The Odanah star. [volume] (Odanah, Ashland Co., Wis.) 1912-1916, 1915-05-14
MEASURE DELAYS
FINANCE BILLS
APPROPRIATIONS HALTED PEND
ING ACTION ON THE CON-
SOLIDATlON BILL.
NO ADJOURNMENT UNTIL JULY
Assembly to Devote Most Of This
Week to Consideration of High
way Appropriation
Measures.


appropriation bills have been report
ed to the house for action. These
bills will come out in five main Sec
tons with a score of Independent ap-
preparation bills. Under the budget
system now in operation in this state,
there will be separate appropriation
bills for the university, normal schools,
state departments, highway aid ana
charitable and penal institutions. Inc
common school appropriations and
many of the others are continuing.
The only large appropriation Dill
passed thus far has been a measure
by Senator Plat Whitman to appro-
pirate $1,000 to complete the con-
struction and finishing of the new
state capitol.
Delay in reporting the finance bills
is occasioned by the bills to consoll-
date different departments and to Gre
ate new board of education to manage
affairs. Until the states policy on this
matter is settled, the finance COM
mittee, in the opinion of Assembly,
man Spoor, one of the members, Will
be in no position to determine on the
exact appropriations.
The bill which Senator Bichlers
committee will report will wipe out
the state highway commission en-
tirely. The issue will thus be drawn
between those who believe IN a
state highway commission and those
who prefer having all of this work
done by counties at their own initia-
tive.
The only state agency retained in the
Bichler bill is the engineering depart
ment, which can be consulted by the
various counties. Towns in order to
receive county aid must levy one-half
mill tax for highway purposes. Under
the Bichler bill, the county will then
appropriate a similar amount. At the
end of each year the county clerk will
certify the amount expended for high
ways to the state treasurer, and after
it is checked up by the states con-
sulting engineer, the state treasurer
will remit to the county one-third OF
the amount spent. This constitutes
the amount of state aid to be allowed
under the Bichler bill.
The jitney bus has become so COM
mon in many cities of the state that
it has been suggested by attorneys ap-
pearing before the corporations COM
mittee of the senate that some method
should be devised whereby these cars
can be properly regulated. 1t is
claimed that in Milwaukee alone 400
cars are operating. 1t is further sug-
gested by the street car companies
that they will soon make application
to the railroad commission for per-
mission to reduce the amount of serv-
ice to be given, on account OF de-
creased earnings on short haul bust
ness, which has been absorbed by the
jitney bus system. So far no bill has
come in or action taken by the COM
mittee on the subject.
Another womans suffrage bill is to
be considered by the assembly. Two
weeks ago the assembly by a
vote of AZ to 40 killed the bill
to permit a referendum on the subject
by the voters of the state at the No
vember elections in 1916 The house
will consider the Johnson bill which
permits county option Of the wom-
an suffrage question. Should this
bill be approved the women would
be allowed to vote in town, city and
village elections in those counties that
decided to extend the franchise to
women. A similar bill, fathered by
Senator Tomkins, is before the SEN
ate.