Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1921-07-27
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 |. Holmes.

BY Fred L. Holmes.
Madison. = Four big propositions
passed at the fifty-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 manufac-
tured products and of farm products with
and cooperation.
The enactment of the Blaine dry en-
forcement measure aimed at moon
SHINE" and the Illegal traffic in intoxicat-
Increasing the amount of Indemnities
under workmen's compensation law in
case Of accidents.
A bill placing the teach@s' reERement
fund on a sound financial Sasis "a Civ
ing an annuity to teachers who hive rem
dered long service in the state This bill
is financed by one-sixth Increase in in
come taxes.
tslation, 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 made by JOINT finance commit
tee.
The estimated disbursements for the
coming biennium are $45,5ST.3H and the
estimated receipts are S4i. 23S,5 SOB The diff
ference in disbursements over receipts
can be met by the 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 intia-
tive and referendum in this state: a bill
for the recall o. appointlve public off,
Gals by a minority vote of the legislature;
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 l great demand for
the enactment of some law for the cor
relation of educational institutions of the
state. Several bill. were introduced
changing the present boards of regents
of the higher educational institutions and
other bills We're offered for the centrali-'
zation of all 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-
lation 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
sixteen. This bill, together with one
signed by the governor earlier, con-
stitutes the most comprehensive educa-
tiohai provision for the working boys and
girls in this country Both of these bits
were introduced by ,Tohn Dahl. the as
semblyman from Barron county.
A bill introduced earlier in the session
raised the full time attendance at school
fourteen
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-
mentary 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
sixteen they are required to attend eight
hours a week. The bill permits the state
board of vocational education to delay
y ting the bills into effect fully until
l. essary adjustments can be made, but
not later than September /, 1928
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
An amendment introduced by Senator'S
Czerwinski and Ridgway provided for the
payment Of bonus to students who at
tended educational institutions subse-
Quent TO their discharge from military
service and prior to a 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 )f the educational bonus law to stu
| dents who entered the military service
| between the dates of November l and
November i2 1918. This applies to a num-
Der of students whose cases had been
| held in allegiance for a long time and who
were suddenly called between those da&es
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, 80 per year
| for venereal disease control, Sl3 300 per
/ year for the bureau Of communicable dis
/ OF comfort station End rest room con-
/ struction. and S3l, 100 during the first year
I and 81. 100 the second year for the bureau
/ of child welfare and public health nurs-
/ ing The former appropriations of S,49l
yearly for laboratories and $500 for sill
yer nitrate for the prevention of infant
4 blindness were renewed Other funds are
received under licensing laws.
Other acts affecting the state health
! department were as follows:
Providing for a full-time health officer
I IN all cities Of IS 900 or more
! Providing for vaccination of school chill
/ dren at the expense Of the municipality
1 except where parents choose their OWL
/ physician for the. purpose and reducing
1 the exclusion period when smallpox Is
I present from % to Il days.
Transferring the jurisdiction of regis.
1 tered nurses from the board of medical
4 examiners to the state board of health
I and providing for a committee on nurs-
| ing education and a director of nursing
I education.
Providing for furnishing quarantine
signs and piacards o local health OH.
1 GERS at cost.
Making pneumonia and sleeping sick
4 ness reportable diseases.
/ Extending the public comfort stauor
/ act to give to governmental units tht
T option to provide comfort station anC
4 rest room facilities In camp site anC
! other places OF public assemhlage.
NJ