The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1917-02-21
DIRECT MARKET
BILL IS OFFERED
Legislation Affecting Consumer
Before Senate.
LOAF OF BREAD Is OUNCES
State Affairs Committee Hears Aruu-
ments on Measure Requiring
Stamping of Net Weight on
Packages of Food Sold.


Packages of Food Sold.
Madison.-Legislatio affecting the
consumer occupied the center of the
A direct market commission bill was
presented, and later the state affairs
committee of the senate heard argu-
ments on bill to fix the weight of
the standard loaf of bread at 1G
ounces and another measure re-
curing the stamping of the net weight
on all packages of food sold.
The state marketing measure pro-
yideS for q marketing commissioner of
one member whose duties shall 'con-
SiSt of the locating within the United
States all food supplies and other prod
ucts having a direct bearing on the
high cost of living, necessary to sup
ply the demands of the consumers of
the state of Wisconsin. The annual
salary of the market director is fixed
at $4,000 a year. The measure car
ries an appropriation of 100000.
Large Power to Market Director.
The market director is empowered
under the terms of the bill to make
all necessary rules and regulations,
contract for or store such farm prod
ucts or other products as in this judg-
ment may be necessary to protect the
consumers of the state against the
manipulation of the food products by
the dealers therein"
One of the most important pieces
of legislation to come before the sen
ate committee, the Skogmo bill requir-
ing that the weight of packages shall
be placed on the wrapper, was given
a hearing. The measure has the APP
prevail Of the state dairy and food
commissioner, George ]. Weigle.
The SkOgmo bill is similar to a law
now existing in New York state. Its
constitutiOnality has been upheld in
the New York courts and, according
to the testimony of the New York
weights and measure department, it
has saved the people of that state So
100000 annually on packing products
which were wrapped in heavy wrap
ping paper.
Would Reorganize Board.
Apparently the officials at the Uni
versity of Wisconsin are in favor Of
the Whittet bill for the reOrganiza-
ton of the state board of education.
The present board Of education, which
prepares the educational budget for
the educational systems of the state,
is composed of the governor, secretary
of state and state superintendent,
with one representative OF the regents
of the university and one representa-
tive of the normal schools Of the state.
The Whittet bill provides for the
elimination of the state superintendent
and secretary Of state. It would Gre
ate a board of seven members, com
posed of the governor, four members
to be appointed by him and one rep
resentative for the university and one
for the normal schools.
Novel Railroad Bill.
Assemblyman Piepers bill for the
fixing of railroad passenger fares II
the state is attracting considerable at
tention. Pieper is not exactly salts
fed with the railroad service in the
state, and his bill calls for q one-cent
passenger fare for the character of
service furnished at the present time, a
twO-cent fare for improved service and
four-cent fare for parlor-car service.
To Expedite Work.
To expedite the work of the legisla-
ture by getting all of the bills out,
Speaker Whittet has held an informal
meeting of the members with the bill
drafting department and it has been
agreed that all of the large measures
should be reported out of the commit
tee on revision at once and sent to the
various committees for hearing. 1t is
hoped by this method to have all of
the larger measures considered in
committee by at least one house before
March 3.
Along this line every committee Oz
the legislature will now be compelled
to file weekly report with the legis-
lature showing the status of each bill
in the committee, and any action
taken in regard to it by the committee.
Single Tax Amendment.
A hearing on the Nordman single
tax" amendment to the state constitu-
ton will be held before the assembly
committee on judiciary March 1. In
behalf Of the amendment, Assembly
man Nordman will bring to Madison
some of the best-known tax authorities
in the country. His amendment would
permit counties to exempt improve
ments from taxation.
The present rule regarding bubbEng
fountains has been rescinded by the
state board of health and the following
substituted: "All hotels and restau-
rants equipped with sewerage and rua-
ming water must by July /, 1918, be
provided with bubbling drinking foun-
tainS."
The old rule regarding the size of
he'd sheets, which did not apply TO
both sheets alike, is superseded by
one requiring that the top and under
sheets be of sufficient size to cover
the mattresses completely and fold I'M
der on both the sides and the bottom
of the bed.
Additional rules governing the san
itarv conduct of hotels and restaurants