Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1917-05-16
Hope for Adjournment June rs.

teslstatuFe oy June 10. complications
in the handling of many of the larger
bills and the consideration given 10 war
measures has caused many delays in
the legislative program. When the war
broke out it was decided TO sidetrack
all legislation that was not imperative
and TO close the session as early as pos
sible. There have been many pieces OF
legislation that would have been given
fuller consideration had war not been
declared. Some of the woman leaders
or the state are inclined to blame the
war for the defeat of the woman suf-
frage bill, on the ground that members
OF the legislature could not foresee
what might have occurred before 1920.
the time when the question was to have
been submitted TO a vote of the people,
But score of war measures have
come up. touching on many problems
that had not been considered hereto
fore. These bills have demanded con-
sideration. These are some of the
things that have delayed the close of
the session of the legislature on May
Financial Bill Well on Way.
The big financial bills will be dis
posed of in the legislature within the
next two weeks. The house viii give
final consideration to the board of con
troll appropriation bill and the senate
viii probably dispose of the university
and normal appropriations. 1t is said
there will be little opposition to the
university appropriation measure, but
the normal regents may ask for a
shght increase in the appropriations
asked for. In the bin sent to the legis-
lature the normalS have been cut about
$4,000 from the amount asked for. A
restoration of this amount may be
asked.
There is also pending before the SEN
ate for consideration this week the mp
preparation bills for the Stout school.
and also for the Platteville mining
school. There seems to be no opposi-
ton to these.
Farmers Win Big Victory
The farmers OF the state won a
very decided victory when the lower
h use of the Wisconsin legislature sent
to engrossment and then passed under
suspension of the rules the J. G..
Hanson bin giving the railroad com
mission power to pass on the question
of railroad sites for warehouses. At
the present time the granting of rail
road sites Is entirely within the dlscre-
ion Of the railroad company The
Farmers Equity society. with 404 ship
ping places in the state, petitioned the
legislature 10 pass bin giving this
power 10 the Wisconsin railroad com
mission The bill was reported for in
definite postponement by the assembly
| committee on transportation. After a
full explain ion Of the matter the
house, by a vote of ~ TO 8. overturned
the committee report. engrossed the
bin and passed II.
cen<raiize Road Building Authority.
To centralize authority and RESPONSE
/ bility TO procure uniformity in road
building aud maintenance. and TO re-
duce the number Of town highway SUI
tiers from 10000 to 1.20O-one only for
each township-are the principal OBJ
/ iects of Senator Hansen's bill, No.
474-S, which recently passed the upper
house unanimously and is 10 come up
before the assembly at an early date.
These town superintendent have
control of town highways only. Under
their direction abou. $5O00,O00 Is being
spent annually.
"EverybOdy's business is nobody S
business" said Senator Hansen. at is
hard to find the person responsible for
bad pieces Of road with so many high
way officials. Eastern. western and
southern states have wiped out small
road district policy. Extreme local
highway administration of road build
ing must yield TO town. county and
state control, if we want TO get VI
worth of good road for every COLLAR of
tax"
The bill repeats provisions OF the
statute giving town boards the power
to select one or more superintendent
of highways.
To Elect superintendent
Provides for election Of superintend-
ents Of highways at spring election
Requires the state highway commits
soin on request to furnish engineering
counsel and advice TO town superin-
tendents of highways.
Provides: First, for the election In
April, 1918. of a town superintendent
of highways. term Of Office two years ;
second, on petition of % taxpayers, the
town clerk requires submission at
April election of the question ms to
whether or not town boards may APP
point superintendent Of highways.
Prescribes somewhat In detail duties
Of town superintendent Of highways.
Outlines method of accounting and
reporting by superintendent of high
ways.
Gives town boards authority 70 pay
expense for use Of an auto truck by
town superintendent Of highways not
In excess Of $500 year.
Salary of superintendent Of high
ways to remain as now fixed at $3.50
per day. unless raised by town board.
Superintendent Of highways 70 be
under the supervision and direction OF
town board.
Normal Schools Appropriation Bill.
The appropriation bill Tor the normal
schools presented TO the senate by the
finance committee provides for opera