River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1913-07-10
BOOK MEASURE
LOST IN ASSEMBLY
Bills Providing Uniform Pamph-
let's Are Killed.
WOULD BE BIG SAVING?
Mahon Alleges People Are Being
Robbed by Exorbltant Prices
Appropriation Act, Carrying
S3,77B, 900, Passed.

Appropriation ACT, Carrying
$3,77B, 900, Passed.
Madison. - By an overwhelming
majority the assembly killed the
two bills to secure uniform textbooks
in Wisconsin. The first bill, fathered
by Assemblyman Sharp Of Oconto. pro-
vided that all textbooks used within a
county must be uniform. AS soon as
this bill was defeated, the assembly
took up the Mahon bill, requiring state
uniformity of textbooks, and at the
close of short debate the bill was
killed by vote Of 81 to IA.
Mr.. Mahon claimed that state uni
formity Of textbooks would save Wis
consin people 100000 annually. He
said that the people were being robbed
by exorbitant prices, and school books
were changing continually without
due consideration. Assemblyman Man
ming of Milwaukee charged that the
bill would create monopoly, the like
of which was never heard of before In
Wisconsin. Assembly Minkley, Social
list, Milwaukee, closed the debate in IA
vor OF the bill, claiming that the meas
ure was meritorious. Assemblyman
Viebahn of WATERFOWL, the veteran
educator, opposed the measure on the
ground that the people did not want to
foster a book trust monopoly.
The Bichler bill providing for q
change In the method OF nominating
candidates at town elections was de-
feated. Assemblyman Judson Hall op-
posed the bill, claiming that it would
complicate an election statute that has
eeen used by the people OF the state
since it's organization.
In less than fifteen minutes the as
sembly passed bill carrying appropri-
atoms of nearly $3,775.O00 for charit-
able and penal institutions for the be-
ennial period. The vote was 60 to 5.
The bill provides an appropriation of
$50, $50 for a new contagious hospital
at Mendoza. The total amount to be
spent for new buildings is $550,000,
most Of 1t being for the erection Of
buildings at existing institutions.
At the close of the fiscal year, June
,
according to the balance sheet of State
Treasurer Johnson, show $267, 040.69
In the general fund, where on July 1,
1912, the balance was $2,032, 1919, a
difference of $1,765, 102.50.
Next month the railroads will come
to the relief Of the situation with the
second payment of their taxes.
In accordance with Attorney Gen
eral Ovens recent opinion, the heads
Of many of the state departments are
filing new lists of appointments of
their employees in the Office of the sec
rotary of state.
The assembly has concurred In the
bill appropriating $4,000 for an inves-
tigation of the subject Of accident and
occupational diseases, and old age in
validity. An investigating committee
Of seven members will be selected
from the present legislature to make
an investigation and report to the next
session. Several bills upon this sub
ject were introduced this year, but
committees believed that a more
thorough investigation should be had
UG1OIG ally 10 0udCLSQ luIO
law. The general idea Is to permit the
working men in different occupations
to contribute certain percentage of
their earnings weekly toward an insur-
ance fund, like contribution to be
made by both the state and employers.
Then in case Of sickness this fund
would be used to pay the injured or
invalid workman 60 per cent. of his
earnings, the same as under the work
mems compensation law. 1t is quite
probable that Senator Bosshard will
be chosen chairman of the committee
on the senate side.
The committee also recommended
for passage the Teasdale bill prohibit
ing proprietors of billiard and pool
rooms from allowing minors under six
teen years of age to play or loiter
around such places If requested not to
do so by a parent or guardian.
1t also recommended for passage
the Zophy bill, providing that the
birthdays Of Lincoln and Washington
shall be observed with patriotic exer-
cises in public schools. The bill pro-
viding for the licensing of all dogs in
the state after January l next was
recommended for indefinite postpone
ment