Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1915-02-10
RURAL SECTIONS
HAVE ATTENTION
Legislators to Introduce Many
Measures on Road Building.
BILL FOR MORE HOME RULE

administration Forces Behind Whit.
mans Ideas on Road Construction.
he would Reduce Cost Of Highway
commission-PublIe Opinion May
Be Sounded at Meeting IN Assembly
Chamber.
Madison, Wis, (SpeciaD The in
tefests Of the rural sections of this
state will receive a great deal OF close
attention at the hands Of the Wiscon.
sin legislature. A large number of
oiHs' viii be introduc ed-severaI of
item are already in-deaiing with
tht subject of highway construction
CGt q the great mass of ideas which
VIII be presented on this subject a bill
VIII be drafted which promises TO do
away with the state highway commits
sloE and restore TO cities aud VILLAGES
a greater degree of home rule bys civ.
Ing direct supervision in the matter
of road building.
One of the impressive features Of
the session thus far has been the seri.
BUSINESS displayed by members in an
attempt to dig up all possible informa
ticn on highway construction. Assem-
blyman w Woodayd OF Chippewa coun,
" spent several weeks working on his
good roads bill which is now before
'i'e house. Senator Whitman he's
tackled the subject and EXP cts 10
put in many hours OF hard WORK before
he introduces his measure. Much IA
portance is attached 10 Mr Whitmar.
ideas on the subject for the reason
that his bin will be the one back of
which will be found the voting
strength of the administration forces.
To Cut Highway Commission Cost.
Senator Whitman proposes to great.
~ reduce the cost of the hiat way
commission, and will probably supges,
state eneineer to work II an ad.
Visory capacilg with thc several coun.
ties IN carrying lut road building pro
grams. He beiitAes in withdrawing
state aid, and would DO away with
the building of macadam roads be.
ca@se he considers this kind Of pub.
lie hiohway too expensive. Tie ola
dir: road, built under proper super,
vision, he believes, wiID give salts.
factory service to the people of the
state. Senator Whitman would retain
state aid wherever it is necessary for
cities and villages to go to the ex.
pepse Of digging away hills, but the
general program of state aid he con.
sideFs too expensive to the taxpayers
of Wisconsin.
Because SO many bills will, be intro.
dueed on the good roads proposition
1t is likely that a series of public
meetings will be held in the assem-.
bly, chamber at which all interested
pa;ties will be given an opportunity
to be heard The good roads move.
ment ia Wisconsin is pretty well under
way, and any attempt to seriously in
terfere with broad policy of road
building will meet with a wide.awake
aud intelligent opposition. The value
OF good highways has been brought
he me to the individual citizen with
srch great force that public sentiment
favors system of durable highways.
All factions, however, appear to be
united on the proposition that in road
building, as in other matters, the les
islature must pursue an economical
ccT-ss.Any matters not considered alb
stiutely necessary are not likely to
NEST with success.
Parties Unite on Retrenehment.
The conservatives came into power
In Wisconsin on a program of retrench-
n.ei.t. and the progressives thus far in
ire session have been more than co.
operating with the conservatives along
tbs line of thought. In fact, in some
respects the progressives have assum-
ed the leadership. This situation
clearly emphasizes the attitude of leg
islature in all matters pertaining to
appropriations.
In the hearings held thus far by the
JOINT committee on finance the line
OF questioning indicates that every de-
tail Of state government will receive
cIcse attention. Assemblyman Spoor
Il one of the committee members who
leads the wy in firing questions at
departmental heads regarding appro-
2. iation matters. The first appropri-
at.on bills considered by the com
na.ttee are those relating to the state
board Of control, Ralph F. Smith. out
goire president of the board, appear
&c IL person to discuss the plans oil
the board Of control
A very interesting situation deyel
oped in the senate when the upper
house by a vote of II to Is confirmed
~ appointment of Walter Alexander
CT Milwaukee as a member of the state
railroad commission It requires sew
ent.eu votes to confirm any executive
appointment passed upon by the up
per house.
Little objection was raised to Mr.
Alexander on the ground that he was
not eminently fitted to serve on airs
important board. Senator Arnold, So