The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1915-03-19
SAYS Euqenic Law Is Silly.

for the examination of every male per-
son about to enter into contract Of
matrimony.
In his argument for his bill to re-
peal the eugenics provision Senator
Benhette said:
"The present law is silly and ride
ulous; you can't legislate morality in
to people,
DR.. Fl. NJ Brown, Milwaukee, spoke
Of the inadequacy of the law, and
said that it is making liars and pre-
jurers of members of the medical
profession in Wisconsin"
Several women spoke for the pres
ent law, pointing to the awful tragedy
of not having some check on the
spread of veneral diseases. Some OF
the women speakers, however, said
that 18th sexes most share in the re-
spCns ~-;ty of clean and wholesome
marriages, and approved of an amend
ment to make the eugenics law ap-
plicable to both sexes.
The Investigating committee of the
legislature has given out the interest
ing information that more than $4,000
900 of the appropriations of the 1913
and previous legislatures were omit
tea when the 1914 tax levy was made
up. The point is made that if de-
mand were made upon the state treas
ury for all appropriations available on
June 80, 1916, that there would be a
deficit on the state treasury of $4,000
900. 1t is charged that the amounts
for political expediency, but others
maintain that there was hope that
the balance in the general fund would
take care of the appropriations for
1918. State Treasurer Henry johnson,
takes the position that this hope could
not have been realized; Secretary Of
State Johnson S. Donald holds to the
opposite view.
Would Wipe Out Highway Commission.
A hearing of unusual interest was
held in the state senate on the Ben
nett bill to wipe out the state high
way commission and to abolish the
state aid plan of building roads. Mr..
Bennett would substitute a county
aiG plan whereby aid would be extend
ed to towns, but villages and cities
would be left to themselves in con-
structing highways. He declared that
the highway commission has not made
good and that the state aid program is
not satisfactory to the people. Those
who spoke for the present law and in
behalf of the commission. said that it
is only through a state aid and state
advisory program that Wisconsin can
carry out a plan of uniformity OF
roads.
The Investigating committee has
been busy, and soon will make known
its program for the consolidation and
abolition Of state commissions. Until
the committee announces it's plans, the
finance committee will be unable to
pass upon various departmental appro-
priations now pending, and for that
reason the committee is expected to
make an early report. 1t is under
stood that sweeping recommendations
will be made and that the consolida-
ton of some of the most important
commissions will be proposed.
Constitutional Convention Up Soon.
Within few days some report will
be made on the joint resolution for
constitutional convention, and reso-
luton for one house legislature, with
members elected from the congress
sional districts. Senator Weissleder
believes in the latter plan, and says
that the business of the state would be
more efficiently handled if delegated
to a smaller legislative body. Con-
siderable opposition has developed to
constitutional convention from those
sources which hold the constitution a
sacred institution, and always frown
upon any attempt to change it.
Milwaukee scored a victory in the
assembly this week when it's members
succeeded in gaining the enfrossment
of the Stemper bill to amend the
Baker law making it operative in
1913 instead of 1907, in order to legal
lie 203 Milwaukee saloons which were
put out of business under the Baker
law.
Assemblyman Frederick, "the fight
ing parsOn," predicts that within five
years Wisconsin will join the dry
states He saws the next man elected
governor will have to express himself
on the liquor question. Frederick will
introduce joint resolution for a ref
erendum vote in 1916, on whether Wis
consin is to become dry or continue as
one of the wet states. He says the
movement for county option is grow
ing and nothing will head it off.