River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1921-03-17
State Legislative News


Madison, Wis.-The big taxation
fight over the C. T. Hanson personal
property Offset repeal occupies the
center of the stage for another week.
When the measure came up last week
it was made special order of BUSH
ness for Wednesday.
By passing the Ingalls, resolution
calling for special committee to in
vestigate the entire taxation problem
/ the assembly made an effort to post
pone the entire quest on. Under the
resolution this committee would re-
port for action at special session.
The resolution was bitterly opposed
by Assemblyman C. E. Hanson. From
present indications it would appear
that the senate will not concur in the
resolution which would force the
fight Immediately.
The opposition has been mastering
their force to kill the Hanson bill
when it comes up next week and al
though they claim this can be done
it appears doubtful. The farmers
and laboring men are fighting hard
under the leadership of Assembly
man C. E. Hanson to repeal the per-
sonal property offset that is such an
advantage for big business.
The committee to which the bill was
referred recommended the bill for in
defnate postponement with Assembly
man Hanson and Robert Caldwell dis
senting. The committee report can
not fairly be taken as an indication
of the way the assembly will vote on
this important measure.
Coupled with the taxation fight is
the education fight which has been
brewing for the past five years. I'm
der the aid of Superintendent of
Schools C. p Cary Assemblyman Oh
son introduced bill 70 abolish the
State Board of Education of which
Major f. A. Fitzpatrick is secretary.
This bill was heard before IN assem-
bly, committee last week, but action
was deferred to await the Introduce
ion of the Skogsno educational bill.
This bill which comes in when the
legislature meets Tuesday proposes
| reorganization of the educational
boards of the state.
Sentiment in the legislature would
seem to Indicate that the Skogmo plan
win be adopted.
With over half dozen bills intro
| duced pertaining to the dog tax it is
, assured that some measure will be
put through that viii either abolish
| the tax or materially reduce it. The
assembly advanced the Olson bill last
week which would reduce the fee on
! female dogs from SIS to SO and on
male dogs from So to So. Great OPP
position to the present dog tax law
exists in the state.
The assembly refused to tamper
with the present primary election law
when it killed the Peterson bill last
week. That bill would provide that
a candidate defeated in the primary
election would be prohibited from
running as an independent in the gen
eral election. Had this bill been
law James Thompson, La Crosse,
would have been unable to oppose
Senator Lenroot in the general elect
ion last fall as an independent.
During the last week the Joint fin
ance committee has been conducting
hearings on the proposed normal
school appropriation bills. 1t is prob
able that all necessary parts of the
budgets will be granted but any ap-
preparation for new building will
meet with defeat in the assembly,
! whose watchword is economy"
All bills affecting the income tax
law will be given hearing the week
; of March gath. There are four bills
, that will be considered at that time.
} The C. E. Hanson bill for the recall
t of appointive officials is before the
State Affairs committee and will bt
} heard propably this week. This bill
would allow the legislature to remov,
for cause after a hearing.
The Matheson bone dry bill was
finally passed in the assembly las
week and now goes to the Senate.
Many local measures are up thi:
5 week but the center of interest viii
: be on the C. E. Hanson repeal bill fol
! nersonal nronertv offset