River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1913-03-06
MEASURE WILL
PROTECT POOR
InstaIIment Plan Is Scored by AS.
semblyman Walsh.
SAYS BUSINESS IS VICIOUS
sill to Regulate Selling of Goods on
Part Payment Given Hearing Be-
fore House judiciary Committee
-Hustinc After Pot Hunters.

Sill to Regulate SeHtH9 OF GOODS on
Part PAYMENT Given Hearing Be-
fore House judiciary Committee
--Hustina After Pot Hunters.
Madison.-After hearing the argu-
ments against his so-called install
ment house bill before the judiciary
committee. Assemblyman William g
Walsh of Milwaukee said that he had
decided to offer further amendments
to strengthen it. He characterized as
vicious the whole plan OF selling goods
on the installment plan. His original
bill REQUIRES installment houses sell
ing household goods on the part-pay-
ment plan to refund one-half of the
money paid down If they take he
goods back. Furniture and hardware
dealers who sell on this plan told the
committee that ten per cent. addition
al is usually added to the retail
prices of articles when sold on the in
stailment plan. In addition to this, a
six per cent. interest charge is usu-
ally made on deferred payments. Mr.
Walsh told the committee that the
profit on most articles sold on this
plan is from 60 TO Is per cent. of the
wholesale price. A law similar to the
proposed Walsh act was recently sus-
tanned by the New York supreme
court.
Urges More Drastic Law.
Upon the assumption that the bust
ness of the installment houses is
wrong. Mr.. Walsh favors a law, far
more drastic than his bill, to prohibit
such companies from operating. He
likens the business to that of the
loan shark who lives from exorbitant
profits obtained off the poor.
Senator Paul Husting. who claims
that automatic firearms are the cause
of the rapidly vanishing game, has in
troduced bill to make it unlawful to
use In hunting birds or animals of any
kind any automatic, auto-loading or
self-loading shotgun. 1t shall be con-
sidered prima facie evidence OF guilt
to be found carrying any game and an
automatic gun. A heavy fine l. pro
vided. 1t is argued In favor OF the bill
that unless the use of these guns is
prohibited by law it will be only few
years when all of the game will be ex-
terminated A similar measure was
defeated two years ago.
For Better Saloonists.
II bill fathered by Assemblyman
julius Engebretson of Lafayette coun-
~ ~cceoc ~, vo-.coY1 who hoe haon
convicted within ten years of selling
liquor to a minor will not be allowed
to hold saloon license. The object
Of the bill is to secure better class OF
law-abiding saloon keepers. The bill
is designed to take effect in July,
1918.
Assemblyman C. ]. Stemper OF Mil
waukee is the author OF bill that will
allow collection of two per cent. on
taxes that are not paid by February !.
After that date the taxes are to be
paid to the county treasury and the
penalty is turned into the general fund
Of the county. Assemblyman Hans
Laursen of Washburn has introduced q
bill to provide every justice Of the
peace with copy OF the recently re-
vised statutes.
There has been SO much complaint
in some localities about the freedom
allowed prisoners sent to Jail that AS
semblyman Douglas Anderson has in
troduced a bill upon the subject. Any
person in charge of jail who shall
allow any prisoner more freedom than
Is required by law may be sentenced
to jail for not less than thirty nor
more than sixty days, and in ADDITION
to such punishment shall be removed
from office, according to the bill.
For Union Derots.
The committee on transportation OF
the assembly reported for passage
4 substitute for the X. A. John
son bill aimed towards securing the
erection of union depots when more
than two railroads enter a city. Power
Is given to the railroad commission to
investigate the feasibility of the erec-
ton of union depots, and upon order
the same must be done to escape heavy
penalties. The idea has received the
Endorsement of the railroad commits
sion.
Senator Cunningham OF Rock county
believes that the board of review to
hear complaints against income tax as
sessments should be selected by the
county board, and not by the state tax
commission. as at present. His bill
,1ro1,i1ac tI,ot fha county hoard shall
elect three commissioners from differ
snt parts of the county. His measure
will receive the opposition of the state
tax commission. The theory of the in
come tax law Is that it can be best
enforced when none of the officials are