Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1915-07-29
DRAINAGE LAWS
MAY Be CODIF|ED
Senate Bill Providing for Revision
Is Advanced.
COMMITTEE TIC INVESTIGATE
Bill Fathered by Senator Everett Of
Racine Who Says That the Swamp
Lands of State Can Be Prep
erly Drained.

0Aau4oOA.- LIE OId1udS0 laws VI
the state will probably be sub
jected to thorough revision as a re-
suit of the advancement of a senate
bill by the assembly which provides
for a legislative investigation and
codifcation of the drainage laws. The
bill appropriates $4,000 and provides
foT legislative investigating commit.
tee of seven members to be composed
Of three senators and four assembly
men. The bill is fathered by Senator
Everett of Racine
This question is Of more impor-
lance to many Of the counties of the
state than the subject of waterpower,
declared Assemblyman Mortensen OF
Juneau county. He said if the swamp
lands of the state, could be properly
drained under a system of just legisla-
ton, the results would bring untold
benefits to the state.
There was a sharp debate in the as
sembly over the LANG bill to strength
en- the plumbing law of the state. At
the present time contractors can in
stall plumbing without having a IL
cense. The Laing bill sought to repeal
this section of the law and to provide
that no plumbing shall be installed
except under the direction of a mas
ter plumber. Assemblyman Krembs
of Stevens Point denounced the bill as
one which would build up and strength
en- the grip of plumbing trust, which
hn n no Sv,
bill was killed by an overwhelming
vote.
The assembly cOncurred in the SEN
ate amendments to the Johnson bill
consolidating the office of the state
fire marshal with the insurance de-
partment. The bill provides, as amend
ed, that the deputy insurance commits
sioner may perform the duties of the
deputy fire marshal. The assembly
by an almost unanimous vote refused
to reconsider the vote by which it
killed the Fairchild bill providing for
a referendum on the subject of elect
ing the mayor of Milwaukee for a
term of four years and giving him
power to appoint other administrative
officials
The assembly by a vote of 81 to 8
Topped $450,000 off the state highway
appropriations. The Woodland bill
which was passed provides for an ap-
preparation of 100000 annually in
stead of $1,200,0OO.
There was no opposition to the adj
vancement. of the finance committee
bill appropriating $4,000 annually to
the state board of health or to the re-
peal of an appropriation for the main
tenance of a commission in the inter
ests of uniformity Of legislation. The
assembly killed the Richards bill for a
separate fund in which all hunting IL
cense fees would be paid, and ad-
vanced the finance committee bill ap.
propriating $3.50 to the estate of the
late Charles F. Viebahn for services
rendered as a member of the state
board of teachers examiners. The
Ackley bill for the bonding of public
warehouses was killed. The Aulen-
bacher bill to distribute all money re-
ceived from the registration of motor
vehicles 70 the counties was passed.
Governor Philip sent to the senate
the appointments of James Nevtn,
Madison, for twenty-five years super
intendent of fisheries; W. E. Barber.
La Crosse business man, and Prof.
Frank B. Moody. Madison, formerly
assistant state forester, to be the
members Of the new state conserva-
ton commission. The appointments
are to become effective August |, and
each must reside in Madison The
salary is $4,000 year.
The governor also appointed George
B. Harris, a Waukesha dairy and
cheese dealer and member of the
Republican state central committee, as
a member of the state board of con-
troll to succeed John P. Lewis of Friend
skip. The salary is $4,000.
Senator Bray introduced a bill fer
a joint committee to investigate the
taxing system of the state, and ap-
propriating $4,000.
important committee recommends
tions were made by the senate COM
mlLLee Oh 6uuCdIIOu anu puDllc wei
fare. The Bennett bill repeating the
eugenics marriage law is recommend
ed for passage. The committee was
evenly divided on the Hambrecht bill
raising the nonresident tuition fees
for support Of the university and nor
NAL schools, and the Perry bill trans
ferring the legislative reference Ii
brary to the state law library and
cutting it's appropriation to $500