River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1917-03-15
Town Has Coolies Of Money to Spend.

had TO come to the legislature TO get
special permission to spend it. The
town is located in northern Wisconsin.
near Lake Superior, and in it domi-
Giles one Of the plants of the Du Point
Powder company. Wisconsin has an
income tax that assesses corporation
net profits 6 per cent. OF this tax
money 10 per cent is retained by the
state, 20 per cent by the county and ~
per cent by the locality. This powder
plant brought $4,000 In income taxes
TO Barkesdale town this year, and the
amOutn for next year will be $25O,OOO.
The town never raised more than $780,
| 900 in taxes in money before. So 1t
came to the legislature to obtain spe-
cial permission to use the money IN
erecting high school and in the build
ing of roads. These measures are be-
ing pushed through the legislature.
Would Require Three-Fourths.
Change in the law for submitting
liquor questions to vote of the peO-
pie, including proposal to allow
saloons to operate for certain num-
USI VI uOuIS OA SuAQdy, dIC COuId1ASU
in a bill offered in the house by As
semblyman Charles F. Hart of Osh-
kOsh. The present law provides that
these questions may be submitted to a
vote Of the people when 10 per cent of
the people petition for same. The Hart
Der of votes cast at any general cleo
ton for governor in the city or town
must be obtained.
The present law provides that the
question of license or no license"
shall be submitted, but the Hart bill
allows all questions, including Sunday
closing, to be submitted to q vote of the
people. His measure further provides
that the submission of any question
under this law shall not be made Oft
ener than once in FIVE years.
Big Hearings on Compensation Bills.
Manufacturers from all sections of
the state met for the hearing which
was held before three committees of
the legislature on all bills that have
been offered in either house
touching on the subject of wOrkmen's
compensation. The principal measures
on this subject were introduced by
Senator Timothy Burke of Green Bay
and Assemblyman Charles #. Hart OF
Oshkosh. The Burke bill provides for
an increase over the present schedule
in payments for visible injuries of 70
per cent. He contends that since the
10y
enacted that the cost of living has adj
vanced that much and asks that the
compensation for injuries receive a
similar increase. The Hart bill pro-
videS that accidents shall be compen-
stated for at the rate Of IS per cent OF
the average weekly wage for the
length of time that the person Is dis
abled. The present law makes 1t 70
per cent.
Highway Bill Favored.
Practical agreement exists on the
important features of the special high
Of the 100000 federal aid to trunk
lines. The measure is now being draft
ed by q subordinate committee. The
committee has agreed upon the large
system Of about 5000 miles to reach
and connect every county seat. 1t has
been decided to leave the selection OF
routes and roads to the state highway
commission, aided by three assembly
men and two senators. These will act
in case of an appeal by locality from
a decision.
Money to support the plan will be-
raised by increasing the automobile
license, probably from So to $40 car,
which will yield about 100000 per
year, or sufficient to meet the require
ments of the federal all to be granted.
Governor Opposed to All Increases.
Governor Phillip is not in favor of
all Of the increases desired and his adj
vocates will appear before the commit
tee at once and will ask that those
schedules be increased, where it lean
be shown that the amount paid for in
juries are too low. Where there is q
question about the matter he will ask
that the subject be referred to spe-
cial committee of the legislature for
further investigation and to report to
the legislature two years hence. This
is the stand which the executive took
at the opening of the session in his
message to the legislature.
Probably the other most important
bill touching on the subject of work
mems compensation has been offered
by Assemblyman William Armenian Of
Oshkosh. It provides that every per-
son who hires another, except farmers,
shall be subject to the terms and pro-
visions of the workmen's compensa-
ton act. The present law exempts
persons who employ less than four
others.
Three or four joint resolutions to
amend the constitution and one bill are
pending before the legislature provid-
ing for an increase in the salary of
members.
Three labor bills were disposed Of
within an hour by the assembly. By
vote of 80 to so, the assembly killed the