Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1921-02-04
AUTO TRUCKS To
PAY HIGHER FEE
Senate Highway Body Plans to
Increase License.
CAUSE BIG DAMAGE TO ROADS
Legislation May Also Be Enacted Lin
ting Weight of Load Which Mo-
tor Trucks Can Carry Over
Highways Of the State.

Madison.--A higher state license
fee will be charged for the operation
of motortrucks over the highways Of
Wisconsin If the senate highway COM
mittee carries out its present plans.
Senator Stedenmeyer of Portage
county, member Of the committee
ON highways, announced on Monday
that special hearing would be given
one week from Wednesday on the mo-
tortruck situation. Governor Blaine
in his message TO the legislature urged
legislative action, claiming that the
motortrucks were doing great damage
TO the highways and that some ar
rangement must be made TO lessen the
damage. Aside from the increasing
of license fees for motortrncks it is
likely that legislation will be passed
limiting the weight of load which mo-
tortrucks can carry over highways of
the state. e
The senate committee on state af-
fairs has recommended for passage the
Dennhardt resolution urging congress
10 limit appropriations for military
purposes. Only one vote was cast in
opposition TO the resolution by a COM
mittee member.
Announcement is made Of the APP
pointment of J. b. Morrissey as SUI
perintendent of public property for
Wisconsin. He win assume his new
duties on February Is. His home is
in Superior, where for 20 years he was
the general agent of the Duluth, South
Shore & Atlantic railroad
Wisconsin automobile drivers win be
required 10 pass a competency test be-
fore being permitted 10 operate their
cars, if licensing SYSTEM proposed h
a bill soon to be drafted by Senator
George l.. Buck Of Racine Is enacted
cato law.
A licensing system similar to that IN
operation in several states win be in
troduced by the Racine senator 1t is
aimed at reckless driving and at curb
Ing the number of accidents which are
said 10 have resulted from incompe-
tent handling Of automobiles. Care
less driving on the part of a licensed
person would result In withdrawal of
ME license by the court, which would
also impose "A fine. Licenses would be
renewed yearly.
The proposed Wisconsin law would
provide that any persen over a specific
age, which viii likely be set at sixteen
years, would be required to make APP
plication for a license TO the county
clerk. After he Lol demonstrated his
ability to handle car his application
would be sent to the secretary Of state,
who would then grant him a license
separate and distinct from the regular
automobile license which would con
tinue Il be required.
Local authorities would control ac-
lions of the driver through the license.
Should he prove reckless or incompe.
tent his license could be revoked for
the year. II would be renewed yearly
on request. Senator Buck believes that
his plan would give automobile drivers
move reason 90 be careful and would
be the most practical method Of re-
ducing the number of accidents. He
will also propose that all automobiles
must be Insured against accident. His
compulsory insurance bill would re-
duce the amount of litigation that re-
suits from accidents, he said.
Male persons only, as provided by
statute, will continue to be employed
In the Wisconsin legislature A move
to extend equal rights to women was
forestalled when the author of bin
permitting employment of women by
the legislature agreed to withdraw his
measure.
Assemblyman f. ]. Peterson of Mil
waukee introduced the hin which
would strike out the provision Of the
statutes which restricts legislative em.
ployment TO men. After consultation
with Chief Clerk Shaffer, who has been
holding his position since 1907, Mr.
Peterson decided to withdraw his pro.
posed legislation.
A free textbook bin which has heen
the bone of contention in many of the
recent sessions of the legislature is
again before the body. in the form of
a bin offered by Assemblyman L. II.
Johnson, Frederic.
The new hi provides that every
hoard of education or district board
shall purchase, at the expense of the
city, town or village district, such text.
books as are used In the grades below
the high schools under their jurisdic.
ton. This would not include the
parochial schools of the state.
Eight-Hour Bills Offered.
Assemblyman Thomas II. Conley,
Milwaukee. has offered bin declar-
Ing it to be the public policy of the
state TO be in favor Of an eight-hour
day. Such measure is not comnnl.
sorry in it's feature. but merely de-
clares state policy, Asser5lyman w.
+. Jordan. Milwaukee. has offered a
bin in favor Of an elght-hour day on