The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1913-06-27

{. seriously Such little details and
throughout the week the members
have attended sessions in their shirt
sleeves.
Sale OF Glucose in Wisconsin.
State Dairy and Food Commissions
er Emery is about to win out in his
long fight relative to the sale of
glucose in Wisconsin. The bill pro-
viding that articles such as glucose
shall carry a label setting forth to the
purchased the ingredients contained
in the article has been recommended
for passage in the senate. The bill
is almost certain to be passed, and it
is felt certain that Governor McGov-
ern will sign it.
The Hedding bill to legalize boxing
contests in Wisconsin is still hanging
fire in the senate, having been passed
in the house. The bill was on the
calendar last week, but action was de-
layed for several days. The friends
of the bill are anxious to have more
time in which to discuss the measure
with the senators, who do not appear
any too friendly to the bill. Milwau-
kee members of the senate will speak
for the bill, as Milwaukee is the big
fight center of Wisconsin. The argu-
ment will be that the boxing game
cannot be shut off and that it is far
better for the state to regulate it and
by licensing clubs receive some mon
ey from the game.
Regulation of WaterpoWers.
One of the heaviest subjects Of the
session, that of waterpower regula-
ton by the state, will be thrashed out
in the senate. The special committee
of the senate appointed to draft a
new bill has the measure about ready
for introduction. While there will be
influential opposition to any bill the
committee may recommend, the dis.
position of the senate seems to be to
pass a bill in accordance with the
platform pledge of the Republican
party on this subject. Because many
of the members are anxious to get
home and because the extremely hot
weather interiors with work, the
hearings on the waterpower bill will
not drag out as they would have done
had the bill been introduced earlier
in the session. The lobby which is
here to point out those things in wa
terpower regulation which are uncon-
stitutional may find it difficult to get
much of an audience. The measure
that will be reported will represent
weeks and months of work by the
committee on conservation. Senators
Husting and Bosshard, Democratic
and Republican leaders in the senate,
are members of this committee, and
will lead the way for the enactment
of a comprehensive waterpower bill.
Assemblyman Douglas Anderson
has raised an interesting point in
connection with the waterpower ques-
ton. The constitutional provision
prohibiting internal improvements by
the state, he says, is a barrier to a
proper solution of the matter, and he
is urging that the state take steps to
remove this constitutional obstruc-
ton.
Is
A joint resolution to eliminate the
constitutional prohibition which pre-
vents the state from engaging in in
ternal improvements only in so far as
it applies to WaterpoWers, improve
ments of the streams and control of
lands for public purposes only is now
pending in the house.
Assemblyman Anderson's argument
for the resolution as briefly summar-
lied follows:
"It eliminates the constitutional
prohibition which prevents the state
from engaging in internal improve
ments only insofar as it applies to
water powers, improvement of the
streams and control of lands for pub
lie purposes only.
"The right of the municipality and
the counties to own public or quasi
public industries is now not subject
to constitutional restrictions.
"This constitutional prohibition
with respect to water powers, the
greatest natural monopoly, should be
eliminated in the interests of the pub
lie.
Cali waterpower franchises granted
in the last decade contained a repeal
clause based on the theory of state
regulation, unless the right to ulti-
mately own is granted, regulation can
never be affected.
1.-THE grants to river improvement
companies giving them the right to
construct reservoirs, expressly reserv-
ing the right of the state to assume
ownership at any time they have the
constitutional power.
These reservations are not suffi-
cient protection of the people inter
ested unless the constitutional prohi-
bition is removed.
'The question of whether or not the
state should ultimately own the water
powers or reservoirs is not an issue
here, merely the question of whether
they should have the right in case of
necessity to do so, is all there is at
stake.