The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1915-07-02

Assembly DI99cSL ONi Pi TOO
20 Reconsider Vote Loses Out-Hot
Legislative Battle Waged on Gen.
trail Education Board Bill.
Madison, Wis, (SpeciaD The net
result of last week in the Legislature
so far as the more important bills
are concerned is that the waterpOwer
bill, which, it is believed, will encour,
age waterpOwer development, is on
it's way to Governor E. L. Phillip, the
bill creating a state board of cOnserva-
ton passed, the administration meas
Ure recognizing the state tax commits
sion is buried, and action on measures
creating the central board of educa-
ton, new state board of agriculture,
and state board of publiS welfare is
pending in the senate.
Little surprise was OccasiOned by
the action of the senate cOncurring in
amendments made to the Ackley wa
terpoWer bill in the assembly. The
bill in it's present form carries the
unearned increment feature in the de-
yeiOpment of waterpOWers but despite
this change, sponsors of the original
bill say the present measure is more
acceptable than the existing Husting
law. Governor E. L. Philip is expect
ed to sign the measure.
Action on Philips Bill Surprises.
The biggest surprise of the week
came in the assembly, where defeat
was the fate of the administration
measure to reorganize the state tax
commission and changing the admin
iStratiOn of the income tax law. The
bill proposed to reduce from three
salaried members to one salaried
member the makeup of the commits.
sion, and to take away from the com
mission the administration of the in
come tax and place the same in the
hands Of assessors of incomes to be
named by the several counties. This
measure met defeat, and then came
a long, hard fight to bring about re-
consideration of this vote in order that
the administration might bring in an
amendment to modify the bill
Under the amendment it was pro
posed to change the makeup of the
state tax commission to one salaried
member to be appointed by the gov
ernOr, and the chairman of the state
railroad commission, and the governor
as an eX-OfficiO member. The amend
ment also provided that the admin
istratiOn of the income tax would be
left with the state commission except
that the number of income tax as
SCISSORS would be reduced from Al to
not more than 81.
The motion to reconsider the vote
Ey which the bill was killed in the
assembly was defeated 46 to AZ, with
the administration three votes short.
Stiff Fight on Central Board Bill.
A great legislative war is being
waged on the bill creating a central
board of education 1t is conceded or
all sides that the vote in the senate will
be very close on the plan to create
new state board of agriculture and a
state board of public welfare.
Governor Philip has issued state
ment to the effect that if the legisla-
ture enacts the bill creating a central
board of education, that Dr. William
III. Allen, who made the university
survey, will be named as executive
secretary of the board. DR.. Aliens
survey created a good deal of feeling
in Wisconsin, and the governors
statement probably was issued be
cause the connection of DR.. Allen with
the central board proposition might
have something to do with the defeat
of the central board bill when the
roll is called in the senate.
Phillip Scores Opposition.
Governor Philip issued a statement
i'll answer to arguments of the state
board of normal regents against the
central board of education. The gov
ernor says:
ITO oppose central board because
it is new and to argue against any
change of present boards because
they have existed fifty years does
not sound like progressive Wisconsin.
Educational government should pro.
gress like every other government.
The most dangerous of all standpat-
ters is the educational standpatter.
Decentralization has cost our common
schools too much while it was building
up university and normal schools
Reasons for uni1cation are old and
pressing.
Additional responsibilities and great
er powers under the new board will
not deter big men. The honorarium of
SIS day will permit able men on mid.
die and lower incomes to give dis
tinquished service and will permit la
Dor to have a place and voice which
educational progress demands. More
over, it will prevent the Specious rea-