River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1921-02-24
State Legislative News
From Hon. C. e. Henson

senlbly sent to engrossment by vote
of IA to 10 the bill for compulsory
free text books Saturday. This is
measure that has come up in many
previous sessions of the legislature
but has never succeeded UP to this
time. The bill will come up for pas
sage on Wednesday, after which it
will go to the Senate.
The wet and dry fight will be stag
ed Thursday, when the Matheson bone
dry bill comes up as a special order
of business at 10 o'clock. Through
the absence of majority vote in the
committee the bill was reported out
for indefinite postponement and a
close vote is expected in the House.
Repeal of the secrecy clause of the
state income tax was recommended
last Thursday by the Senate judiciary
committee. The bill was introduced
by Senator H. ]. Stevenson. Assem-
blyman c.. E. Hanson was the father
of a similar measure in the House.
last year.
Senator Severson declared that the
passage of this bill would result in
putting many hundreds of thousands
of dollars upon the tax rolls OF the
state. He read the reports OF the
state tax commission which declared
that with a small additional appro-
priation and the repeal of the sec
recy clause additional millions Of dol
lars could be placed on the tax rolls.
Severson said that if the secrecy
clause was repealed the fear OF dis
covery would result in an honest IN
come tax report by the large corpora
tions. The bill will come before the
Senate for passage the later part OF
this week.
Assemblyman c. E. Hanson, Pierce
County, has introduced bill IN the
House which would exempt small ell
ectric light plants from coming under
the supervision Of the Railroad Com
mission as public utility. This is
aimed so as to allow the plants of ID
killowatt capacity and less to fur
nish light to nearby homes as a con-
venience without coming under the
public utilities clause of the present
law regulating monopolies. Since the
introduction of the bin Assemblyman
Hanson and Senator George Skogmo
have had numerous communications
calling their attention to the need OF
such law.
w. Stanley Smith of Ashland took
office as Prohibition Commissioner
Monday. Smith succeeds 7. i. Haz-
elberg, who was appointed by former
Governor Phillip and whose appoint
ment was never sent to the Senate
for confirmation as provided by sta
tute.
Judge Charles Rosa, Peloit, whose
appointment to the Tax Commission
was also confirmed last week, will
take office May /. His term is for
years with salary of $4,000.
More than $50 bills were introduc-
ed in the Assembly Wednesday, which
was the last day for such introduction
by the individual members. From
now on new bills will have to be pass
ed and introduced through the several
committees. The number of bills now
introduced is nearly 200 less than
were introduced at the last session
at this time According to the more
experienced members this indicates
general disposition to hasten the
work of the Legislature.
State ownership and operation OF
storage houses, warehouses and gram
elevators, advocated by the socialists,
drew a test vote in the Assembly
Saturday which indicates the proba-
HE defeat of this measure. Final
action was deferred until Wednesday
when the bill will again come before
the Assembly.
Next Thursday afternoon the Rail
road Commission will appear before
the Legislature to answer questions
regarding its recent decision on Mil
waukee gas rates. Seventeen mem
bers of the House of all parties sign
ed the citation calling the commission
before the Legislature.
At no time since the Railroad Com
mission law was passed does there
seem to be so much opposition to the
Commission as at the present time.
Probably half a dozen bills have al
ready been introduced aimed at the
Commission.
At the beginning of the session the
farmer members decided that they
would back the C. E. Hanson bill
V hich calls for the right Of the Leg
isiature to remove any appointive
nh r /.