River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1921-04-07

growing beets has resulted in gen.
eral movement among the farmers for
the establishment of such a plant
Farmer members claim thai the es-
Enlistment of a binder Gwine plant
at the prison has resulted in reduc-
ton of Irvine prices and believe that
the establishment of beet sugar
plant would result in the reduction
of the price of sugar.
Governor John ]. Blaine took di-
rect issue with the senate last Thurs
day and re-srbmitted the name of
Brayton O. Webster, Delafield, as
member of the state conservation
commission In message to the
senate, Governor Blaine points out
the qualifications of Mr.. Webster for
the position and declares that the
statute does not disqualify a man
from serving on the commission if he
belongs to no political party.
II am convinced that am serving
the public interests in resubmitting
the name of Mr.. Webster declared
Gov. Blaine. sit is unthinkable to be-
lieve that party utilization is necess-
airy for public service. For emphasis.
I repeat that the statute does not pro-
vide that the members of the commits
sion must belong to any party"
There is a plain inference in the
governors message that Mr.. Brayton
O. Webster has been an Independent
in politics. The senate last Wednes-
day by vote Of Is to IL refused to
confirm this appointment on the
ground that the confirmation of Web
ster would put three men on the COM
mission Of the same political faith,
Gov. Blaine declares that if Mr.. Web
ster is not in all respects qualified
by reason of training, ability and ex-
perience or is not man of unim-
peachable character and reputation
he will withdraw the name, otherwise
he feels that the senate should con-
firm it,
The dog tax law passed at the 1919
session of the legislature and the SUBJ
ject of much protest on the part of
the farmers, has been a tremendous
money maker for the counties of the
state according to figures presented
in the legislative joint finance COM
mittee by VIM. Olson, chairman of
the assembly agricultural committee.
Last year the owners of dogs paid
into the state treasury $595,000. OF
| this amount Is per cent, or $4,000
was kept by the state and the balance
will be returned to the counties aft
er deducting damage claims allowed
stockmen.
Each county will receive all money
paid in tax after deducting Is per
cent in the state and the damage done
by dogs in the county. The damage
claims so far are small and each
county will receive a substantial sum,
Olson said.
| The new bill will produce much less
money for the state. The old law
| taxed male dogs So and females SIS.
The new law taxes males ST. and fe-
males So.
Figures were presented to the COM
mittee showing that 5000 sheep were
killed by dogs in Wisconsin last year.
| There were also numerous hogs and
other stock killed, witnesses said.
Governor Blaine reiterated his de-
termination to enforce economy in
the affairs Of the state when ne sent
back to the assembly without his ap-
proval bill appropriating $4,000 to
the state conservation commission.
Likewise the governor again called
/ the attention of the Legislature to the
necessity of reducing appropriations
instead of passing measures contain
ing increases of. from II to SO per
cent. The conservation bill carried
an appropriation for the purpose Of
operating the wardens' division cover
ing period ending June 80, 1921, and
is in the nature of a deficiency ap-
preparation, though ! do not consid-
err it as SUCH
Governor Blaine calls attention to a
number of sections of the statutes
and then declares that it is the plain
policy of the law that the consewa-
ton department should be self-sup-
| porting "That policy has, of course
not been fully carried out" declared
the governor.
This game warden bill comes up
for consideration in the house again
on April IS. Assemblyman Mark Cat
lin, Appleton, the stalwart leader of
the housa, has indicated that he IN
tends 20 make an effort to put the bill
over the veto of the executive. w. E.