River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1911-05-25
WHELAN MEASURE
KILLED IN HOUSE
Bill That Might Protect the
"BIaCk Hand" Defeated.
TO DECREASE FOREST FIRES
Joint Resolution May Be introduced
In the Assembly Calling for a
Legislative Investigation Into
the Dietz Episode.

Nadison.-The specter of the BLACK
Hand" society caused the lower house
of the Wisconsin legislature to kill the
Whelan bill, making it criminal Of
Tense to publish the secret ritual or
work of any fraternal organization.
Assemblyman Newcomb Spoor of
Green Lake county, who lives near
granite quarries where hundreds of ST.
cilians work, said the Whelan bill, if
it passed, would practically prevent
the authorities from getting any infor-
nation about the operation of the
BLACK Hand" in Wisconsin.
A bill introduced in the senate pro-
hibits setting any fire in the northern
part of the state, except for warming
persons and cooking food, between
April 1 and November /, unless per-
mission is given in writing by the
county fire warden, the fire patrol, or
a justice of the peace. The bill is in
tended to protect that part of the state
against forest fires. Another bill re-
quires locomotives and engines of all
kinds to be equipped with spark ar
rosters, closed fireboxes and ashpans.
A third bill appropriates $250,000 an
nuallY for ten years for the purchase
Of additional forest reserve land.
Bills were recommended for passage
requiring hotels, railway companies
and proprietors of other public places
TO furnish their places with cuspidors
and individual towels.
Asscmblyman Thomas Mahon intro
duced bill for commission to super
wise the state labor department, and
all industrial agencies in the state and
administer the industrial accident law
recently passed. The bill permits
girls sixteen years of age and over to
work in factories. The minimum age
limit now is eighteen years.
The income tax bill, pending in the
assembly, is to be amended SO as to
tax corporations at the same rate as
private persons, and to allow taxes
paid on personal property to be Offset
against an income.
There is a possibility of the
Introduction in the assembly at an
early date of a joint resolution calling
for the legislative investigation into
the Dietz episode, from the time
Dietz's troubles first began and in
Guiding his trial and conviction on the
charge of murder.
The matter has been discussed by
Social Democratic members, and the
representatives of that party here will
confer soon on the advisability of
seeking a probe.
Individually, many members of the
house, particularly those in the So
cialist fold, feel that Dietz's guilt was
not conclusively established at the
trial, and that he was virtually rail
roaded." 1t is also believed by some
members that Dietz is mentally unbal-
anced and that if given an opportun-
ity, properly qualified counsel could
secure a new trial in which insanity
might be pleaded.
Two years ago, a joint resolution
county to dismiss the indictments and
withdraw the warrants against Dietz
was introduced by Assemblyman Daub
of Eau Claire, Republican. This
measure was defeated in the lower
house by close vote of AZ to 40.
Since that time much has happened in
the Dietz imbroglio.
Adhering to their platform pledge,
the senate Republicans advanced the
Mcconnell second choice primary bill,
known these many years as the MARY
Ann" bill. Three members made
speeches. Senators Whitehead, San
born and Gaylord. In the end the
vote was Is to 9 for the bill, the op-
ponents being Albers, Burke, Gaylord,
James, Randolph, Shower, Thomas,
Whitehead, Zophy and Lyons.
The senate passed the assembly bill
limiting the hours of work on public
buildings to eight except in extreme
emergencies such as fire, flood or
war. Senator Sanborn presented the
resolution for advancement of bust
ness and it was referred to the calen-
dar. The senate passed the bill ma
king the insurance commissioner ar
appointive officer, the vote being II
to 10.
Troop A of the Wisconsin National
Guard may get an additional appropri-
alton of $4,000 after all. The bill
which has had such hard shedding for
two months came up in the assembly
again, and was advanced, the decisive
vote being Al to &c. Roessler led the
fight against the bill on a point of or
der. Brockhausen and Weber, Social
Democrats. opposed reconsideration OF
the bill