Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1921-02-17

Legislature Permits Sale of
Bonds Below Par.
TO USE STANDARD MARKERS
No Advertising Signs TO Be Permitted
Near ighWays-Rep peal of Rail
and Public Utility Laws
Asked

Madison.-State highway legisla
ton will figure prominently in this
session of the legislature Millions OF
dollars have been voted in the state
in the form of highway bonds, Under
the law these must be sold at par. Be
cause the financial depression has re-
suited in few sales of these bonds it
has been decided to permit sales for
less than par and both houses of the
legislature have passed bill for this
purpose.
In the senate a bill was offered by
Senator Dennhardt which provided for
the use of standard designs or mark
>.rs for the state highway trunk sys-
tenn, no other markers, billboards or
advertising material to be allowed
within the boundary limits of the high
way system.
Acting upon the suggestion of Sena-
tor Conant it was practically settled
by the senate that the Conant and
Severson surtax bills and the Arnold
income tax bill will be- heard at a
committee of the whole with members
oft house invited to be present. The
exact date was not settled.
Repeal OF the railroad and public
utility laws is asked by Assemblyman
Frank Prescott in bill offered in the
lower house. The Prescott bill would
wipe out all regulation. 1t makes no
provision for any other form of regu-
lation
Petitions are in circulation through
out the southern part of Wisconsin
urging the appointment of Harry w.
Adams Beloit, for the United States
judgeship. Mr.. Adams has practiced
law in Beioit for the past IS years.
There will be no dedication of the
Wisconsin state capitol if the legisla-
ture follows the committee recon-
mendation which has recommended
for death the Standemayer bill to ap-
propriate $4,000 for that purpose.
The senate state affairs committee IA
vOrabiy recommended the Titus bill
for storing farm products and the Ar
mold bill for the construction of hor
ticultura building at the state fair.
Of the nineteen bills before the as
selnbly judiciary committee for rec
ommendation, eight are recommended
for definite postponement. Those un-
favorably recommended include the
Caldwell bill requiring the actual con-
sideration to be stated in the deed for
e he aaIr
increasing punishment for assault
with firearms from one to ten years
the Jordan bill requiring unanimous
vote of the Supreme court in declar-
ing law unconstitutional and the
Kiesner joint resolution calling for
constitutional convention.
The repeal of the teachers retire
ment fund law will be proposed in a
bill which will be offered in the as
sembly in a few days by Assemblyman
Robert Caldwell of Lodi.
The teachers retirement fund law
is attracting considerable attention at
this session OF the legislature. AT
present over 14,0O0 teachers in the
state are contributing TO the fund. An
unofficial report by the special leg
islative committee which has been in
vestigatlng the subject shows that at
the present time there are $50 teach
ers on the retired list and 444 who are
eligible to retire. II is claimed that if
Ihe funds were closed up at the pres
ent time but all annuities paid as
guaranteed when the law was passed
the fund would be able to pay but %
cents on dollar.
A new consolidation school bill will
also be offered in the senate within
few days by Assembiyman Caldwell.
His bill will provide for school con-
solidation without reference to town
ship lines or county lines Be believes
that the present l:snItation of the law
requiring that consolidated school dis
tricts shall be bounded by township or
county lines delays formation Of many
of the school districts in the state
Assemblyman T. w. Bartingale,
Chippewa county, is preparing bill
which prohibits the use of the free
pass at any fairs in the state, includ-
ing the state and county fairs. He be-
Iieves that where the state has extend
ed aid no free passes should be is
sued. He declares that the secretaries
of the present county fairs are
bothered by many people who are
well-to-do who are anxious to get
free pass into the fair. A stringent
law on this subject, he believes, would
result in greater support for the
fairs of the state
Would Abolish School Board
AsseInblyman William Olson, Green