Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1923-04-12
LOOKING IN
ON THE
LEGISLATURE


Madison, Wis.-The finance com
mittee of the legislature at a special
meeting here fixed $255,000 as the an
nual appropriation for the Wisconsin
National Guard.
Under the present law it is posi-
bic for the militia to spend 100000
a year. An appropriation of 100000
is provided for annually while under
a special statute another 100000 is
made available.
The committee reached its decision
after a two hour session. Gov. Blaine
appeared before the committee, and
advised that an appropriation OF be-
tween S245,000 and S255,000 be given
to the state military force. Later the
committee virtually concurred in the
governors advice,
May Abolish Cavalry.
With an appropriation of S255,O00,
assuming that the committees recon-
mendation will be approved, Wlscon-
sin could maintain approximately
5000 troops. At present the guard
comprises between 5000 and 5000
men. The federal defense act. requires
the state to maintain at least 1900
men. 1t is possible that the cavalry
or some other unit of the militia may
be abolished under the reduced appro-
priation.
The reduced appropriation, it is
said, meets the objections of guard
opponents who a few weeks ago led
an unsuccessful fight for a measure
to abolish the militia entirely. If the
action is concurred in,
will spend thousands of
dollars less each year for its military
force.
Third Auto Tax Bill introduced.
The automobile taxation question
was further complicated when Sen
Rtor Polakowski introduced a third
bill applying to all features, Of the
automotive taxation problem that have
been proposed so far.
The original bills by the committee
on taxation would levy a tax of Q
cents a gallon on gasoline and would
place a weight and power tax on the
cars themselves to raise about Sill
900 900. The Polakowski bill would
also raise $11,0o0,000 but is intended
mainly to overcome objections OF
cities to the form of distribution Of
the money netted by the tax
Mode of raising the S11.000000 in
taxation differs somewhat from the
plan incorporated in the gaso
line tax bill and the weight and power
tax measure. Besides the weight and
gasoline tax the Polakowski bill pro
vides for a 2 per cent tax on the val
uation of the machines. This is in
tended to graduate the tax on cars
according to value, one of the obiec-
tons that has been brought against
the committee on taxation bill.
People taking out automobile liz
censes between July l and Aug. 80
would be given a Is per cent rebate
on their taxes; between Sept. 1 and
Dec. 81. so per cent of the tax would
be deducted.
Tucker Plan Marked for Death.
At the close of a protracted and
heated hearing the senate state affairs
committee voted to recommend the
killing of the Tucker eight-hour bill.
The i've members present voted for
indefinite postponement. Two mem
bers were absent. The bill has al
noodxr y,occcsd tho a ccpp1 h1U
Larger industries were represented
at the hearing, but the sharp clashes
we're between farmers on one side and
Socialist legislators and their allies
on the other. That many employees
want the bill killed was made evident.
The point on which farmers aud
many employees baked is the provi-
sion that the clock. be punched, on the
dot, and that overtime be treated23a s
/ crime.
The hearing brought delegations
from many points, More than LOO
the senate parlor. In num-
Der Of instances, manufacturers and
were ranged on the same
side.
A sweeping ban would be placed on
the teaching of all foreign languages
in Wisconsin schools if a bill intro
duced by title in the legislature by
Assemblyman Matt Koenigs, Fond du
Lac, should be enacted into law.
languages, both ancient and
modern, would be stricken from the
curriculums of graded, high and nor
NAL schools, under the provisions OF
the Koenigs bill. The University of
Wisconsin is the only institution re
ceiving state aid that is exempt. Pri-
vately operated educational institu-
tons do not come under the measure.
The bill by Assemblyman Weber,
advocated by labor organizations of
the state, which limits to eight hours
a day the amount Of work done on
any public building or project, includ-
ing highways. was killed by the as
sembly, 48 to go. Passage Of the bill
had been recommended by the com
mittee on labor. The present law on
this subject applies only to work on
state buildings.
Amnesty to political prisoners con-
fined to federal prisons as a result of
their war activity was asked by the
senate through adoption of resolu
y