The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1915-02-12

mans Ideas on Road Construction.
He would Reduce Cost of Highway
Commission-PubIc Opinion May
BE Sounded at Meeting In Assembly
Chamber.
Madison, Wis, (Spec;aE The in
terests of the rural sections of this
state will receive a great deal of close
attention at the hands oe the Wiscon-
sin legislature. A large number of
DllIs will be tntroduced-seyeral OF
them are already in-dealing with
the subject Of highway construction.
Out of the great mass of ideas which
vii! be presented on this subject bill
will be drafted which promises to do
away with the state highway commits
slon and restore to cities and villages
greater degree of home rule by Civ
ing direct supervision in the matter
of road building
One of the impressive features of
the session thus far has been the seri-
BUSINESS displayed by members in an
attempt to dig up all possible informa-
ticn on highway construction. Assem-
blyman w. Woodland of Chippewa coun-
t. spent several weeks working on his
good roads bill which is now before
the house Senator Whitman has
put in many hours of hard work before
he introduces his measure. Much i'm
pCrtance is attached to Mr.. Whitman's
ideas on the subject for the reason
that his bill will be the one back of
which will be found the voting
strength of the administration forces.
To Cut Highway Commission Cost.
Senator Whitman proposes to great,
~ reduce the cost of the highway
commission, and will probably suggest
a state engineer to work in an ad-
visOry capacity with the several coun-
ties in carrying out road building pro-
grams. He believes in withdrawing
state aid, and would DO away with
the building of macadam roads be-
cause he considers this kind of a pub
lie highway too expensive. The old
dirt road, built under proper super
vision, he believes, will give salts
factory service to the people of the
state. Senator Whitman would retain
state aid wherever it is necessary for
cities and villages to go to the ex-
pense of digging away hills, but the
general program of state aid he con-
siders too expensive to the taxpayers
of Wisconsin.
Because so many bills will be intro
duced on the good roads proposition
it is likely that a series of public
meetings will be held in the assem-
bly, chamber at which all interested
parties will be given an opportunity
to be heard. The good roads move
ment in Wisconsin is pretty we'll under
way. and any attempt to seriously in
terfere with a broad policy of road
building will meet with a wide-awake
and intelligent opposition. The value
of good highways has been brought
home to the individual citizen with
such great force that public sentiment
favors a system of durable highways.
All factions, however, appear to be
united on the proposition that in road
building, as in other matters, the leg
isIature must pursue an economical
cCCrse.Any matters not considered alb.
sClutely necessary are not likely to
meet with success.
Parties Unite on Retrenchment.
The conservatives came into power
in Wisconsin on program of retrench-
ment, and the prOgressives thus far in
the session have been more than CO
operating with the conservatives along
this line of thought. In fact, in some
respects the progressives have assum-
ed the leadership. This situation
clearly emphasizes the attitude of leg
islsture in all matters pertaining to
appropriations.
In the hearings held thus far by the
ic1nt committee on finance the line
of questioning indicates that every de
tail of state government will receive
close attention. ASSembIyman Spoon
is one of the committee members who
leads the way in firing questions al
departmental heads regarding appro
priation matters. The first appropri
alton bills considered by the com
mittee are those relating to the state
board of control, Ralph E. Smith, out
going president of the board, appear
ed in person to discuss the plans O
the board of control.
A very interesting situation devel
oped in the senate when the upper
house by a vote of II to Is confirmed
the appointment of Walter Alexande
of Milwaukee as a member of the stat
railroad commission. 1t requires sew
enteen votes to confirm any executive
appointment passed upon by the W
per house