Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-06-01

the testing Of cattle for tuberculosis.
This measure repeats the compulsory
feature Of the old law The advance
ment of the bill is distinct victory
for the farmers of the state, who
fiocked to the capital early in the ses-
sion to protest against the old law
During the debate on this measure
Speaker Ingram stated from the floor
that he favored the amendment which
provided that the compulsory test
should still apply to cattle that are
offered for sale at public auctions,
but that he was opposed to that part
of the amendment which would make
the state liable for half of the expense
OF the testing of these cattle. After
much argument the amendment was
rejected. Friends of reform along
this line anticipate that this action
may cause a big rumpus in the senate.
1t is feared that by permitting all
kinds Of cattle to be sold at public
auctions and distributed all over the
state without being testing for tuber-
pose of aiding in the fight against
tuberculosis. University experts are
against the step taken in the lower
house, and the bill is expected to cause
a tilt in the senate 1t is likely that
the measure will be amended so that
cattle offered for sale at auctions will
have to be tested ABOUT a dozen
amendments to the bill were offered,
but all of then were voted down One
amendment provided that the testers
should furnish bond covering the
value of the cattle to be tested and
that the bond should be forfeited in
case any of the cattle tested failed to
show signs of tuberculosis This
amendment was aimed at the employ
ment of a lot of incompentent testers,
but was rejected.
X X X
The Kealy bill providing for the as
sessment and taxing of property of gas,
water and electric light companies up
on the ad valorem basis has been put
over until next week. This is one of
the important measures of the session.
X X X
Indicators are that the Owen bank
guaranty bill will not receive the re-
quisite two-thirds vote in the senate.
At a hearing in the senate Senator
Owens made a strong argument for the
bill.
Ever since [ have been a member
of this body" he said, 81 have had
an idea that the interests of the people
should be protected. From my view
point this bill should be considered
from the view of tens of thousands of
depositers, rather than from the in
terests of 600 bankers Even though
this measure may impose burdens up
on the banks, which | do not confess,
it is the people who are entitled to
and must be protected. l hold it
self-evident that this bill safeguards
depOsitOrs. No argument has been
presented against that proposition.
If this is SO, then is this not a piece
of legislation to challenge our at
tention and most favorable considera-
ton?
"The charge has been made that
this bill will demolish the present
banking law, the pride Of us all. Will
the setting aside of this money to pro-
tect depOsitOrs, change mems charact-
er and honesty. In my opinion it is
a protective measure and one demand
ed by the people" The senator called
attention to the fact that there were
many broad-minded bankers who fav-
ored the passage of the bill and de-
clared that sooner or later some po-
litical party would make the subject
a part of their platform pledges Upon
the question of bank earnings, Sena-
tor Owen decided that the earnings
on bank stock would average above
20 per cent, and that some banks paid
nearly twice that amount, and Sena-
tor Owen declared that it was only
fair that part of this should be set
aside for the protection of depositors
Next week the Donald good roads
bill will have passed both houses and
will be in the hands of Govern Nc
Govern. The chief objection to the
bill was based upon the fact that it
gave too much power to the universe
ty, but the measure has the backing
of the administration and will be writ
ten into the statute books in accord
ance with one of the platform pledges
of the Republican party
FRED c. SHEASBY.