The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1915-08-10
STATE COUNCIL BILL
PASSED BY SENATE
SkOGMO MEASURE ABOLISHING
BOARD OF CONTROL WINS
BY IS TO 10 VOTE.
CLAIM GREATER EFFICIENCY
Considerable Opposition Expected in
AssembIy-PIatform Conven-
ton Act Has Been
Killed.
Madison, August 6, 1916.

Madison, August D, 15IO
The senate, by a vote of Is to 10,
passed Senator George Skogmo's bill
abolishing the state board of public
affairs and creating state council
to be composed of elective officers
and the heads of practically all state
departments. Senator Skogmo's bill,
In its amended form, carries an an
nual appropriation of $4,000.
There was considerable sharp de-
bate between the progressives and
bill. Senator Skogmo contended
that the measure, if it becomes law,
will result in greater efficiency in
government.
The purpose of the proposed law
shall be, SO far as possible, to bring
about coordination and correlation
of the work of the state"
May Devise Accounting Systems.
The council may devise uniform
systems of accounting, may put into
force a plan of classification of work
in the state service, also plan for
duty Of the council to report to the
legislature of 1917, as to the FEAST
bility of establishing a central de-
partment of purchases for all public
bodies.
Much opposition to the bill will be
shown in the lower house, where the
conservatives are better organized
than in the senate.
Convention Bill Killed.
Twice during the present session
the senate has killed bills providing
for the holding of party platform
conventions Weeks ago measure
introduced by Senator William Bray
paving the way for such a conven-
ton was indefinitely postponed, and
the senate, by a vote of Is to 6,
killed Senator w j. Bichler's bill for
a party platform convention.
The senate ordered to engrossment
the Bennett bill repeating the eugen-
les law. Another bill to modify the
present statute is the one that is
slated to be passed, with the Bennett
measure to be thrown into the dis
card.
Assembly Passes Fair Fund.
The assembly amended and con-
Cured in the Everett bill appropriat-
ing 1855, 900 for permanent improve
ments on the state fair grounds in Mil
waukee. Earlier in the day the as
sembly concurred in the Whitman bill
appropriating $4,000 to pay the in
debtedness incurred by the old state
board of agriculture in conducting the
last state fair. AS the amendment to
the Everett bill does not change the
amount of appropriation carried by it,
the senate is expected to concur in
the amendment. This means that the
new state department of agriculture
will start out with clean slate and
with sufficient funds to give good
fair next month and make the needed
improvements on the grounds during
the next four years.
The amendment to the Everett bill,
which was offered by Mr.. Woodward
in accordance with another under
standing reached at a conference of
members of the legislature with Gov.
Philip, provides that $4,000 shall be
Immediately available for repairs,
construction of fences and the enclos-
ure of open structures on the fair
grounds.
The rest of the appropriation,
amounting to $245,000, is not to be
available until the department of agri-
culture certifes in writing to the sec
rotary of state and state treasurer that
Milwaukee county has conveyed to
the state a tract of land of sufficient
area and proper location to be added
to the state fair grounds for state fair
purposes and that the deeds of con-
veyance have been approved by the at
torney general.
Many Bills Are Passed.
The senate passed the following
bills. Making appropriations to satisfy
claims arising out of the slaughter of
tubercular cattle; S3SA, relating to
payments by counties of awards made
by the industrial commission under
the workmen's compensation act;
1884, relating TO the speed of motor
vehicles which must not be greater
than ten miles when passing; appro-
priating $4,000 for the geological and
natural history survey; relating TO the
date of the annual school district
meeting; relating to special school aid
to be paid certain teachers: this gives