Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1903-04-02

pended $4,000 at the same time to rid
Their territory of the pest. These facts
came out in the assembly yesterday
during debate, which threw consider
able light on matters about which the
general public knows little.
The Whltson bill, appropriating $780,
COG to the state board Of health as an
emergency fund in cases of Asiatic
cholera, buhOnic plague, smallpox or
other dangerous contagious diseases
came from the claims committee limit
ing its use to cholera and the plague.
Mr.. Whitson opposed the amendment
saying that only $4,000 of the fund had
been drawn in II years and that many
cases of smallpox developed which
needed state supervision. Mr.. D.
Evans declared that the state board of
health already has an annual fund of
$4,000 with which TO work and that
the claims committee deemed it ad-
visable to let communities care for
their own smallpox epidemics. Any
way, he said smallpox is no longer
, dangerous or serious menace. Mr..
| Whitson replying, declared that of the
| $4,000 annual appropriation $4,000 was
the salary Of the secretary thus leaN-
| ing wholly inadequate balance for
| emergencies. Mr.. Wallrich favored
the original bill, saying the expendl-
! ture was safeguarded by the governor,
and that the question Of the health Of
! the state was not to be weighed
| against paltry dollars. Mr.. Dahl spoke
vigorously against the bill Mr.. E. w.
! Evans argued that local boards were
! just as able as the state board to COM
! bat smallpox and it was their duty to
| do so Mr.. Morgan observed that
Langlade county had spent SIS 900 i'll
| fighting smallpox and had not asked
| for state aid, nor did he believe thai
! the state ought to pay the legitimate
| charges which the various communi-
| ties should meet. The amendment
| was lest, 55 to %. Then Mr.. E. w.
Evans offered an amendment increas-
| ing the appropriation to 100000,
saying it was in good faith that such
an amount would be needed as soon as
all places learned that they could load
their contagious bills upon the state.
The question was asked as to where
the $4,000 drawn from the fund in the
past two years had gone, and Speaker
LenrOOt, descending to the floor and
calling Mr.. Douglas to the chair, eA-
planned that Douglas county had Sc
cured some $4,000 while itself spend
inf 10000 at the same time to stop a
smallpox epidemic which bankrupted
the local treasury and threatened the
entire state. Had the fund not been
available the disease would have
spread to an almost universal cpl
demic, costing the people of the state,
not thousands, but millions. The
speech was convincing and effective,
the amendment being voted down, SO
to 5. Then the bill was advanced to
third reason with little opposition.
Late Trains.
Senator Randolphs bill. requiring
railway companies to bulletin in de-
pots late trains was concurred in and
the same action ensued on Senator
Eatons measure regarding the Dor
| rowing of money for sewer purposes.
The assembly bill to detach territory
from the town of Lawrence, Gates
county, and create the town of Haw-
kins was ordered engrossed. While
these bills were killed: F. JohnsOn's re-
lating to assessments in joint school
districts and statements as to taxes;
Lanes, relating to the assessments of
highway taxes, and Thomas Johnson's,
relating to the superintendent of taxes
by county boards.
Miscellaneous.
Several petitions in favor of spring
shooting were received, and Mr..
Barker himself a former clergyman,
offered a resolution requesting legisla
tive chaplains to make louder prayers,
but it was voted down overwhelming
ly. Then a resolution was presented
TO give Mr.. Barker a front seat during |
invocations, but it was net acted on.
A facetious bill to confer the title OF
colonel on members of the legislative
military affairs committee was prompt |
Iy referred by the speaker to the com |
mittee on fish and game amid laughter. |
The health committee reported adj |
versely the bill requiring monthly |
analysis of water in places having |
Waterworks.
A scramble for leaves of absence |
over Sunday occurred, many were |
granted but the assembly adhered to |
it's purpose to hold a session this morn |
ing, and 20 justify greater industry /
the chief clerk read the following re-
port showing the status of assembly |
business:
Assembly bills introduced ....... 642 |
Killed. Luz
Withdrawn ...... .............. Ii
In hands of committees ......... 358 |
Senate bills concurred in ........ % !