River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1913-03-20
STATE FARMERS !
SUFFER BIG Loss
ST, 100000 Lost Yearly by Nox'
iouS Weeds.
NEW LAWS RECOMMENDED
Investigator Hoard Makes Report to
Legislature and Urges the CreSSion
OF State Commissioner and Re
movaI of Local inspectors.

Madison.-Farmers of Wisconsin
are losing over S1,600,000 annually be-
cause Of noxious weeds. This IS the
statement of H. II. Hoard OF Waupun
in report to the legislature upon
an investigation which he mas con-
Quoted regarding the economic loss
from noxious WEEDS. He finds tn2t IN
twenty years the loss from dockage on
all small grains received at the Min
nesota elevators amounted to nearly
$7O,O00,O00.
"This same rate of dockage applied
TO Wisconsin crops would reduce the
farm income of the state Sl,6OO,OOO
annually, and this does not take INTO
account the reduction in price caused
by impurities in alfalfa, clover and
gree Seeds concludes the report.
Farmers Are Interested.
Farmers of the legislature were
greatly interested in the results Of the
investigation 1t was found that the
present weed laws are obsolete and IN
effective. In some sections OF the
state Mr. Hoard found that owners of
badly infected farms have abandoned
them in despair and sold them at
greatly reduced prices rather than con-
tend with the Weeds He recon-
mends the creation of the office OF
state weed commissioner, who shall
have authority to appoint and remove
local weed inspectors, that the legisla-
ture pass a law naming the noX1ouS
weeds, and that campaign of eradl-
cation be started at once. He says
the weed situation is one of the most
serious problems the farmer will have
to grapple with in the next few years.
Women Against Ballot.
While the suffragists are conducting
campaign Of education in favor of
votes for women, the Madison Asso-
citation Opposed to Woman Suffrage
has started similar campaign TO
show why the ballot should not be ex-
tended. Scores of the "antis" visited
the legislature and interviewed mem
bers. With statistical tables to cinch
their arguments, they contended that
the states where suffrage for women
does not exist have the better laws in
favor of women. Both sides are
actively lobbying these days before
the suffrage bill comes UP for consid-
Grafton before the elections committee
of the assembly. 1t promises to be
one of the most interesting hearings
Of the session.
Following a speech by Assembly
man Newcomb Spoor in which the
present method of appointing the
state fair board was scored, the as
sembly ordered engrossed his bill to
provide for the selection of members
of the board by agricultural societies
of the state. The bill was slated for
death
Interurbans to Carry Freight.
The assembly has advanced the
Paulu bill permitting interurban cars
to carry freight. 1t was originally
introduced in form that would COM
pei the interurban companies to carry
freight, but was modified by the COM
mittee to obviate legal obstacles.
The Holmes bill to allow two years
| in which a claim for excess freight
charges may be filed with the railroad
commission tc secure a refund; the
Schnitzler bill fixing a closed season
for crabs and crawfish from Novem-
Der 1 and the Rosa bill relating to
the disposition of the property of the
Church Of Christ, have been passed by
the assembly.
After a sharp debate and a roll
call the assembly engrossed the Schill-
ing bill providing for a fee on auto
mobiles fixed upon horsepower
basis. The senate by vote of 16 to
IA refused to reconsider it's vote by
which the Teasdale aDti-treating bill
was passed. 1t came into the assem-
bly, and was sent to the committee on
excise end fees. Senator Glenn's bill
authorizing cities to build and main
tain public buildings was ordered en-
crossed.
Ons Day Rest for Workers.
A sweeping measure for one day
rest out of seven, applicable to all
corporations and cities was intro,
duced in the assembly by the assem-
bly, committee on labor through it's
chairman, Assemblyman George w.
Bingham of Adams county. The
measure was introduced embodying
ideas that every employer who fails
to provide his employees with rest
day as required by the bill shall
be deemed guilty of a miademeanor,
and upon conviction shall be punished
by fine of not less than SIS nor more
than $25 for each of his employees who
has labored contrary to the provisions
of the bill.