Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1915-03-17

strike out the nueIeFnlHaDl6 Tea
ture. Senator Bray referred 10 The
pending bill as "a nefariOus piece o.
legislation" His argument conferred
in his objection to vested rights which
he declared the measure gives to ri
parian owners in the energy of the
water. He said he was looking to the
rights of future generations. Senator
Bray discounted the argument that
the Husting law has retarded water
power development.
Mayor Thompson of LaGySmith ap
peared before a committee Of the leg
islature in behalf of some law which
will encourage the investment of cap
ital in waterpower development. Men
who went into the northern part of the
state" he said, ito dig out the stumps
and make their homes up there are
asking you for relief" He contended
that the Husting law has put stop
to waterpower development.
Later in the session United States
Senator Husting is expected to come
present law, which, he says, has not
been given a fair trial and should not
be condemned so soon after it's enact
ment.
Says Eugenic Law Is Silly.
The legislature is interested in a
fight to repeal the eugenics law now
upon the statute books. This provides
for the examination of every male per-
son about to enter into a 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.. H. M. 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 both sexes most share in the re-
sponsibility 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 1912
| and previous legislatures were omit
tea when the 1914 tax levy was made
up. The point is made that if a de-
mand were made upon the state treas
ury for all appropriations available on
June so. 1916. that there would be a
/ deficit on the state treasury of $4,000,
| 900. It is charged that the amounts
were omitted from the 1914 tax levy
for political expediency, but others
maintain that there was hope that
take care of the appropriations for
1913. 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. l-t.i:
Would Wipe Out Highway Commission.
4 hearing of unusual interest was
held il 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
| aid 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
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 a few days some report will
be made on the joint resolution for a
constitutional convention, and a reso-
luton for a one house legislature, with
members elected from the congress
sional districts. Senator Weissleder
believes in the latter plan, and says
Il