Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1915-02-03

promptly voted mo-" Every other
senator but one voted AYE" Our
representative opposed it because the
legislature two years ago appropriated
money for the board Of public affairs
and such board has employed an expert
who has been working on the financial
budget of the state for two years, re-
ceiving 81, 900 per year, and Mr.. Ben
nett desired To know whether the work
for which $4,000 has been paid had been
done, and if done there was no need of
the appropriation; if not done. the SER
vices of the expert should be dispensed
with. But the bill passed the senate
and was sent TO the house under sus-
pension of the rules. The following
day the senate, by unanimous vote, re-
called the bill and has it under recon-
sideratiOn. Thus our representa- i've.
while alone at first, ultimately had the
entire senate agree with his idea of
considering the merits of the appropria-
ton before passing 1t rather than yield
ing to senatorial courtesy" by adopt
ing anything offered by committee.
Thus it may be said that economy In
state affairs has fairly commenced.
One Of the first bills introduced, that
of Senator Burke, is to repeal the law
of the last legislature which appropriate
I'd $780, 900 for an office building in Mil
Waukee Ii is not desired to commence
the construction of another capitol be-
fore the present one is finished.
Appropriations will be questioned at
every turn. Men will be permitted to
think, and in this Legislature 70 differ
on details of legislation and large KE,-
preparations without being classed as
''reactionary' or as an ''enemy of the
country" The taxpayers interests
will receive first consideration. The
large and valued boards, such as the
railroad commission, with its control of
all public utilities of the state, the rail-
roads and water powers will not be
handica 1ped in valued service but the
employees may be lessened. The indus
trial commission will not be injured.
The manufacturing interests of the
state will not permit the law to be inn
paired nor will the laboring men desire
to return to an era of litigation to get
what is rightfully due them. The COM
mission will likely have other depart
ments associated with it.. Implications
of inspections now required to be done
by this commission, the dairy and food
commission and public health depart
ments will probably be eliminated and
the work of this nature all given to the
industrial commission. In all this pro-
posed readjustment factionalism ape
pears to have given way to a candid
consideration of matters ard solution
of them that will meet public approval.
IMPORTANT MEASURES PROPOSED
Senator Bennett has thus early in
49, 80 81. l.
rather astonishing older members for
audacity as freshman. Most import
ant is the proposed bill for complete re-
peal of the present highway commits
sion law and the substitution of a new
law making the county the unit. The
measure is only one of a large number
of others having for their object the
elimination of the highway commission.
1t is very probable that this commission,
with it's $500, 900 or 80 per year ex-
penses OF administration, and its $780,
900 per year for experimental road
building and many other Objectionable
features will be repealed, although it
is liable to be a herculean task. The
special committee on highways, which
is composed of FIVE senator's consists Of
Senators Bennett, Bchler, Cunning
ham, Everett and Staudenmayer. They
are men familiar with highways and
road conditions, most every one of whom
is under instructions of his county
board to repeal the law.
The bill of our representative in no.
wise provides for halt in the perma-
nent road building, but upon the con-
trary, places road building on better
basis than ever before. 1t is proposed
that the county shall constitute a road
district Each county is required to
levy certain one-half mill tax as a
which in Vernon county will
be about $4,000, or az much more as
the county board may determine. There
shall be county system of highways.
Any town through which passes one of
the county aid highways, and which
are the main market roads, may petit
ton the county board for one-half of
any proposed road improvement, pay
is half into the county treasury, and
he whole fund to be expended under
The direction of the county highway
comm ssioner Thus in Vernon county
532 600 would be expended on the cOun-
IS AID roads per year as a minimum.
Nothing can be expended nor any Pc
iusn granted without the approval of
he county highway ON lis sioner.
There will he 20 civil service rules in
he election of the commissioner, rules