Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1915-08-10
THE LEGISLATURE.

The legislature will finish its work
this week unless something unexpect
ed turns up. In way the Legislature
will be in session for a couple oil
weeks but practically all business will
be disposed of this week and by Sat
urday about all of the members will
have returned TO their homes. Con
| ferences have been held and the pro-
gram outlined as to appropriations for
the university and normal schools and
unless an agreement can be reached
the session may run along indeti-
nitely. To finish up work this week,
however, is the purpose of the mem
| bers.
Definite plan for final adjournment
was made Thursday when the assem-
bly, adopted joint resolution by
Axel Johnson providing that there
shall be no legislative business after
midnight on August r and that final
adjournment shall be taken on Aug.
10.
The great fight over change in
| the administration of the school
government of Wisconsin ended when
the governor attached his signature
to what was originally the central
board of education bill but which, in
the Staudenmayer substitute amend
ment form, provides merely for a
board of estimates which shall have
control of the financial business of
the educational institutions of the
state.
Dairy and Food Commissioner
George Weigle, has suddenly become
the object of sharp controversy in
legislative circles in relation to the
appropriation to be made to his de-
partment for the coming two years.
The finance committee cut the ap-
propiations asked by him for his de-
partment. An effort was made in
the senate to reduce the appropria-
ton last week, which failed. Com
missioner Weigle has given signed
statement to the finance committee
giving reasons why the amount al
lowed to his department could not
stand any further cut, without i'm
pairing the state service.
The fact that the drainage question
is to be given attention by special
committee of the legislature during
the coming legislative interim has
not prevented quite a bit of legisla-
ton on this subject being adopted at
this session. One of the most i'm
portant bills on the subject which
has become law is in the nature of
curative measure, and provides that
where, through misunderstanding
or other reasons. objections were not
filed to an original drainage district
petition, the court may, if it thinks
an injustice is being done, reopen the
case and give opportunity to DIRECTORS
to make a fight against the estab-
lishment of the drainage district.
Passage was given in the senate
last Wednesday to the Bennett bill,
granting state aid of SIS per month to
teachers in rural and county training
schools who remain at the same
school four years, and $40 per month
after five years continuous work.
The same action was taken with the
bill requiring the dimming of high
powered electric lights on automobiles,
with an amendment limiting the act
to Milwaukee, where the complaint
The Hager bill, making the county
clerk the sole auditor Of the county,
was concurred in Is to u. The SEN
ate recalled the university non-resi-
dent tuition bill from the assembly
for further amendment. The senate
in the Carl Hanson resolu-
ton providing for daily sessions for
the legislature, Sundays excepted.
The senate nonconcurred in the bill
permitting cities to issue bonds to
build public auditoriums, opera
houses, etc.
The appropriation for the state
board of health will be about the
same as that of two years ago and,
the appropriation for that
board was reduced by the finance
committee in the sum of $1,000 for
the coming year, an amendment has
been offered to the bill by the finance
committee creating contingent fund
outside of the regular appropriation
of S., 800. This, however, can only be
used in cases of an epidemic where
extraordinary moneys may be needed
for the work of the board, An appro-
priation is also to be given the board
for the establishment of bacteria
logical station somewhere in Northern
Wisconsin.
The state fire insurance fund under
which properties of the state, towns
and counties are insured against lire
and tornadoes in a fund set apart by
the state, was saved in the senate
Thursday when Assemblyman Ku-
basta's bill abolishing it altogether,
was non-concurred in, 10 to 7. The
landslide against the bill followed an
admission by Senator Ackey that since
the assembIy's adoption of the Cald-
we'll amendment, providing that the
state shall cancel all its Insurance,
companies had withdrawn their in
terest in the bill. Reconsideration
was refused, thus ending all legisla-
tion of this character for this session.
The bill was fought by Senators
Bennett and Boshard.
The senate Thursday evening adj
vanced TO third reading bill which