River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1917-03-29
legislative News
From Madison

~'@NSA0OAA1 w 1877 Un01SAI 49, 11C O1S
fight Of the legislature for this week
is still on the Evjue bill, which comes
up for final passage in the Assembly
Thursday. This measure provides for
a statewide referendum on the liquor
traffic at the spring election, 1913.
Should the people adopt the bill by
referendum vote, saloons in Wiscon-
sin must discontinue business on July
/, 1920. So much interest was mani
tested in the measure last week that
the galleries of the Assembly were
crowded long before the bill was taken
up for action. The amendments to
compensate the employees of the brew
cries for loss of wages, and to limit
the referendum only to WHISTLES were
defeated. Assemblyman F. w. Peter
son OF Racine county made fight to
have beer excluded from the provi-
sions of the referendum bill. This,
however, was not granted. With the
exception of Charles Schiewitz, every
member of the Milwaukee delegation
voted against the bill. One of the in
| teresting features was the fact that
the Socialists, who have always claim
ed to stand for the initiative and ref
erendum, voted solidly against the
| measure.
The hope of passing a resolution
| censuring Senator La Toilette for his
action in maintaining filibuster in
congress, went glimmering last week,
xxyhoo Tho Con 70 oIO hc+ 70
for the Bennett resolution, notifying
the national government that Wiscon-
sin renews her allegiance to the ma
tional government in this hour of ma
| tional peril. "There is no divided 10y
atty among the people of the State of
Wisconsin," declares the resolution.
s'They stand squarely and firmly
| against the common enemy, and pledge
their unqualified and loyal support to
the government to protect itself and
| it's citizens in the present crisis"
When the resolution was received in
the Assembly on Wednesday, it was
referred to the Assembly Judiciary
Committee for hearing. The sentiment
of the house seems to be against the
resolution. The members declare that
resolution of loyalty has already
passed the legislature and second
resolution on the subject is uncalled
| for.
Early this week the Assembly will
he called on to consider the Whittet
bill, providing for changes in the per-
sonnet and power of the present
State Board of Education. The bill in
it's present form, is practically a copy
of the Staudenmayer substitute,
which was defeated in the legislature
two years ago. The Whitett measure
provides for State Board of Educa-
ton of nine members, composed of the
governor, the superintendent of public
instruction, a representative of the
Normal regents, a representative OF
the University regents and five others
| to be appointed by the governor. The
powers of the board to supervise the
finances of the state educational in
situations is also withdrawn, and the
board is only given power to recon-
mend budgets and pass upon the nee
essity of new buildings. In reality,
the bill reduces the state board of edu-
cation to board of estimates.
The Assembly committee on Judi
ciary has recommended for passage
the Metcalf bill, providing for the
regulation of school savings banks.
Under this bill it will be possible for
every school in the state to designate
some bank in their locality, as saw
ings bank in which the pennies of the
school children shall be deposited and
draw interest at the regular rate. By
a vote of 76 to 6, the Assembly sent
to engrossment the Saugen bill, in
creasing the amount of state aid for
the care of chronic insane from $1.75
to $2.75 a week. There are 80 coun-
ties in the state that have county IN
sane hospitals that will be materially
benefited by the passage of this
measure.
Under suspension of rules, the Sen
ate has put through the Bennett bill
for the regulation of fire insurance
companies operating in this state. I'm
der amendments of the bill, the Insur-
ance commissioner will be given gen
eral power to supervise the rates Of
fire insurance companies. The mea-
sure has already been received in the
Assembly and will be given consider
alton on Thursday.
Meantime, the Assembly has pass
ed the Everett bill, for the regulation
of workmen's compensation insurance
companies. The Assembly has killed
the Jensen bill giving counties of The
state the power to adopt the commits
sion form of government; it has de-
feated the Nordman resolution giving
counties the power to exempt certain
| property from taxation. This resolu-
ton would permit the introduction OF
the single tax in Wisconsin. 1t has re-
fused to reconsider the vote by which
it engrossed the Edwards bill for the