Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1915-07-01

JOHNSON CONSOLIDATION MEAS
URE AWAITS SIGNATURE
or Philip,
HOUSE CONCURs IN BRAY BILL
Candidates for Public Office viii Here
after Be Safeeuarded in Their
pledges-siIl Aimed at Secret
Agreements.

Madison-Candidates for public Of
fee will hereafter be safeguarded in
their pledges. The assembly has just
concurred in the Bray bill which pro-
vides that no person, firm or corpora
ton shall solicit or receive from any
candidate a written statement or
pledge on present or future legislation
other than those issued by the candi-
/. dates or through the press or the gen
eral distribution of letters and circu-
lars. The bill is aimed at prohibiting
such secret pledges as have been made
by some candidates for office in the
past unknown to the voters generally.
Another consolidation bill which has
just gone to the governor for sigma
ture is the Johnson measure to abOl-
ish the Office of the state fish and game
warden, state board of forestry, state
conservation commission, commission
er of fisheries and state park board,
and to create a commission of three
members to have charge of all of the
duties heretofore performed by these
separate boards. The assembly con-
Cured in the amendments offered to
this bill in the senate, providing the
employees shall be appointed under
the civil service; that commissioners
shall be subject to call before the leg
islature to answer for their actions,
and that the present employees of the
board shall be retained wherever pos
sible
After warm debate the assembly
has passed a bill exempting from tax
alton religious organizations that
maintain free homes for predetermined
and dependent persons. The home rule
amendment has again been laid over.
Assemblyman Hambrecht offered
substitute which provides that cities
may pass ordinances not in conflict
with the general laws of the state.
The Cunningham bill for the loca-
ton of a site for all institution for
crippled and deformed children was
modified in intent in the house. The
bill, as passed, does not provide for
the location of a site, but directs that
the state home for dependent children
at Sparta shall receive crippled and
deformed children for education and
treatment
By votes of rs to So the assembly
has passed two bills by Assemblyman
Ellingson for the abolition of the mill
taxes for the support of the normal
schools and university.
By a vote of SO to SO the assembly
passed bill appropriating $4,000 to
pay John A. Aylward and NJ B. Oh
brich for legal services in defending
Herman L. Ekern, commissioner Of
insurance, in the custer proceedings
brought against him by Governor Nc
Govern two years ago. It was dis
closed on the floor that Governor Nc
Govern had paid the attorneys that
acted for him 1882 out of the con-
tingent fund of the state With only
20 votes in opposition the assembly
concurred in the Albers bill provid-
ing for a reduction of the life insur-
ance taxes in the state. This bill, in
effect, will reduce the taxes of the
Northwestern Life Insurance company
of Milwaukee 100000 The complete
reduction of taxes in the state will be
about $150,000.
The assembly engrossed a bill for
the creating of the county of Burke
out of parts of Shawano and Outa-
gamie counties; passed the Hart bill
to permit the taking of carp and
other rough fish with fyke nets in
Lake Winnebago, and sent back to
committee the Bennett bill to give
the commissioner of insurance COM
plete charge of the fire insurance rates
in the state.
A resolution by Assemblyman Pie
per to pay the medical expenses and
hospital bills of members of the leg
islature was a subject of long debate,
and was finally referred to the com
mittee on public welfare 1t was
pointed out that money could not be
appropriated out of the treasury by
resolution, but only by the passage
of a regular bill
The Bray bill to prohibit the burn
ing of bituminous coal within a GER
tain radius of the state capitol was
sent back to the judiciary committee
for hearing on its constitutionality.
Michael ]. Cleary of Blanchardville
was appointed commissioner Of insur-
ance by Governor Philip to succeed
Herman L. Ekern. The appointment
must be confirmed by the senate. Mr..
Cleary is now legal consul to the
governor. The salary is $4,000.