River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1919-05-15
HOUSE ADVANCES
PULLEN MEASURE
gill Increases Salary of School
Superintendent.
MAY AMEND INCOME TAX LAW
Taxation Committee Expected to Rec
ommend Act for Passage After Re-
moving Secrecy clause-To
Rebuild National Guard.

| Madison.-At the close Of practically
two months consideration the house
amended and advanced the Pullen bill
increasing the salaries of county SUI
perintendents Of schools in counties or
county superintendent districts hav-
ing fewer than 100 teachers, $1,000;
In counties or county superintendent
districts having more than 80 teach
ers increased $1,40O; in counties or
county superintendent districts hav.
ing more than $50 teachers, $1,000. In
counties where fewer than 60 teach
ers are employed, the county board Of
supervisors may provide that the
county superintendent shall devote not
less than 100 school days to the duties
Of said Office and be paid compensa
ton Of not less than 5000.
| Senator Schultz rescued his bill
amendatOry of the corrupt practice act
after it had been severely attacked by
Senators Wilcox and Bird, and got it
back into the committee on education
and public welfare. This Is the meas
ure which repeats clause requiring
all individuals making campaign con-
tributions in excess Of $50 to file re-
| port with their county clerk Despite
a hot attack by Senator Bentley, the
senate advanced the Burhop milk de-
pot bill, p to 3, after rejecting re-
st<fctive amendment proposed by Ben
fey to limit the authority of city coun-
ellis.
The indications are that the assem-
| bly, taxation committee will recon-
mend for passage the Severson bill
partially removing the secrecy clause
Of the state income tax law. Senator
Severson appeared before the commit
tee and urged the passage of his
measure. His bill would give the leg,
islature and tax officials of counties,
Cities villages and towns the right to
| inspect income tax returns when it
is believed that a correct report has
not been made. He cited the iniquities
OF the present system, and said that
| a man might make a false income tax
return but could not be tried for per-
| jury because his income tax record
could not be introduced as evidence in
court. No one appeared in opposition
to the bill. Severson read letters from
number of cities and manufactur-
| ing establishments in favor Of his
| measure.
Two bills are before the legislature
| to rebuild the National Guard. The
| Wilcox armory bill has been approved
| by the finance committee, amended and
advanced in the senate. The other
bill, carrying the National Guard ap-
preparations, has just been introduced
| by the committee ON finance.
| The Wilcox bill carries an amend
ment embodying the ideas of General
Holway for the creation of an armory
board, comprising the adjutant gener-
al, chief quartermaster and command
ing officer Of each of the regiments
and separate battalions. Subject to
the approval Of the governor, the
board would pass upon armory sites
and make contracts for the erection
Of armories. This amendment is a
| considerable departure from the orig
inal bill, whose board comprised the
| governor, adjutant general and chief
| quartermaster.
Building appropriations are provided
in the general finance committee bill,
which allows Is per cent of the annu.
al appropriation to be used for arm
cries. On the basis Of the present
100000 annual appropriation, this
amounts to $4,000 year.
| Owing to the necessities of reorgan-
ization and the possible new interpre-
tations that may be placed on the fed
eral defense act of 1916, the finance
the fixed appropriation this year. In
| order that all demands may be COM
piled with, the committee allowed the
usual 100000 appropriation and 'such
| additional sums, not exceeding $780,
600 in each year. as may be neces-
sary upon the approval of the gov
ernor" to maintain and train the full
number of National Guard troops re-
CURED by the United States to be
maintained and trained by the state
of Wisconsin,"
This clause is believed to be fexi-
bic enough to enable the department
to- reconstitute the guard as rapidly as
the troops return from Europe.
The Socialists were instrumental in
nonconcurring in the senate bill au-
thorizing the quartermaster to pur-
chase or hire animals or trucky with
the governors approval, when neces-
sary for training of any military unit
at its home station Or in field camp.
Recall Bill Is Engrossed.
The assembly engrossed in amended
form the Johnson bill providing for the
recall of the appointed officials. The
original Johnson bill practically pro-