Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1907-04-03
ORDERS THE cLEARY BILL TO
ENDORSEMENT.
NO EXPENSE TO THE STATE
Insurance Companies Would Be Ben
efited in Particular and Would
Bear Cost of investigating ana
Preventing Fires-Residenee Eis-
trict Option Has Show Of Passage.
Madison, March Is.

to- engrossmeRt the bill to create the
office of state fire marshal Assem-
blyman Cleary the author of the bill,
and Assemblyman Pliny Norcross OF
GAINESVILLE vdliantly defended the
measure, Assemblymen ROycraft
Mains. George Scott and Bichier
helped favor tue bill, while Messrs.
| Ties. J. o. Thomas, Ingram and Camp
/, bell objected
The first discussion arose as a re-
suit of an amendment Offered by Mr.
Bichler exempting town mutual instr
ance. companies from the requirement
to contribute into the state treasury
one-fourth of one per cent. of the gross
premiums for the support of ths de-
Tartment created After some dis.
cussion. In the course OF which it was
pointed oht by Messrs. Roycrah and
Bichler that the town mutual comp l.
MES confined their attention to the
better class IS OF risks in isolated dis
trlet$ and in the country entirely, the
amendment was adopted.
/ Assemblyman Ties Of Green com
tyr pointed out that the bill called for
a ire marshal whose salary was fixed
at $4,000. an assistant whose salary
is to be $4,000 a first deputy with a
salary Of Sl,S00 and second deputy
with a salary of $1,000. He de-
clared the legislation as entirely un-
called for and q needless show OF cy-
travaganee. and moved for indefinite
posfponement
Assemblyman Cleary made lone
and able argument in favor Of his
measure. He pointed out the expert
ences of the state of Ohio. where. on
account Of the investigations carried
on by the department as to fires Of
questionable origin, the record IN that
state showed a regular decline OF in
cendiarism as follows: 1901, 292
cases; 1902 % cases; 1903, 100
cases; 1904. 15S cases, and 1908, 81
cases, The department did such of
fective work in prosecuting i1cendlar-
les. and in tearing DOWN ramshacllle
structures that the risks in Ohio were
of a high order and better rates Of
premium resulted. He said the dis
trict attorneys at the present time
had not sufficient power or machinery
at their command to properly inves
tigate al questionable cases
Assemblyman Norcross. speaking in
behalf Of the measure. put himself on
record as favoring more drastic leg
islation than that proposed and urged
J that the provisions ought in the futuro
: at least to be made more wide reach
r ing than those now in the bill He
: stamped the bill as the best piece of
, legislation that had come up in the
, assembly thus far this session, and
urged It's passage. He pointed out
that the committee ON banks and in
! surance had recommended it for pas
sage. rhe bill was ordered engrossed
. with only ore vote being cast in the
F. sgative by Assemblyman Potter
democrat, who dissented from the rec
L ommendaticn of the committee OF
banks and insurance.
The bill provides fer detailed re-
ports from all cities. towns and vil-
lagos as to fires, their origin. cause
and circumstances surrounding them.
All questionable cases are to be inves-
. tigated and the marshal has the pos
er to subpoena witnesses The OBJ
iections raised were TO the effect that
the district attorneys had the power
i, to make investigations at the pres
ent time and prosecute for incendiar
ism. and Mr.. Campbell suggested that
If they did not have such powers the
proper step would be to increase the
powers OF that Office instead Of creat
ing new one.
n Residence District Option.
!, The residence district option bil
introduced by Assemblyman J, F. Bait-
err came in from the committee on
state affairs with a recommendation
for passage. Some amendments are
offered in the nature of compr inise
on the original bill Much hoDe Is
manifested on the part Of the propo-
nents of the bill that it will receive
favorable treatment in the assembly
in its amended form.
The bill provides that any disti' t
containing from 100 to 900 electors
may petition 70 prevent the granting
Of licenses. The disagreement in
the committee at the hearing resulted
from the provisions relative to bust
ness" districts. The amended bill
provides that if in any city block,
one third Of the frontage is devoted TO
business purposes. the vote Of he
residents as to refusing lice SEES does
not apply to that block.
Another provision of the amended
Lii is to the effect that az district
shall be more thar twice as long Ter
J ritorily as it is vi le
These features of the bill came rs
a result Of the opposing arguments
tho measure that 1t would work
= great hardship with small business
, PLACES In the smaller cities and vii
. lagos, where 1t would be possible f.r
4 few residents to drive the SALONS
practically out of business.
State Veterinarian.
The case Of State Veterinarian Da-
vld Roberts was recalled when the
senate bill came into the assembly
from the committee on agriculture,
recommended for passage. with amend
1 rnnuts OrigfnaIIy tho hill contained