The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1919-05-16
To D|SBAND STATE
DEFENSE COUNCIL
Bill Declares Activities viii Cease
on June /.
NO AID FOR THE SOLDIERS
Fletcher Measure Sent to Assembly
Finance Committee for Further
deration-Prospects Are
Not Encouraging.
NO AID FOR THE SOLDIERS
Rv Fred l. HOLMES.

state council of defense will cease it's
activities ON June 1, 1919, according
to new bill offered in the house by
ASSemblyman AXel Johnson. Mr..
Johnson explained that the chairman
of the council of defense had notified
the state affairs committee that all the
work of the council would be conclud-
ed on or before that day.
After an hour of debate the assem-
bly, sent to the finance committee for
further consideration the Fletcher bill
providing a legal method by which the
state might furnish lands and i'm
prOvementS to returned soldiers and
unemployed people.
ASsemblyman COe explained that he
believed the legislature would adjourn
without being able to do anything for
the soldiers because the Wisconsin
constitution limits the state debt to
100000. The assembly passed the
senate bill increasing the trunk line
highway system from 5000 to $500
miles. 1t cOncurred in the Bird bill
for the furnishing of certain supplies
to the Wisconsin National Guard.
Without roll call the assembly
killed the Ballard resolution for legis
lative investigation of alleged violence
in connection with Liberty bond sales
in the state prior TO the recent loan.
At Wednesdays session Ballard Of
fered a new resolution that the attOr-
ney general be directed to prosecute
these violations. The senate concur
red in the Ruffin bill establishing as
the policy of the state one day of
rest in seven. The bill requires indus
tries to allow employees the 24-hOur
rest each week, except in certain So
called emergency emplOymentS which
are specifically exempted.
The committee on finance expects to
have word from General Ham this
week, who leads the Thirty-secOnd di-
vision, of which the Wisconsin and
Michigan National Guards were the
backbone, offering an official history
of the work of the division. The plan
is to have this volume published sep
arately, the Michigan Historical sGci-
ETY. joining with the Wisconsin His
torical society in issuing the volume
This would, of course, be followed by
other volumes detailing the work done
by the different war activities in the
state and containing much data of
Wisconsin nature.
The Blue Book of Wisconsin, con-
tanning official information of the
legislature, will be issued next month.
This volume contains a mass of ma
terial that has been gathered on the
civic war activities of Wisconsin. The
volume will be larger than the one
two years ago and is designed as
special issue to commemorate victory.
Senator Birds bill to permit the
name of a candidate to appear ON two
party tickets, d measure which will be
of Importance to Milwaukee should V.
l.. Berger be a candidate to- fill va
cancy in the Fifth district, is in the
senate judiciary committee. 1t was
rescued and sent there after the COM
mittee of education and public welfare
had recommended that it be killed
Senator Bird or some other member
will introduce Il bill for nOnpartisan
elections for Milwaukee supervisors.
Several legislators are inclined to
favor additional nonpartisan legisla-
ton for the state, but it is a question
whether an attempt will be made to
bring in other measures.
Some salary increase for state en-
plOyees, sufficient to meet the in
creased cost of living is in prospect as
q result of recommendations by the
finance committee, and action on sew
eral bills in the two branches of the
legislature. These bills, if enacted,
will carry total increases of about
100000 per year
The finance committee is not salts
fed with the state salary lists. which
are admitted to be no longer suited to
the times. 1t has introduced a bill
backed by the legislative commit
tee, cooperating with the state board
OF public affairs. the civil service
board and the state engineer. This
bill refers to- the ACCESSIBILITY of insti-
tuting a pension system for state en-
ployees.
The general salary increase recon-
mended by the finance committee ap-
plies to all who now receive less than
$1,000 per year and whose employ
ment dates back as far as January,
1917.
For such persons a 20 per cent in
crease is granted. A proviso, how
ever, declares that the increase to each
employee must be sufficient to bring
the salary only to the ST, 200 mark.
Some employees in state institutions
work on contracts which include board
and lodging. To the governing official
Of these employees is given authority
to determine whether the increase is
Just in each case and how much addi-
tional pay shall be granted. A dis
tinction is made because lodging and
board takes care of large amount of