Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1912-05-07
BADGER S0L0NS
SPECIAL SESSION
RELIEF FOR BLACK RIVER FALLS
THE CHIEF MATTER FOR
CONSIDERATIONS.
McG0vERN's MESSAGE.
Number OF Other important
Measures Are
Included.

Madison, Wis. May IAN extraor.
binary session of the Wisconsin legis.
lature convened for the consideration
of several emergency matters. includ.
ing relief for flood-swept Black River
Falls, water-power regulation, strength.
ening of the Portage levee and amend.
ment of election laws. convened.
The Importance of urgency legisla.
ton in ten special subjects was laid
before the legislature by Governor
Francis E. McGovern in his message.
The governor read the message in per-
son.
Although not intended to be includ-
ed in the call. non-partisan elections
for Milwaukee are treated in the mes
sage as a measure for which a great
demand has arisen which he did not
feel like passing by unnoticed. He rec
ommends the enactment of such leg.
islation at his session.
Summary Of Message.
The governors message may be
summarized as follows:
Relief for Black River Falls; relief
Is asked for those rendered homeless
or destitute by the flood, for the re-
moval of the debris, the repair of the
sewage system, etc. 1t is suggested
that the city's Indebtedness Of about
$31 900 to the trust funds of the state
be sanctioned at the same time, trans
ferring an equal sum from the general
fund to the trust funds to keep the
latter intact. The state may not ap.
propriate money to support the schools
nor rebuild the business section. The
governor suggests that the expense Of
building retaining wall be met by
making an appropriation from the
drainage fund, thereby avoiding con.
stitutional objections.
Portage levee-It Is recommended
that enough money be appropriated to
protect the city of Portage and the
Fox and Wisconsin river valleys from
danger from overflow and an equitable
distribution of the expense of repair.
Water power regulation-the Black
River Falls disaster is cited as an in.
stance of improperly built dams. Pub
lie control of dams is recommended
in the interest of public safety and
the general welfare"
Legislation is declared to be needed
for attaining ownership and operation
by the public of all waterpowers in
the state, whenever the people desire
1t.
Relief for Berry Growers.
Weights and measures-Relief for
berry growers and commission men
from certain harsh and unnecessary
requirements of this new law is asked,
to the end that unexpected hardship
be not imposed.
Particularly in the case Of berry
boxes and peach baskets, they (the
producers and dealers) say they have
not had sufficient notice to enable
them to comply with the new law"
says the governor.
Sale of public lands--It is recon-
mended that chapter ASP of the laws
of 1911 be amended to prevent all spec
ulation in public lands and limit sales
to actual settlers.
Amendment to election laws-the
enactment of a law to validate the
nominations and elections held on
April 2, 1912, over which the wording
of the new apportionment act cast an
element of uncertainty, is recommend
ed.
The governor advocates the passage
of a non-partisan election bill for the
city of Milwaukee, but refuses to in
dorse the same plan with respect to
the county, urging that county officers
are essentially state officers, who are
elected generally on the fall election
day, when the voting is Openly and
frankly partisan"
Lloyd's neutrality-suspicious. to
the law to make more definite and
certain the conditions under which
Lloyd's associations may be admitted
to transact a Wisconsin business prop.
posed.
Amendment to the fish and game
laws-Legislation to permit the state
game warden to take rough fish from
state waters, to be sold for state rev.
enue, is proposed.