Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1923-02-21
LOOKING IN
ON THE
LEGISLATURE

Madison, Wis. = Reorganization of
the entire system of administering
Wisconsin schools is called for in a
bill introduced into the. assembly by
+ Speaker John L. Dahl, Barron county
This measure is of sweeping impor-
lance and is expected to precipitate a
bitter legislative battle.
Abolition Of the board of normal re-
gents, the state board of university
Il regents, the state board of education
and the state board of examiners for
teachers licenses is provided in the
bill The powers of these educational
agencies are given to new state
board of education, created by the
proposal.
This new state board of education
is to consist of II members, 10 of
whom are to be appointed by the gov
ernor, and the state superintendent of
instruction, who is an ex-officio mem
Der and elected by the people.
The present financial, accounting
and investigative powers of the exist
ing boards are definitely given to the
new board, Mr. Dahl pointed out.
The board is supposed to study an
nually the, supply and demand and
placement Of teachers and the devel-
opment of means of providing for a
proper distribution of the teachers
who are trained in the state.
Bill Hits State Prohibition.
The state prohibition department
would be put out of business under a
bill introduced by Assemblyman Rich
ard Kamke of Merrill.
The bill would reduce from $50, 900
to $4,000 the annual appropriation to
this department, the effect being to
nullify enforcement of the Severson
law as w. Stanley Smith, state pro-
hibition commissioner, would be with
out sufficient funds to carry on his
work
Drys in the legislature will mobilize
their forces to defeat Kamke's bill,
because they believe it's passage would
make the Severson law dead letter.
New light was thrown on the wet
program with withdrawal by Assem-
blyman F. j. Peterson, Milwaukee, of
his resolution memorializing congress
for beer and light wines, and substi-
tuting therefor resolution asking
congress to amend the Volstead act
favorable to the manufacture of liquor
for beverage purposes within the legal
meaning of the eighteenth amend
ment.
Automobile Hazard Increasing.
The steadily increasing automobile
hazard in Wisconsin, as in practically
every other state, is depicted in the
official statistics of deaths compiled
by the state board of health annually.
With 1922 fatalities recorded, showing
: total of 237 deaths due to automo-
bile accidents, the roster of automo-
bile deaths for the past IL years is as
follows:
1912, 81; 1913, 35; 1914, As; 1915,
SO; 1915, rs; 1917, 112; 1918, 131;
1919, 1877; 1920, 1879; 1921, 2O5; 1922,
237.
Many measures are pending in the
legislature designed to curb motor &C
cidents. They pertain to licensing of
drivers, stopping 400 feet from rail
road crossings, adequate lights, i'm
posing personal liability for damages
caused by collisions and other re
quirements.
Income Tax Law Change Asked.
A drastic change in the state in
come tax law as applied to corpora
lions is proposed in a bill introduced
in the upper house by Senator M. w.
Heck of Racine.
Mr.. Heck proposes that where a
corporation has lost certain sum OF
money in any one year, that sum shall
serve as an offset in the payment of
it's corporation income tax the follow
ing year. The method Of computa-
ton, however, would be applicable
only for one year.
81 think this change should be made
in a spirit of fairness" declared Sen
ator Heck. "The bill simply provides
that if concern lost 100000 this
wear and made $150,000 next year, it
would pay an income tax next year
on only $4,000. Or if it lost 100000
this year and profited 100000 next
wear, it's loss would act as an entire
offset and it would not be required to
pay a tax next year"
The Heck bill would in many in
i stances mean saving of thousands
of dollars to corporations who CHANGED
to experience a lean year.
Boards controlling school buildings
and other public property would not
be permitted to grant the use of such
property for social festivities if, at
the social function, there was any
dancing, smoking or card playing, pro-
viding a bill introduced by Assembly
man j. c. Hanson, Dane county, is
passed The bill would only affect
school buildings and public property
located outside of cities and incor-
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