Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1917-02-21
LEGISLATURE is
BURIED IN WORK
Avalanche Of Bills RuShes in
on Last Day.
Philip MAY SPEED THINGS

INiLlT I MAJ Or EIU IilLESUo
Governor, Report Says, Will Address
soIons on Necessity of Shortening
Session-Van Hise Aids Education
Board PIan-Liquor Measures Flood
observation-disclosures VIII Back
U. S. Against Kaiser.
Madison. Wis. 4SpeciaD 1t has
taken the machinery of state just five
weeks to head up fun steam, but the
legislature is now going at top speed,
and the members are all but buried
beneath a great mountain of work.
Last Wednesday, the final day for
the introduction of bills, except those
that may come in through committees,
35S bills were introduced in the house,
making the total to date $50, az
against I'll bills at this time two years
ago. On tic same day in the senate
100 bills were introduced, making the
total thus far $50. as against $50 two
years ago Despite this rush of bust
ness and the fact that a large num-
Der of measures win come in via the
committee route, the grand total OF
bills promises to be slightly less than
at the session two years ago.
Wisconsin is keeping up it's reputa-
ton as a fertile field of ideas. This
legislature evidently does not intend
to play second fiddle to any other leg
islature. About every subject under
the sun is to be found in pending leg
islation.
Members of both houses came here
determined to cut several weeks off the
length of the present general assem-
bly,. II still is possible to accomplish
this feat, but to date the amount of
work and the time devoted to debate
measure of little Importance indicates
that unless the program is changed.
the members will be here in the good
old summer time.
Philip May Speed Up solons.
It is understood that in the near
future Governor Philip will address q
joint meeting of the senate and tho
assembly on the necessity of speedin~
up. He viii urge the members not to
forget their promise to the people to
make the session short. and he will
urge the Legislators not to devote too
much time on matters of small conse-
quence, with the hope of getting at
the big bills as early as possible.
The sudden death of l. ]. Kvam, as
semblyman from Rice Lake, cast
shadow over the house. Mr.. Kvam
died after an operation His desk is
draped in black and Grape hangs from
the big light standards on the speak
er's desk. Members of the house at
tended services held here before the
body was shipped to the family home
in Rice Lake, a special legislative com
mittee of seven members acting as a
personal escore. Mr. Kvam. although
a new assemblyman, was regarded as
one of the strongest members of the
house. H was classed as La Toilette
Republican and was regarded as ons
of the leaders for the Evjue bill for
statewide referendum on prohibition.
A special election will be held to fill
the vacancy.
Feb. 2S, has been set as the date
for the first public hearing on the
Evjue bill. So many persons on both
sides of the question wish to be heard
that the big assembly chamber will be
turned over for the hearing. The dry
fight is the topic of big public interest
in Wisconsin, with both houses seem
ing to be closely divided on the issue.
The fact that legislatures in neighbor-
ing states show a marked dry tenden-
cy is being used as an argument for
the bill.
Saloon Measures Flood Legislature.
The legislature is flooded with meas
ures relating to the saloon business.
Every conceivable thought along the
line Of regulation has been presented
Many of the bills recommend local op
ton, and practically every regulatory
measure carries a referendum clause.
The house committee on excise and
fees has already recommended for
passage a bill to create a 600-foot dry
zone around the National Soldiers
home in Milwaukee.
A bill to revamp the state central
board of education has been intro
duced by Speaker Whittet, who is the
spokesman of the administration. This
proposes a board of seven members to
be composed of the governor and four
others to be named by the governor,
in addition to one member to be elect
ed by the normal regents and one by
the university regent. The present
board consists of the governor, sec
rotary Of state, superintendent Of pub
lie instruction, and one representative
OF the normal schools and one rep
resentative of the university.
The central board deals with fnan-
cial matters relating to the education
al system of the state. The new men,
bership is proposed on the ground that
the board would not be brought in
such close contact with Influences and
entanglements growing out of the com
plexion of q body intimately associ-
ated with the educational branches.
Van Hise Aids Education Bill.
In addition to the new system of