish the tax lists; declaring Waupaca river a public highway; amending the charter of Kenosha; relating to stay of executions: to provide for the sale of delinquent lands in Douglas county; relating to costs and fees in justice courts: fixing the compensation of Speaker of the Assembly the same as other members: relating to offenses cognizable before justices of the peace; to allow courts in Milwaukee county to appoint criers: to authorize a pontoon railroad bridge at Prairie du Chien.- The bill providing for a revision of the statutes was indefinitely postponed.
Senate.
Thursday, February 12.--The various bills appropriating money to charitable institutions of Milwaukee were referred to the joint committee on claims.- The select committee reported in favor of granting lands to the Chicago and Northern Pacific Air Line ; and the bill giving lands to the North Wisconsin Co. was recommended to be indefinitely postponed.- The bill conferring the St. Croix land grant on the North Wisconsin Railroad came up, and was amended by Senator Weeks by conferring the portion of the grant lying on the route from the junction in Burnett county to the west end of Lake Superior, being about sixty miles, to the Chicago and Northern Pacific Air Line Company, the rest to go to the North Wisconsin Company. This occupied the whole of the session, and the substitute, as amended was ordered to a third reading.
Assembly.
Remonstrances were presented against the repeal of the Graham Law, and against the proposed change of the route of the Wisconsin Central Railroad.-Memorials were passed asking for the survey of a water route from St. Croix to Lake Superior; for extending the time for the construction of the St. Croix road; for increase of mail service in certain portions of the State; for refunding money advanced by Milwaukee in constructing the "Straight Cut," in the harbor; granting booming privileges on Chippewa River; authorizing Circuit Judges to hold courts for one another; changing the name of the Union Baptist Church in Milwaukee; relating to bridges and highways on Mississippi bottom lands.-The joint resolution asking Congress to improve the Mississippi River by the construction of slough booms passed.- -The La Crosse bridge bill came up, and was discussed at some length, and after some amendments, was ordered to a third reading.