The Odanah star. [volume] (Odanah, Ashland Co., Wis.) 1912-1916, 1915-03-26
Vote on Suffrage Urged.

Madison-Woman suffrage now
looms up as an important issue before
the Wisconsin legislature Until the
joint hearing on the question last
week there was little discussion of the
issue, although several bills have
been introduced by members. Now
that there has been a presentation OF
the arguments for and against the
measures delegations from various
sections Of the state are here to urge
members to submit the question to a
vote of the people at the November
election in 1916. There are two classes
of suffrage bills before the legislature
Senator Glenn of Wyalusing and AS
semblymen w. c. Bradley of Hudson
and Hans M. Laursen of Shell Lake
have introduced bills providing for a
statewide referendum on the woman
suffrage question at the fall election
in 1916.
Senator Pearce Tomkins of Ashland
and Assemblyman Axel Johnson OF
Turtle Lake have introduced bills pro-
viding for county option on the SUBJ
ject of woman suffrage. These latter
bills are a new thought and would per-
nit counties favorable to suffrage to
extend the franchise to women i'm
mediately, without awaiting the adop-
ton of a statewide amendment.
Congressman I. L. Lenroot of SUI
perior is here to urge the adoption OF
the statewide referendum bills.
In public statement to members OF
the legislature he said that the Wis
consin delegation in congress voted
against the federal woman suffrage
amendment because they believed
state legislatures would readily sub
NIT the issue to a vote Of the people.
He declared that if the legislature de-
clined to do so some members of the
delegation would be required to
change their position.
Marriages that do not conform with
the conventions of civilized society,""
was the way Senator Otto Bosshard OF
La Crosse referred to the 81 common
law marriage contracts filed in Wis
consin during the past year. Senator
Bosshard appeared before the senate
committee on judiciary in favor of his
bill to prohibit common law marriages
in Wisconsin. Senators Fairchild and
Bennett spoke in opposition to the
bill.
The exemption of timber lands from
taxation until the trees are cut is
advocated in bill introduced by AS
semblyman Axel Johnson. The meas
ure has the support of Tax Commits.
sioner r. S. Adams and State Forester
e. M. Griffith. Both contended that
the Johnson bill was in the interest of
conversation of natural resources.
Commissioner Adams points out that
the heavy taxation of growing timber
must result in it's being cut so that
the man paying the tax may get his
money out of it. Forester Griffith
claims that if the taxation of timber
were exempted there would be less
call for reforestation in Wisconsin.
Assemblyman Harrington of Wal
worth county has introduced a bill,
similar to the Whitman bill which has
just been killed by the senate, pro-
viding for the repeal of the law passed
in 1913 requiring the state board of
normal school regents to locate a site
for new normal school in the north
eastern part of the state. He is also
the author of bill similar to the Han
son measure which has just been rec
commended for passage in the senate
providing for the repeal of the primary
election pamphlet.
Assemblyman Schroeder of Milwau-
kee has offered bill which provides
that any circuit court in the state
may review orders of the state indus
trial commission.