Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1917-01-17
BADGER SOLONS
BUSY AT START
Governors Program Before Them
as Session Opens.
EARLY ADJOURNMENT SOUGHT

Bills Embodying Governors Recon-
mendations in Insurance Before
Both Houses-5ryan to Aid State
Wide Prohibition Measure-cabinet
Idea stirs Interest - Committees
Named by Whttet.
Madison, Wis, Jan 16.-The Forty.
third Wisconsin legislature convened
here at noon Jan. 10, and at this early
date il is in the midst of important
work.
Members of both houses have
pledged themselves to shorten the SEES
sion, the one two years ago having es-
tablished long distance record. With
a view of cleaning up work at the
earliest possible date, great deal of
time was spent preparing the budret
which carries appropriations for the
several state institutions, the Univer-
sity of Wisconsin and the normal
| schools. The budget is in typewriter
form and on the desks OF the members
| In other years appropriation bills
caused the greatest delay. At this ses-
| sion these measures will be consider
ed early. 1t is the announced intcE ion
of administration and La Toilette lead
ers TO dispose of the financial program
at an early date so that il will not con-
flict with matters Of major import.
ance.
Insurance Program Before House.
The administration program on in.
surance is already before both houses.
Senator ]. Fl. Bennett of Viroqua in
PRODUCED bill providing for the state
regulation of fire insurance rates; As
semblyman John Chapple Of Ashland
introduced a resolution providing a
legislative committee TO investigate
social insurance, and Assemblyman
E. A. Everett of Eagle River present
ed a bill to regulate the rates of work
mems compensation insurance. These
bills were drawn by Commissioner of
Insurance NJ. J. Cleary. and will have
the backing of the admin .stration
forces. Bills on the same subjects
probably win be introduced Dy other
members and a series of public hear
ings will be held TO discuss the mpr-
its of the different bills. 1t is certain
that important insurance legislation
will be enacted at this session.
Senator Benefits proposition 10
regulate fire insurance rates provides
for a rating bureau which shall be IN
der the control of the commissioner OF
insurance, all companies wiring FIRE
insurance to become members OF the
bureau. Reasonable and fair rates is
the purpose of the proposed law.
Assemblyman Chapple's resolution
calls for the creation of committee
of Ave members. three assemblvmen
and two senators, 10 gather data on
social insurance. The legislature Is TO
appropriate a sum sufficient to carry
on the investigation.
The committee VIII be naraad early
in the session and win get down TO
work without unnecessary delay. az
rording TO present plans. Social insur-
ance is considered a new subject and
Governor Philip takes tie position
that it should be given careful study
before any bill is passed by The leyis.
1ature.
Assemblyman Everett's proposition
to regulate the rates or workmen's
compensation Insurance calls for the
appointment or a second deputy in The
insurance department 1t is proposed
to create compensation insurance
board TO be composed Of the commits.
sioner OF insurance. the chairman of
the state Industrial commission ard
the new deputy commissioner. This
body IS vested with power to conduot
hearings on the classification of ris1
and rates.
Bryan to Aid Prohibition Measure.
Very early in the session the Ieafs.
1ature win take up a hill to be intro.
duced by Assemblyman w Z. Eviue
of Madison, a new member. for state.
wide referendum on prohibition
Friends of the measure are maxine
optimistic predictions that the bill will
be passed On Jan %. a public mass
meeting to be addressed by William
Jennings Bryan viii be held here rs
stimulate interest in The dry bill.
AT this early date tie proposed ref
erendum caused a stir The announce
ment of Speaker Lawrence c. Whittei
of the assembly that be would not op-
pose it resulted in a movement to
bring out a candidate against Whittet |
Assemblyman f. A. Everett was asked |
to make the run, but he promptly |
squelched the movement by announc |
ing that he was for Whittet. Mr.. Whit !
tet was reelected.
Only One c. o. p. Contest.
The legislature Organized BY re.
electing Mr. Whittet speaker and
again naming c. E. Shaffer Of Madi.
son chief clerk- IT. G. Cretney OF Iowa
county was elected sergeant at arms
over William Irvine Of Clark county.
his being the only contest in the
house.
Senator Timothy Burke of Green Bay
was elected president protempore OF
he upper house. Colonel o. G. Nun
son of viroQua was reelected chief
clerk and F. E. Andrews Of Bloomer
vas again named sergeant al arms.
Much Of the fractional strife and
suspicion that marked the opening of
he session two years ago La absent