Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1903-06-03
toward amending tie State constitution
so as TO make an income tax possible.
Schools aud Chitd Labor.

| largely 10 the school fund and the COM
| pulsory education. The new compulsory
education law required the enrolment of
| all children of certain ages in the schools,
public or private. In cities children be-
| tween the ages Of and Il years must
/, attend schools at least eight months of
the year. Children between the ages of
| IA and l6 years who are not regularly
employed, must also attend school In
the villages and towns children must
attend school five months of the year.
Certain exceptions are provided for
where schools are too far away, or where
the roads are bad during certain seasons
or where children are physically disabled
This law is expected to increase the
school attendance to an enormous degree
and the law is to be strictly enforced
The child labor law is consistent with
the compulsory education measure. Chill
dren under IL years of age are not TO be
allowed To work, the age limit being in
! creased two years. Children between IA
and 16 years must obtain permits. The
factory inspectors are TO act as truant
! officers. Additional requirements are
made relative to the employment of child
labor TO which the manufacturers must
conform. In this connection a law has
been placed upon the statute books which
provides against the employment of girls
in telephone and telegraph offices and in
any places where the association isldeem-
ed inadvisahle or detrimental.
The seven-tenths of mill will yield
an income for the schools amounting to
nearly $i.l00.000 so there will be an
ample fund for the extension of the
courses and the improvements in the
school work. Provision has been made
for the establishment of schools for deaf
in the cities outside of Milwaukee, the
schools 10 he organized along the line
Of the Milwaukee school. The parental
school law is distinctly Milwaukee
measure and does not pertain to any 9th
er city
So far as the teaching force is concern
ed little change has been made in the
law aside from the city superintendent,
outside of Milwaukee. Superinfendents
in cities of the third aud fourth class
must devote all of .heir time to school
supervision. They cannot engage in 9TH
er business at the same time. This will
affect twelve superntendents who will
either have to give up business or else
retire from the school work. Strict quail
ifcations are required. The city super-
intendents must possess qualifications
equal TO those of q principal Of four
years high school.
Primary teachers. that is. teachers be-
low the fifth grade in schools containing
eight grades, who have taught five years
will not be required to undergo special
examinations. but are entitled TO a certi-
ficate Provision is made for the issu-
ance of certificates by normal schools to
teachers of manual training and Of do
nestle science. \ law Of importance di-
reefs the Attorney General to institute
suit in the United States Supreme Court
to determine the right of the State rela-
tive to the school lands contained with
in I..dian reservations in the State. If
successful the suit will add a large fund
to the school fund.
Farming and Agriculture.
The Legislature has given a great deal
of attention to the agricultural interests.
The appropriations for the agricultural
college were the rlost liberal of those
made for the big school because intended
for the benefit Of the farmer boys Pro-
visions have been made for experiments
concerning the nature Of soil and with
cereals. something never before attempt
ed. Steps have been taken toward the
resuscitation Of the cranberry markets
and in the line Of improving tobacco Gull
ture.
Laws have been enacted providing for
the collections OF statistics relating to the
cheese and butter interests as well as
providing for the appointment of inspec-
tors for cheese and butter factories.
Health and Sanitation.
For the first time in some years the
| Legislature failed to provide contingent
fund for the prevention of the spread of
contagious diseases. 1t resulted from
the dispute concerning smallpox The
Assembly desired to have the fund avail
able for checking the spread of smallpox.
but the Senate declined to permit. on
the theory that the communities ought to
take care of that. \ committee on con
ference endeayored to reach an agree
ment but failed.
Because of the spread of disease
| through milk the product secured from
cows lodged in unsanitary barns. barns
that are foul smelling. lily cared for
where proper attention Is not given and
! where cows arc not properly fed is 10 be
| declared unsanitary and subject to CON
fscatiun. inspectors have large powers
| in correcting the conditions. Bake shops
must be scrupulously clean or the pro-
prietors will get into trouble, the laws
! having been made more strict. No bak
cry will be allowed in Easement more
than eight feet below grade and new
bakeries must no. he erected where the
| floor is more than five feet below grade.
| Bakers must wear white and clean uni
/ forms
| In order to protect the men who DO not
shave themselves, BARRIERS are required to
! observe certain qualifications and com
mission is created charged with cxamin-
| ing barber shops in the event complaint
| Is made and To- examine and license bar
bers. This law wa 9nally enacted af-
ter eight or ten yeas effort upon the
part Of the labor unions. The duties Of
| the factory inspectors are extended to
cover tenement houses in course of con
struction. To determine whether they arc
sanitary and are bejus properly construct
| cd.
| Labor Regulations and Union Labor.
| The labor unions have been very active
| throughout the session and have exerted
| their Influence in securing action on
| many import ant reform measures. par
/ ticularly the child labor laws and the
compulsory education measures and laws
relating 10 the bettcruent Of conditions
/ relating 10 children. Legislation has
| been prevented which, if successful.
| would practically disorganize The unions.
! These were in the guse Of antitrust
measures. and in fairness il must be said
! that no attack was intended uunu the