The Odanah star. [volume] (Odanah, Ashland Co., Wis.) 1912-1916, 1915-03-19
Argue on important Bill.

most of the industrial sections of the
state were here to appear for and
against the measures to increase
the amount of compensation under the
workmen's compensation act The
bills had been scheduled for a month
for the hearing, to give the publ
lie interested in them opportunity to
prepare data on the bills. The Hart
and Burke bills increase the compen-
sation for accidents from IS to Is
per cent Senator Burke contends
that this would increase the aid to
injured workmen about 100000 an
nually without any increase in the
rate of insurance charged by the COM
panies that insure the manufacturers
Petitions filed by the different manu-
featuring organizations claim that
they should not be called upon during
time of depression to meet burdens
of this character. The hearing was
held in the assembly parlor. Argu-
ments were not confined to the bills,
but to all phases of industrial condi-.
tons in Wisconsin.
The bill by Senator Burke to repeal
the appropriation of $4,000 for the
erection of a state building at Milwau-
kee to house engrossment in the SEN
ate.
By a divided vote the senate COM
mittee on education and public well
fare has recommended the Staude-
mayer election franchise bill for pas
sage. This measure is similar to the
Helm bill, which was killed in the
house, in that it would disfranchise
students at the different educational
institutions. The measure provides
that no, person temporarily residing
in any town, village or city in this
state, and not intending to make such
place his domicile shall be allowed to
vote at any special election pertain
ing to local governmental policy or
which may affect the income or in
debtedness of any municipality. AL
| though the measure is recommended
| for passage, Senators Potts, Monk and
Jennings dissent from the report of
the committee and will make an eff
| fort to kill the bill.
The so-called upper berth law was
placed on the statute books at the
behest of Assemblyman Nye OF SUI
perior. The original law was declared
unconstitutional by the state supreme
court, but second bill by Nye, en-
acted into law, was sustained and the
railroads then carried the case to the
United States Supreme court. The
law applies only to interstate traffic.
This law provides that whenever
person shall engage a lower berth
in a sleeping car the upper berth in
the same section if unoccupied shall
remain closed. The railroads contend
that this law is confiscatory and that
the statute is in fact a regulation OF
interstate commerce. The state asks
that the law be sustained as a public
health measure.
1t is probable that the state board
of education bill will be given hear
ing next week by the committee on
education of the assembly This meas
ure was advocated by Governor Philip
in his annual message to the legisla-
ture and was introduced in the house
by Assemblyman B. l.. Van Gordon
of Jackson county. 1t provides for
the abolition of the boards of normal
and university regents and the crea-
ton of state board of thirteen mem
bers, who will enjoy all the powers
now exercised by these two boards.
The membership of thirteen shall con-
sist of the state superintendent OF
public instruction and the president
of the University of Wisconsin, who
are ex-officio members; three presi-
dents of the seven normal schools
to be appointed by the governor with
the approval of the senate; two coun-
| ty superintendent; three persons
with a general knowledge of educa-
tional matters, and three competent
business men, who shall be paid sal"
airy of $4,000 annually and devote
all of their time to the service. Al
though the bill was introduced over
month ago, it has not yet been sched-
uled for hearing, but Chairman S. A.
SCHNEIDER of the assembly committee
on education said that he would prob
| obly cchoduIo tho hill next week