River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1921-07-21
BILLS PASSED by
STATE LAWMAKERS
Four Acts Take Lead Among the
Big Measures.
MARK CLOSE OF THE SESSION
Market Commission, Dry Enforcement,
Workmen's Compensation, Teachers
Retirement, Regarded as Most
important of New Laws.
BY Fred L. Holmes.

Madison. Four big propositions
passed at the tifty-fifth session of the
Wisconsin legislature and approved by
Governor Blaine marked the legisla-
ton of the session as of importance.
These big bills are:
A state market commission law which
gives the state marketing board power to
determine the cost of producing manure g
tured products and of farm products with
sole power to encourage direct marketing
and cooperation.
The enactment of the Blaine dry en-
forcement measure aimed at moon
shine and the Illegal traflic in intoXicat-
ing liquors.
Increasing the amount of indemnities
under workmens compensation law in
case of accidents.
bill placing the teachers retirement
fund on a sound financial basis and Civ
ing an annuity to teachers who have rem
dered long service in the state. This bill
is financed by a one-sixth increase in in
come taxes.
There was no important income tax leg
islation, aside from teachers retirement
fund tax, at this session of legislature.
The three big income tax bills-the Dahl
bill to revise income tax rates and repeal
of personal property offset; the Severson
bill for surtax on incomes, and the Ar
mold bill for revision of present tax rates
were all killed.
No state tax will be necessary to meet
the expenses of government according to
statement mada by joint finance commit
tee.
The estimated disbursements for the
coming biennium are S45,5S7,3l4 and the
estimated receipts are $44,23S,50S. The diff
ference in disbursements over receipts
can be met by tie present balance in the
treasury, according to the statement of
the finance committee.
Many important pieces of legislation
were defeated, including the proposed
constitutional amendment for the initia-
tive and referendum in this state: bill
for the recall of appointive public Off
cials by a majority vote of the legislature;
a bill increasing exemptions under state
income tax law the same as under federal
law and a bill raising the rate for insur-
ance taxes.
Educational Laws.
At the commencement of the session
there appeared to be a great demand for
the enactment of some law for the cor
relation of educational institutions of the
state. Several bills were introduced
changing the present boards of regents
of the higher educational institutions and
other bills were offered for the centrali-
cation of ill of the educational powers in
one board. All of these bills were de-
feated and so far as the higher educa-
tional institutions are concerned no legis-
1ation of Importance was enacted. There
was legislation, however, of Importance
for vocational work.
Governor Blaine signed the bill provid-
ing for half-time compulsory attendance
of children in industry up to the age of
sixteen. This bill, together with one
stitutes the most comprehensive educa-
tional provision for the working boys and
girls in this country. Both of these bills
were introduced by John Dahl, the as
semblyman from Barron county.
bill introduced earlier in the session
raised the full time attendance at school
from fourteen wears of age up to the
time the child graduates from the eighth
grade or has been in school nine years.
Under the latter bill passed these chill
dren who are graduated from the ele-
mentarv school or have been in school
nine years and go into industry can work
only half time and must attend school
half time. Under the bill which the gov
ernor first signed children working are
required to attend school until they are
eighteen years of age. Up to the age of
hours week. The bill permits the state
board OF vocational education to delay
putting the bills into effect fully until
necessary adjustments can be made but
not later than September l. 1923
The present legislature has made four
important amendments to the educational
bonus law. BY an amendment introduced
by Senator LANCE of Eau Claire, the priv
ileges of the educational bonus law may
be extended to students who have re-
ceived the cash bonus without first re-
turning the cash bonus. Under this law
students are assigned to the. educational
institutions Immediately and their edu-
cational bonus is withheld until the
amount equals the amount they received
for the cash bonus.
An amendment introduced by Senator's
CzerWinski and Ridgway provided for the
payment of bonus to students who at
tended educational institutions subse-
service and prior to formal application
by the state board of education. The
purpose of this amendment was to allow
the educational bonus to students who
entered school prior to a knowledge of
the educational bonus law.
Another amendment extends the privi-
leges Of the educational bonus law to stu
dents who entered the military service
November u, 1918. This applies to num-
Der of students whose cases had been
held in allegiance for long time and who
were suddenly called between those dates
prior to the signing of the armistice.
Still another amendment authorizes the
state board of education to assign dis
abled soldiers to private business coll
leges in cooperation with the federal
board of vocational education
Public Health Legislation.
The legislature provided fund of $1,000
per year for general administration OF
the state board of health, S41 $50 per year
for venereal disease control, $4,000 per
year for the bureau of communicable dis
cases, S0,UvU per year LOT me supervision
of comfort station and rest room con-
struction, and s31. 100 during the first year
and so, 100 the second year for the bureau
of child welfare and public health nurs
ing. The former appropriations of $3.50
yearly for laboratories and $3.50 for sill
yer nitrate for the prevention of infant
blindness were renewed. Other funds are
received L der licensing laws.
Other acts affecting the state health
department were as follows:
Providing for a full-time health officer
in all cities Of Is 900 or more.
Providing for vaccination of school chill
dren at the expense of the municipality.
except where parents choose their own
physician for the purpose: and reducing
the exclusion period when smallpox is
present from % to IA days.
Transferring the jurisdiction of regis
tered nurses from the board of medical
examiners to the state board of health.
and providing for a committee on nurs-
ing education and director OF nursing
education.
Providing for furnishing quarantine
signs and placards to local health Off
GERS at cost.
Making pneumonia and sleeping sick
ness reportable diseases.
Extending the public comfort station
act to give to governmental units the
option to provide comfort station and
rest room facilities in camp site and
other places of public assemblage.