Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1921-05-12
NON-EMPL LOYMENT
MAY be SOLVED
Elan Indicated by Revision of In
SuranGe Measure.
TO CLASSIFY THE HIGHWAYS
Bill by Engineer Hirst Through Sen-
ate Committee Providing for Max
imum Loads and Governing
Horse-DraWn Vehicles.

MadiSOn.-That an early effort will
De made to pass a bill to solve the
question Of unemployment at this ses-
sion OF the legislature is indicated by
the revision of the unemployment in
surance measure which has been made
by Senator II. A. Huber, the author of
the original bill
The new Huber bill greatly modifies
the original measure which he intro
duced in the legislature and he is hope
ful that, in its amended form, the bill
3 may receive the approval of the legs-
lature.
The substitute reduces the rate of
compensation from $1.50 to 81 day
for IL weeks, but adds an additional 10
per cent to be paid into the state treas
ury to meet the additional expenses of
operating the free employment offices.
The substitute also introduces pro-
vision by which the insurance and
compensation provisions shall not go
into effect until a finding is made by
the Industrial commission that en-
ployment conditions are improving.
Then a further provision is intro
duced i'll the form of a three-year ini-
tial period after the law goes into eff
feet, during which the industrial COM
mission may reduce the period of I'M
employment compensation, in order TO
enable the insurance company and the
state insurance board to work out the
insurance rates and maintain the
solvency of the company. During this
initial period the maximum period of
unemployment compensation is re-
duced TO six weeks, but is restored TO
Ii weeks after the expiration Of the
period. During this initial period also
the industrial commission may reduce
the period of compensation to even
less than six weeks if the reserves OF
the company are reduced so low as to
endanger the solyency of the COM
pany.
A statewide classification of high
ways as to weight of trucks allowed
on them has been proposed in a bill
introduced by Engineer A. r. Hirst
through the senate committee on high
ways
BY January l, 1929, all roads in the
state would be classed as A, B. or G,
upon which the maximum load allowed
in any motor vehicle, trailer or semi
trailer would be l., 61a and 31a tons
respectively. After this classification
no person would be allowed to Operat"
any automobile, truck or hOrse-drawn
vehicle over the roads if the load eX-
ceeded the amount prescribed by the
classification. a heavy penalty is pro-
vided for each separate violation.
Those roads forming a part of the
state trunk highway system would be
classified by the state highway COM
mission, by the state road and bridge
committee for county roads and by the
town or village board, or by the city
council for roads maintained by such
municipalities. Immediately after
classification a map would be pub
lshed showing the maximum load linn
its for the different roads.
After January l each vehicle would
be required TO have posted on it's side
a tag showing the weight of such We
hicle without load, the advertised
capacity load and the total weight of
the load and vehicle.
Under the proposed law exceptions
might be made by the proper authori-
ties in cases of public need or for good
reason.
The bill also extends the provisions
of the present law prohibiting children
under sixteen from driving motor We
hicles and the driving of such cars by
drivers when intoxicated. This is the
first law for the classification of roads
ever proposed in the state and seems
TO meet with no small favor in the
legislature.
BY a divided vote, the committee on
transportation has recommended for
passage the Kenyon bill which changes
the basis of valuation for public utili-
ties In the state. The new bill pro-
vides that in the fixing of any rates,
tolls, charges or schedules or joint
rates the commission shall base its
findings upon the original cost of
utility property. When any rates,
tolls. charges or schedules or joint
rates are being fixed under the pres
ent system the value of public utility
properties for rate-making purposes
is based upon the physical value
of the plant" The Kenyon bill further
Iprovides that municipalities of the
state may operate a competing plant
within its limits without first securing
a certificate of public convenience
and npceSSity.