Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1921-07-07
NEW DRY LAW IS
EFFECTIVE JULY |
Act Is More Drastic Than the
MuIberger Law.
PROVIDES 8 MORE OFFICERS
Statute Allows $4,000 for Enforce
ment of the LaW-Aimed~ to
Wipe Out Commercial
Moonshine Traffic.


fOrcement measure passed by the leg
islature, now in effect, is more com
plete in Its provisions aimed at moon
sinners" than the Mulberger law,
which has been on the statute books
for the past two years;
The old law allowed 81, 900 annually
for enforcement. The new law allows
1000 and eight new deputies to rout
out the "mOonshiners" are to be ap-
pointed at once, according TO Stanley
Smith, prohibition commissioner. 80
that the public may not always be
advised as to who is a prohibition
commissioner, the appointments nave
been exempted from civil service and
the commissioner will be allowed TO
select whomever he pleases.
The new enforcement measure
makes the possession Of any still, con-
trivance, device OF mash evidence OF
the violation Of the law. The Whole
tenor of the act Is aimed at moon
shining" but there is SPECIFIC pro-
vision aimed to safeguard the nome
from search and seizure. The law Is
aimed at the commercial end of the
liquor traffic In an effort TO stamp it
out.
Governor Blaine has signed the dog
tax law. This law was passed two
years ago, but 1t then required IL
cense of So for a female and So for
male dog. The law just approved By
Governor Blaine fixes the fee at "
and 81, The money raised by these
fees is used to compensate owners OF
sheep and other animals killed by
dogs.
Five changes are proposed III the
present constitution at this session or
the legislature This is the largest
number of changes that have been
urged since 1913, when more than
dozen proposals were made, practical
ly all Of which were defeated.
The changes which the Legislature
favored are:
Providing that sheriffs may succeed
themselves In office.
Granting home rule to cities and vii,
lages
The legislature may provide that
valid yerdicts In civil cases may be
returned by no fewer than fve-sixths
Of the jury.
Giving the legislature power to tX
the salary of the governor.
Authorizing cities to incur an in
debtedness on the property value TO
acquire public utilities
Cities of the state will be allowed
70 incur an indebtedness of per cent
for the purpose of acquiring public
utilities. The present limitation in
the constitution Is 5 per cent, but the
addition can only be used for public
utility purchases. The idea for this
change seems to have originated in
the city of Superior, where the TAX
ing over of some of the larger util-
tiles has been proposed. This is
move in favor of municipal ownership
of these enterprises.
Many years ago the salary of the
governor was fixed in the cOnStitu-
tion at 5000 a year. Changed condi-
tions have resulted In the state paying
several of its subordinate officials
more than this amount. The secre-
tray of state board of education, the
state engineer and the highway en-
gineer are now receiving more than
the governor. The change now pro-
posed is to allow the legislature to
fix the salary of the governor, but
ii shall not be fixed at less than $5,-
600 annually. Governor Phillip, when
In Office. declared that he spent much
more than his salary in conducting
the ordinary affairs of the Office, and
this statement resulted in the move
ment in the legislature two years ago
to have the salary changed
In both civil and criminal cases it
has always In this state required a
unanimous verdict. The proposed
change will not affect criminal cases,
but 1t will allow five men in q jury
of six and ten men In a jury of twelve,
TO bring In verdict in civil case.
Governor Blaine has vetoed the
Fowler bill providing state finger
print bureau.
The governor vetoed the Roethe bill
striking from the present law the
phrase that nomination for Office
shall be made by and with the advice
and consent of the senate. The gov
ernor says the bill Is neither helpful
nor harmful; 1t serves no purpose"
Refuses 90 Reconsider Vots.
The house during the past week re-
fused to reconsider the vote by which
1t killed the Skogmo bill for the es-
tablishment of public utility districts
and empowering towns and cities to
buy street car and interurban lines
The assembly concurred In the bill
adding more territory to the newly
created town of Harding In Lincoln
county so there would be a sufficient
number Of qualified electors to trans
act town affairs. Il concurred in the
Nye bill giving cities power to defe,
the payment Of taxes
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