Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1915-06-17

Assembly FaVors Action on Mill
Tax.
BILLS SENT TO ENDORSEMENT
Measures Offered by Assemblyman
Ellingson Ask Repeal of Act for
Support of the State Univer-
sity and Normal Schools.

EiHRSSon ASK Repeal OF ACT Tor
Support of the State Univer-
sity and Normal Schools.
| Madison.-The repeal of the mill
tax for the support Of the state uni
yersity and normal schools was IA
yored by the Wisconsin assembly
when it sent to engrossment two bills
| offered by Assemblyman Ellingson of
| Rusk county to accomplish this puT-
pose. Both bills had received a unani-
on finance for indefinite postpone
ment. The university mill tax bill
created long debate. Assemblyman
Mortenson claimed that there was per-
petuity to a mill tax and it assured
the educational institutions a reason
able support. He said it was definite
and increased in proportion to the as
sessed valuation of the property of the
state. He declared that the mill tax
increases had not kept pace with the
increase at the university. Assembly
man EllingsOn, favoring the repeal of
the mill tax law, said that the legisla-
ture should pass directly on every dol
lar for the support of the university.
Assemblyman Wells said that if the
mill tax for the support of the univer-
5ity and normal schools was to be re-
pealed, the same policy should be ex-
tended to the common schools. The
motion to Indefinitely postpone the
bill failed by a vote of 35 to SIS and
the bill was ordered engrossed.
The waterpOwer interests have been
temporarily defeated in their demands
for waterpower law which will aid
them in a more rapid development
By vote of 80 to SO, the assembly
angrOssed the NoTdman amendment to
the waterpower bill which is aimed
at preventing any increased value in
waterpower properties which may be
purchased in the future by munich
pality or the state.
The Nordman amendment provides
that when franchise is granted the
state shall make value of the flow
age rights of the waterpGwer, and in
case of later state or municipal pur-
chase this shall be the price which
shall be paid
With only few votes in opposition,
The assembly has engrossed the Smith
amendment to the constitution which
would increase the salary of members
Of the legislature from $500 to $1,000
per session. It engrossed the Krembs
bill, giving the civil courts Of Milwau-
kee county power to act as courts of
Cancellation. Assemblyman Bradley
made an extended speech in favor of a
bill which will limit the expenses of
travelling agents of the state. He
charged that many of the states rep
resentatives had presented lavish bills
in the past for travelling expenses and
urged the passage of a law which
would curtail their expense accounts
The measure was engrossed. By a
vote of 81 to 35 the assembly killed
the bill repeating all state aid for
bounty on wild animals. Assembly
man Spoor claimed that the bounty
plan was subject to petty graft and
that only counties should give aid.
The assembly killed the bill which
would repeal the state aid for the
Wisconsin Cheesemakers' association,
but by a vote of 81 to As engrossed
the bill repeating state aid for the
State Dairymen's association.
The assembly committee on judici-
airy reported bill for passage to pay
John A. Awkward and M. B. Olbrich
$500 attorneys fees for defending
insurance Commissioner Ekern in the
courts, as a result of attempts of for
mer Governor McGovern to GUST him
from office. The assembly committee
On education reported for passage the
bill to limit the medical course at the
University Of Wisconsin to two years.
The state affairs committee in the
senate reported for inconvenience
he Carl Hansen bill requiring safe
places for the storing of explosives,
The senate concurred in a bill en-
covering school district voters to Dor
row money for purchasing school sites
Dr. Fairgrounds, and passed the Martin
Dill repeating the gross negligence law
relating to railway accidents affecting
persons other than employees. 1t re-
used to concur in the Hoffman bill
'egulating the storage of explosives.
Third reading was ordered for bills
providing for a permanent closed sea-
son for game in Forest county, and
he Bradley bill reducing the fees for
reporting fires to the state fire mar
shall
The senate engrossed the Helm as
'embly bill appropriating 100000 an
1ually to extinguish the state debt
The debt is $2,500000 Twenty-Five
years time will pay the debt.