The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1923-07-05

"PETERED OUT.
Session Opened With High
Hopes Few of Which
Were Realized.
TOO MUCH PICKERING


after adjournment they will be found
to be few and of minor Importance,
compared to the achievements expect
ed when the houses convened six
months ago, legislative bulletins show.
The session convened faced with FIVE
major problems; taxation, highway
legislation, prohibition enforcement,
education and unemployment insur-
ance. It is preparing. now to adjourn
without having effected enactment in
to law of any measures of Importance
relating to these subjects of proposed
legislation.
Radical changes were expected from
legislature, both houses of which
were controlled and organized at the
outset by La Toilette Progressive Re-
publican Socialist coalition. Besides
the contrib of this group, was the ex-
pected majority of vote in both the
senate and assembly.
Much Fighting-Little Done.
After six months of fighting, cen
, tered almost exclusively~in the closely
divided senate, the progressives and
the vets admit that they have accom-
plished little-that the expected chang
es have not been forthcoming.
Senate action resulted in the kill
ing, one after another, of six general
income tax bills. fractional divisions
within the progressive ranks in the
senate CAUSED defeat of proposed reven-
ne law changes, upper house members
agrees
| The senate and assembly did agree
upon a highway tax to shift larger
share of the burden of road building
| expenses from the general property
tax payer to the automobile owner,
| by passing a gasoline tax and weight
tax bill. Governor Blaine ended the
hopes for this program, members say,
by his reported veto of the gasoline
tax proposal.
No Action on Prohibition.
Refusal of the senate to submit to
a recommendation of Governor Blaine
and stands in favor of modified en-
!
enforcement law, resulted in defeat of
the liquor legislation. The upper
house killed the lower house move for
repeal of the state enforcement meas
ure, putting an end to the major wet
move of the session.
! BY killing the Dahl bill for reor-
ganization of the system of educational
administration in the state, the as
sembly ended the attempt to CONSOLE
date boards and get unity in the Wis
consin school organization. The state
board of education, which acted as g
research department in education, was
abolished on the recommendation OF
the governor.
Unemployment insurance, labor's
principal demand from the session, en-
ded in bill asking for an interim
committee to study the question. Fac
ed with defeat, action on the major
proposal was deferred for two years
Passed Many Minor Bills.
While failing to approve the major
problems which confronted the ses-
sion, the legislature has passed and
the governor has signed over SOC
bills. In addition "a resolutions me-
lnorialilizing Congress for action on 9
variety of subjects were adopted by
| the two houses.
Following are acts of the legislature
that have become laws of statewide
Importance of the session:
New laws affecting labor, provide
for legalized peaceful picketing in
labor disputes; increased construction
1 by the board of control during periods
of depression to provide work for un.
employed; inclusion of hotel workers
under women's hours of labor law; low
ering of the number of hours which
women in industry might work from
10 hours a day and 55 hours week
to 9 hours day and 55 hours a
week, and restriction of the use OF
injunctions in labor disputes.
Dealing with taxes the legislature
repealed the secrecy clause to the in.
come tax law. Regulations imposed by
the tax commission prohibit promis
cuous use of income tax information.
In educational matters, the session
abolished the state board of educa.
ton, and it prohibited the use of his.
tory texts in schools which defame the
founders Of the republic, besides in
creasing the size of the University Of
Wisconsin board Of regents by two
members to give the administration
immediate control of that institution
For agriculture the session so fa1
has provided law to prohibit the use
of dairy names in advertising imita
ton dairy products, while $1,000,00t
appropriation for eradication of bovine
tuberculosis is pending.
Both houses passed a gasoline taz
and weight tax bill to finance high.
way program, but executive disaprov'
al is expectedNto kill the proposed gas
tax.
Game laws generally were revised
Regulate Dance Halls.
Regulation of dance halls to sup,
press vice among young people was
provided by the legislature, by its
empowering counties to enact regulat
DRY ordinances.
Home rule for counties was voted
and approved by the governor.
| Congress was memorialized to repea
the Esch-Cummings railroad law; tt
refuse to send American soldiers over
seas; to take over coal mines and tt
do a number of other things Of i'm
portance.
Criticism was directed NV the Iepis