Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1915-07-20
Central Board Measure Killed.

The administration plan to revolu-
tionize Wisconsin's educational sys-
tenn by creating a central board of
education which would wipe out the
existing board of regents for the uni
versity and the board of regents for
the normal schools, met defeat in the
senate.
By vote of eighteen to ten, the
upper house adopted the substitute Of
fered by Senator George Staudenmay-
er, which, if it becomes a law, will
create board to correlate the finances
of the entire educational system, but
will not eliminate the separate gov
erning boards for the university and
the normal schools.
Hanson Bill Advanced
The Hanson bill, No. 240S, amend
ing the corrupt practices law, was or
dered engrossed and read third time
by vote of 16 to IA. AS amended,
the bill provides that but two state
ments shall be required of candidates
for public office, one being filed after
the primary and one after the general
election. Political committees cannot
spend more money than is permitted
by law to each candidate The state
central committee may spend $4,000
for all candidates. This is in addition
to what candidates spend for personal
expenses. Senator Hanson said that
every time any section of the corrupt
q int =
clared unconstitutional. The amend
ment proposed by him would make a
constitutional and workable act.
The Glenn bill to protect claims in
the Mississippi river and tributaries
will be killed, as the lower house fail
ed to pass a similar measure. The
bill, it was charged in the lower house,
was in the interest of an eastern syn
dictate engaged in the manufacture of
pearl buttons.
Senate Adopts Jitney Bill.
The senate passed the bill declaring
| jitney buses to be common carriers
and empowering the state railroad
commission to regulate their rates and
assembly.
The bill as passed is a compromise
measure. After declaring the jitney
buses to be common carriers, the bill
provides that jitney owners shall file
with the railroad commission $4,000
bond to indemnify passengers injured
| by the negligent use and operation of
such vehicle. The jitney owners must
also file schedules of their service,
route and fare with the railroad COM
mission, declared to be limited to S
cents for the carriage of a single pas
senger and to be fixed by special agree
ment where the service is other than
over the regular route.
Rules Crownhart Commissioner.
Charles R. Crownhart, whose term
as a member of the Wisconsin state
industrial commission was generally
believed to have expired at midnight
on June 80, last, is de facto a member
of the industrial commission, and has
authority to perform the duties of that
Office until his successor has been .ap-
pointed by Gov. Philip and appoint
ment confirmed by the senate, At
torney General w. c. Owen said.
While he had not yet given his rul-
ing on the question in writing, he had
told Crownhart he was de facto a
I commissioner, and could lawfully per
form the duties of his office until his
successor was named and confirmed,
the attorney general said.
L had been generally understood by
members OF the legislature and others
that Mr.. Crownhart was out of Office,
and the ruling of the attorney general
will prove a surprise. Attorneys in
the legislature have construed chapter
4S5, laws of 1911, creating the indus
trial commission and prescribing terms
of office of commissioners as providing
that the terms of commissioners actu-
ally end on the expiration of the period
for which they were appointed. Mr..
Crownhart's certificate Of appointment
read for term ending June 80, 1915,
and the legislature four years ago con-
firmed the appointment for that term.
Senate Kills Salary Measure.
The proposal to increase the salary
of members of the legislature, by con-
stitutional amendment, from $500 to
$1,000 for the session, was defeated
in the senate, II to 10. Senator Skog-
mo said he did not believe the people
Of the state favored this low scale of
wages. Senator Martin was opposed
to an increase to $1,000, but would
vote for one increasing the salary to
$4,000, or even $4,000. A similar view
was expressed by Senator Albers.
Bosshard Has Substitute Bill.
Senator Bosshard attempted to get
the permission of the senate to intro
duce a substitute for the conservation
board bill, when that measure comes
back from the finance committee for
final disposition. The substitute the
senator has ready was a proposal to
remodel the new commission on the
lines of the department created by the
Skogmo substitute for the department
of agriculture. 1t proposed a single
commissioner, in place of the board of
three members, provided in the ad-
ministration bill. The senate held that
the time for offering a substitute had
gone by, but unanimous consent was
given for the introduction of a sepa-
rate bill, which will considerably in
crease the authority of the commission
as it will be created.