The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1915-08-03
GOVERNOR SIGNS
STEMPER MEASURE
LIQUOR BILL TO GO IN EFFECT
AS SOON AS OFFICIALLY
PUBLISHED.
NO INCREASE IN SALOONS
Problem One of Toughest the Legis-
Iature Has Had TO SoIve-Pas-
sage of Bill Means Cleaner
Saloons.
Madison, July 80, 1915.

The Stemper liquor license bill was
signed by Gov. Philip. 1t will go
into effect as soon as officially pub
lished, which will be in few deys.
The bill provides that the number
of saloons shall be gradually de-
creased until the ratio between them
and the population of licensing NUM-
cipahty is one saloon to ESQ popula-
ton.
Under the present law the ratio is
one to ESQ population. However, the
number Of saloons lawfully in exist
ence on June l, 1915, will not be de-
creased until for some cause they
go out of existence, but once they
have done so they can not be re-
licensed until the ratio of saloons to
population reaches one saloon to 500
persons.
Saloons closed in accordance with
the Supreme court ruling on the Ba-
ker law two years ago may be reli-
censed, provided they apply for a Ii
cense within thirty days after the bill
becomes a law and that for each one
relicensed, some saloon location now
licensed must surrender it's license.
Chief Must Decide.
The bill also provides that before
any closed saloon is relicensed, the
chief of police in cities of the first
class shall file with the city clerk, in
writing, his consent or approval of
the location to be reinstated and also
his consent or approval of the loca
tion to be closed.
The announcement that the COVER
nor had signed the Stemper bill was
almost the sole topic of conversation
in legislative circles here There had
been considerable speculation as to
what he would do when the measure
came to him in its amended form.
Bill is Compromise.
Probably no piece OF legislation
has been subjected to so much buff
feting, and taken up so much time,
as the Stemper bill After a stormy
career it was finally passed, only to
be held up by the governor, who re-
fused to sign it in the form in which
it passed. He held that the Baker
law was favored by the people as
a whole, and there was no demand
for the change outside of Milwaukee.
For a time it appeared the meas
ure would be allowed to die, but Mil
waukee city officials had the bill re-
drafted, the most important change
being that giving the chief of police
the final word as to which of the sa-
looms put out of business should be
relicensed.
1t is held by friends of the meas
ure that the bill as passed will mean
cleaner saloons and will be an act of
justice to those who lost heavily by
being put out of businesses
Change Eugenic Measure.
The conference committee substi-
tute for the senate eugenic marriage
bill eliminates the affidavit feature,
which made it possible for any per-
son to obtain marriage license by
simply making affidavit of health The
substitutes makes the test applicable
to men only, and provides that physi-
clans shall make a thorough ex-
animation, and that clinical and lab
oratory tests shall be required when
the examining physician believes
them necessary.
Senate Champions State Militia.
The difference between the senate
and assembly in the matter of appro-
priations was shown in a marked de-
gree.
Amendments cutting down the ap-
preparations as reported from the f.
nance committee were promptly re-
jected in the upper house while the
assemblymen just as promptly adopt
ed them.
Senators Justify themselves on the
ground that they ought to stand by
the report of the finance committee.
They refuse to believe that Gov. Phil
ipp has been able to get any better
Information than the committee. The
governor not only has more Informal
ton as TO the needs of certain depart
ments and institutions, but it goes
deeper into the needs of the depart
ments. The amendments offered in
every instance reflect the informa-
ton he has obtained
Burke Urges Preparedness.
The prospect of war clouds was
brought up by Senator Burke as
reason why the appropriation of
$500, goo annually for the Wisconsin