Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1917-04-11
Would Affect RuraI omters.

been engrossed in the assembly. the
MEASURE provides that county boards
may, upon their option, provide for
the election of town supervisors for
term of three years, one officer to re-
tire each year. The bill was offered
In the legislature by Assemblyman F.
n. Grass OF Door county. The orig
inal measure was compulsory, but the
bill as advanced by the assembly gives
counties the option of putting the new
law into effect. At the present time
town supervisors are elected for
term OF one year. The GRASS bill fur
Their provides that one candidate shall
specify that he is running for the Of
fee of town chairman and when elect
ed becomes the town representative
on the county board for a term OF
three years.
Railroads Ask increase.
The railroads of Wisconsin are ask
Ing for an increase in passenger fares.
They appeared before the corporations
committee of the legislature requesting
that body to introduce a bill increasing
to two and four-tenths cents per mile
The Wisconsin legislature of 1907 en-
acted tw0-cent fare law applicable to
all roads in the state having a gross
income per mile in excess of $1,000.
About year ago the interstate COM
merce commission permitted an in
crease of interstate passenger rates TO
two and four-tenths cents. The rail-
roads of Wisconsin are now asking
the repeal of the two-cent fare law
and the substitution of rate to CON
form to he interstate rate. f. Z.
Nash, Chicago. appeared before BE
committee In behalf of the roads.
codified Drainage Laws.
A special committee of the legisla-
ture appointed at the last session TO
investigate the subject of drainage
laws, has presented its report 10 the
Legislature in the form of bill of so
printed pages. The measure codifies
all of the drainage laws in the state
and is intended TO rake 1t easier to
found drainage districts. 1t is proba-
bly, one of the most far-reaching meas
ures In many respects of any offered
at this session of the legislature.
The assembly engrossed the Burnett
bill to permit newspapers to exchange
advertising for railroad mileage to the
amount Of $50 per annum.
For Military Preparedness.
The senate passed joint resOlu-
.;.Is
law to aid military preparedness. 1t
asks that this law provide for the gov
eminent taking over the railroads, the
operation of coal mines and oil fields,
storage and food warehouses and make
speculation in food produc treason.
Whlttet Bill Ordered Ensrcssed.
By more than a two TO one vote the
assembly advanced the Whittet bill
changing the personnel of the state
board of education and making the
powers of the board to one of appro-
priatiOn estimates. An amendment by
Assemblyman Nordman was adopted.
retaining the secretary of state on the
board until January 1. 1919.
The present board of education law
was Passed at the last session of the
Legislature, and is composed of the
governor the secretary of state, the
superintendent of public instruction,
one representative each of the normal
and university regents. The Whittet
bill as amended provides for a board
of ten members composed of the gov
ernor, the state superintendent OF pub
lie instruction. one representative each
of the normal and university regents,
and five members TO be appointed by
the governor for terms of five years.
The first terms of the appolntive OH
GERS shall be from one to five years
and thereafter one term of Office shall
expire each year. After 1919 the board
shall only be composed of nine mem
bers. as the secretary of state Will be
dropped of.
There was a long debate over the
measure. Assemblyman Carl Hansen
moved the indefinite pOstponement OF
the bill. but this failed by vote or
p TO 81. The measure was then en-
crossed.
Check on Bovine Tuberculosis.
An important bill introduced into
the assembly by the committee on ag-
riculture is a measure providing for
an appropriation TO the department OF
agriculture for the control of tuber-
culosis. The purpose of this, as has
been outlined by that department, Is
to make survey of certain sections
of the state with a view of finding out
the true conditions with regard to
bovine tuberculosis.
IL is proposed to cooperate with the
people of the section undertaken, and
to have all cattle examined In given
section of county with a view of seq
regating all tubercular cattle.
Besides the value of finding out the
true conditions. there will also he con-
siderable advantage to the section so
tested out, because It will be evident
that it Will be desirable for the buyer
of cattle to buy In section where he
isay be sure that all cattle for sale
will be reasonably clean herds.
Would Not Destroy Infected Cattle.
The department is not contemplate
ing the condemnation and destruction
of the cattle as heretofore. except
when insisted upon by the owner.
State Armory Aid Bill.
The state armory aid bill has been
sent back to the finance committee for