River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1917-03-29
May Sell Bread by Weight.

Skogmo bill fixing the weight OF the
standard loaf at one pound, but allow
ing larger loaves to be sold by weight.
Senator Henry e. Roeth attacked the
measure, asking If this was TO
be extended to include the size or
cookies and the holes in doughnuts.
The effect of the bill is to place bread
sales by weight.
The assembly eugrossed the Everett
bill for the regulation of the cOmpen-
satiOn insurance companies in the
state and to provide for the uniform
classification of the risks. The meas
ure is party platform pledge and the
bill was drafted by Insurance Commits
sioner M. J. Cleary.
After long debate the assembly adj
vanced the Burnett bill giving the rail-
road commission power to order extern
sions of street railway systems. An
amendment providing that the extern
sion must be remunerative was de-
feated.
Kill Single Tax Bill.
Constitutional amendments do not
fare well at this session of the legis-
lature. After two hours of debate the
assembly has killed the NOrdman res
Olution providing for the "single tax"
The amendment was framed so as to
give the counties the right to exempt
improvements from taxation and place
the entire tax on the real estate. The
resolution was killed by vote Of 81
to 80. The house also killed the Oil
resolution to amend the constitution
providing for the initiative and refer
endum in this state. 1t has laid over
until a later date the resolution to
amend the constitution increasing the
salary of members of the legislature.
To Clear Stump Land.
Better methods and tools with which
to remove the stumps in upper WiscOn-
sin is considered by Senator A. FL. Will
kinsOn of Bayfield, to be one of the
most important needs in the develop
ment of the northern counties. After
many years of close study of the needs
of the settlers in the cut-Over districts,
Senator Wilkinson has introduced a
bill, which he believes is of fundamen-
tai Importance in that it aims to find
out which are the best methods and
equipments to be used and then to get
that information before the people.
Both this and former legislatures"
said Senator Wilkinson, shave intro
duced many bills which have been de-
signed to help upper Wisconsin. 1t
seems to me, however, that they were
not fundamental. What we need first
is to know more about the land clear
ing methods. No matter who does the
work, whether it be federal govern
ment or state aid, large land owners,
contractors, or the settlers and the
farmers themselves, the fact remains
that the real work, actual work OF
blasting, pulling, skidding and piling
has got to be done. The methods and
tools now in use are too slow and ex-
pensive. If we can show what methods
are best and then specify the best tools
to use, everyone who has land to clear
will be greatly benefited
TWO Years of Experimentation.
The bill which will be heard before
the joint finance committee, calls for
tWO-year continuation of the demon
stration work started last year by the
college of agriculture. It does not,
however, stop there. Arrangements
are made by which the college is to
investigate methods of clearing cut
over lands and use the experiences Of
others in formulating best methods for
the various conditions found in upper
Wisconsin.
It is planned to conduct series of
tests on various soil and stump condi-
tons using every known method. Hand
power, homemade equipment, horse
power machines, and small rigs will be
tried out on adjoining plots. The
stumps will be piled and burned on
each area. The time of both men and
teams, the equipment used and the
amount of blasting materials will be
carefully noted. When the tests are
finished, it is expected that sufficient
information will be gathered to be able
to predict what will be the best way
for any owner to clear his land and al
SO which tools will be best adapted for
his stumps and his pocketbook.
Delays States Development.
The lack of such land clearing in
formation is reported to be partially
responsible for the rather slow devel
opment of upper Wisconsin. The set
tier already on the ground has not the
time, money and very often not the
ability to experiment with the various
known methods to see which is best
for him. The man who would like to
make home in the northern counties,
hesitates to do so because there are no
agencies who can give him reliable in
formation on how to open up his land.
Death to Trading Stamps.
The assembly has gone on record
against the little green trading stamp.
BY vote of % to 80 it has engrossed
a bill which would prohibit the use of
the trading stamp in Wisconsin. The
original measure was offered by AS
semblyman Hart of Oshkosh and sought