River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1921-05-12
State Capitol News
BY VIM. j. Anderson

/
of sugar to sweeten up the several
charitable and penal institutions of
the state. Though the states prison
at Waupun produces its own sugar,
that is, it raises the sugar beets
which it exchanges for its quota of
sugar, it takes 10000 pounds every
three months to go around. One hun
dred and twenty tons of sugar year.
This week the state board of control
contracted for its meat for the quar-
ter beginning July LIST. About $4,000
pounds of carcass meat and $4,000
pounds of hams, bacon, etc. We're con-
tracted for, the total price being about
$4,000.
The Grimsted land surtax bill be-
fore the legislation to which referen-
ce has been made in this correspond
ence is to be sent to the Joint Com
mittee on Finance. 1t represents a
new departure in taxation, and was at
first flouted by members of the iegis-
lature. Now, however, it is receiving
serious consideration. The bill was
drawn by Prof. John r. Commons,
tax expert. While drawn somewhat
on the lines of the Nolan bill now be-
fore Congress, it exempts the fertll-
ity of the soil of farms, which 1T
treats as an improvement. added by
the labor of the owner. Should the
bill become law, two beneficient re-
suits will follow: 1t will discourage
large single holdings OF farm land
which practice unduly initiates land
prices and thus prevents the purchase
of small tracts by would be farmers;
and it will compel the owner OF unlm-
proved city property to pay to the
state something of the increased val
ues which his neighbors improve
ments and the con1munity's growth
adds to his property.
Prof. Thorkelson, business admins
traitor of the University, has compiled
figures showing that since the fiscal
wear of 1867-68 when the state made
it's first contribution to the Unlver-
sity it has contributed up to and IN
cluding July 1920 about $28,OOO,OOO.
During the same period the state OF
Illinois has contributed to its Univer-
sity $33,00O,000. The buildings, land
and equipment of the University in
ventory about $9,O0O,00O. If the total
contributions of the state for all pur-
poses whatsoever, including land and
buildings, University and agricultur-
al extension, farmers institutes, etc.
are divided by the equivalent students
registered for two semesters, during
the past So years the average will be
a cost of $25750 per student. For the
past twenty years the average is $282
per student; for the last ten years
1914 per student; for the last two
years $287.00 per student.
The 4th of July is long way off,
but here is a reminder; under the law
administered by the Industrial Com
mission no fireworks may be stored
in any place nearer than 2OO feet
from the neighboring building. 1t
also provides that rockets and roman
candles may not be discharged within
500 feet of any building and other
fireworks within 200 feet of any
building. Sparklels, fred fire" III COW
cred cases, and compact torches with
lighting ends covered are the only ex-
ception and are the only requirements
of fireworks which retail merchants
may handle. Merchants who handle
other classes of fireworks make
themselves liable to forfeiture OF
$40 to 500 for each day that such
fireworks are stored. For violation
of this order last year number OF
merchants in Racine were prosecuted
and fined.
This week at the April sitting Of
the Supreme Court memorials prepar-
ed by the Wisconsin Bar Association
for the State Chief Justice Winslow,
j ohm C. Spooner, A. L. Sansburn, and
George Green were presented. These
men were reckoned among the leading
members of their time of the Wiscon-
sin bar.
After being greatly annoyed and
hampered in their work by the clrcu-
Iation of stories charging unfair dis
elimination against fisherman, the
members of the state conservation
investigated and found
that a salaried official of the Wiscon-
sin Game Protective Association was
making charges of malfeasance in
office against the commissioners. At
ter procuring affidavits that these
charges were made in public address
es, the members of the commission
addressed a communication to the