Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1921-07-14
MARKETING BILL
D. k. D BY BLAINE
Board Given Power to Probe
Production Costs.
LAW AIMED At PR0FITEERS
Measure Empowers the Attorney Gen.
eral to Prosecute Offenders
Regular Railroad Tickets
Good for Thirty Days

Good for Thirty Days
Madison.-Governor Blaine has
signed the state marketing commission
bill which gives the market board
trade commission powers.
BY the terms of this bill it will be
possible to make an investigation of
the cost of producing manufactured
products in this state. In the opinion
of Governor Blaine this Is probably
the most important piece of legisla-
tion TO be enacted at this session ond
his approval of the bill puts into force
one OF the most powerful agencies OF
government machinery to check prof
iteering. Not only has the state passed
the state market commission law, but
1t has also empowered the attorney
general with privileges to prosecute
profiteering IN the state.
The Morgan antiprofiteering bill CIV
ing the attorney general powers over
combinations in restraint of trade has
been signed by Governor Blaine. An
appropriation of $4,000 Is given to
carry out the provisions of the meas
ure.
With the new marketing bill soon TO
20 into operation, Wisconsin will have
effective laws to curb prOfiteers. At
torney General Morgan, who drew up
the bill signed by the governor, will
be directly charged with carrying out
Its provisions.
Every combination, conspiracy,
pool, agreement or contract intending
TO restrain or prevent competitor in
the supply or price of any article or
commodity in general use in the state
TO be produced or sold therein, is de-
clared Illegal by the bill, and punish
able by fine of not to exceed $1,000
for each offense
Attorney General Morgan is believed
to be In possession Of evidence on
which he will shortly start action
against a number of companies oper-
ating In the state.
Gov. John J. Blaine signed a bill
that will allow railroad tickets, ex-
cept excursion tickets, to be used any
time within 80 days. He also signed
the following bills:
Permitting district judges in Mil
waukee to fix bail In felony cases.
Increasing the maximum penalty for
bank robbery from Is to 80 years.
Permitting street cars to cross rail-
road crossings upon order of the rail-
road commission without having mo-
torman or conductor flag the crossing
where the railroad company has in
stalled sufficient safety devices.
Allotting some $1,000 to the Belmont
capitol commission for repairing the
old state capitol.
Making q small appropriation for
medallion Of Charles Mccarthy, late
head of the legislative reference IL
hrary, which will be hung in the as
sembly chamber.
Governor Blaine has vetoed the bill
TO create the office of Circuit court
calendar commissioner OF Milwaukee
county This official would have been
appointed by the joint action Of the
majority of circuit judges of Milwau-
kee county under civil service. The
legislature is expected to sustain this
veto
''All the duties this commissioner Is
required to perform may now be per-
formed by the clerks of the several
branches of the circuit court in Mil
waakee or deputies thereof" said
Governor Blaine.
This bill makes the commissioner
state officer with a part of his salary,
namely 800 per month, payable out
of the state treasury.
The office being local office, can
find no justification for paying any
part of the salary out of the state
treasury, and I base my disapproval
upon the single ground that purely
local officers should not be made state
officers, with a salary payable out of
the state treasury
Governor Blaine llso vetoed the bill
amending the law which permits cor
porations to hold stock in other cor
porations when the holders of three
fourths of the capital stock of both
corporations proposing to take the
stock and the corporation In which it
is proposed to be taken give their as
sent. The amended bill would have
abrogated the present law.
This cutie reverses the rule that
has obtained In this state for long
time for the protection Of competitive
corporations and indirectly protection
for the public" said Governor Blaine.
This permits corporation to hold
stock In another or competitive cor
poration without the assent of the
corporation In which the stock Is pro-
posed to be taken"
S2,677,s75 for New Buildings.