Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1916-12-13
ELECT|ONOF SPEAKER
FIRST TASK OF SOLONS
PLETHORA OF CANDIDATES WILL
RECEIVE CONSIDERATION OF
1917 LEGISLATURE.
Especial to Grant County Herald.)

connection with the organization Of
the 1917 legislature is the cleo
ton of a speaker, with Lawrence c.
Whittet of Edgerton and Charles d.
Rosa of Beloit the leading republican
candidates, the makeup Of commit
tees also is attracting some attention.
No matter who is chosen speaker, the
following will be entitled to recogni-
ton for chairmanships of important
committees, both because of their
length of service and their acquaint-
ance with the duties of the positions:
Edward A. Everett, Of Eagle River;
John G. Chappell Of Ashland; H. NJ
Laursen of Shell Lake; Henry Grell,
of Johnson Greek; John Chinnnock,
OF Hudson; John Camper, Of Medford,
w. H. Edwards of Sussex; Fred Hess,
of Waupaca; Charles Hart, Of Osn-
kOsh; W. Woodward, of BlOomer; S.
A. SCHNEIDER, of New Glarus; John
Hager of Trempealeau, and r. B. Mel
vim, of Sheboygan.
Messrs. Chappell and Chinook were
not members of the 1915 legislature,
but have had legislative experience,
both having been members of the as
sembly.
According to the statement of state
treasurer Henry Johnson on Deem
Der 1, submitted to Governor Philip,
there was total of $3,O33, 1881 in
the state treasury on that date, as
compared with $3,766,20244 on De
cember 1, 1915. The balance in the
general fund was $1,193, 804.63, as
compared with $2,226,584.56 on Deem
Der l, 1915. The difference is account
ed for by the fact that a year ago
more than $1,OOO,OOO was collected
from the taxpayers for highway taxes,
which was in turn returned to the
counties. Under the new law the high
way aid goes direct from the general
fund
The new state budget, prepared un-
der the direction of the state board
of public affairs, probably will be
ready for distribution to members of
the next legislature about Dec Is
This is in line with the effort to &C
quaint the members with the financial
problems of the state before they ar
rive in Madison. The actual running
expenses of the different departments
for the past two years will be shown
with the amounts expended for build
ings and permanent improvements
There will be column which will
show, also, the recommendations OF
heads of departments of needs for the
next two years. In the preparation OF
this budget and the reduction of ex-
penditures wherever it has been pos
sible there has been the best cooper
alton on the part Of state officials
Every man or woman who appears
before legislative committee this
year, either for or against the passage
of any bill before the legislature, will
be compelled to register as a lobby
list. That has been the custom in the
case of persons appearing for corpor-
ations of or for individuals, but it has
iOus laws concerning the health and
morals Of the state. 1t is the conten-
ton of those who will endeavor to
keep lobbying within its sphere that
no exceptions should be made.
A contest to determine the right of
states to regulate the sale of food
products within their borders will be
started by Dairy and Food Commits
err George ]. Weigle in an appeal from
the United States Circuit court in the
benzoate of soda case.
Papers in the case now are being
studied in the Office of the attorney
general, the matter being in the hands
of Deputy Attorney General Walter
Drew. If the case goes to the United
States Supreme court it will probably
will be decided within year.
In December, 1915, firm known as
Curtice Brothers Co., manufacturers
of ketchup, jellies, jams, preserves
mince meat, chilli sauce and sweet
picked peaches and pears, brought al
action in the United States Circuit
court to test the right of Commission
er Weigle to prohibit the sale Of these
food products, alleged to contain ben
zoate OF soda used as a preservative
Judge Sanborn held, in November
1916 that the state law under which
the dairy and food commission haC
acted was in conflict with the national
pure food and drug act, and perma-
nently restrained the department anC
all district attorneys of the state from
beginning any action to stop the sale
Of the products
1t is from this decision that Mr.
Weigle is to appeal The case not on
ly will decide the status of the Wis
consin pure food law, but the decision
Of the higher court will be watched
all over the country.
A fund of $4,000, to be used fol
10 inc