Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1923-04-11
Radical Labor Laws Losing Out

sions.
Defeat in the house of the Weber
bill to create a basic eight-hour day
on all public work came as distinct
setback to Socialists and other mem
| bers of the assembly who would Ego
the limit on labor legislation
The Weber bill, which provided that
mechanics and laborers on public con-
/ struction projects would have been
limited to an eight-hour day, was de-
feated, 48 to 80.
So marked has been the shifting of
! feeling in the assembly that there are
many who declare that the Tucker
bill to create a basic eight-hour day
1 in all industry in Wisconsin would
not pass if it came before the body
at the present time. The Tucker bill
was passed three weeks ago, AT to 80.
| Singularly, the Weber bill, which is
framed along the same general lines,
was beaten by about the same vote.
In other words, sixteen or seventeen
members changed their minds on the
eight-hour day proposition since the
vote was recorded on the Tucker bill
Drainage Law Loses in Vote
Repeal Of the Wisconsin drainage
law enacted by the 1919 legislature
was voted by the assembly after an
extended discussion during which
charges were made against the state
college of agriculture and various fl
nancial interests, which have pro-
NOTED drainage projects.
Assemblymen asserted that Wiscon
sin counties have been burdened with
millions of dollars worth of bonds for
drainage purposes that have proved
illadvised and worthless. They de-
clared poor farmers were induced to
take up almost sterile farms on
drained marshes and then taxed
heavily to pay for the drainage"
Those defending the university and
the drainage system asked that the
question be dealt with impartially.
City Control of Bars Favored
The assembly finally passed and
sent to the senate the Mark bill
amending the Severson prohibition
|
late use of screens, blinds and stand
ing bars in soft drink parlors. The
vote was 43 to "a.
Assemblyman Matheson, prohibition
leader, opposed the bill because he
considered it IAN entering wedge for
the return of the old saloon" The
stalls or booths, which the bill allows,
will assist any effort to bring back
saloons, he said. He declared that
state regulation for bars was better
than local regulation.
Assemblynlan Sachtjen favored the
bill on the grounds that it was in line
with the policy of home rule for COM
munities to which the legislature is
committed.
Gasoline Price Quiz Demanded
Investigation by a joint legislative
committee of gasoline and other fuel
oil prices in Wisconsin would be au-
thorized under resolution introduced
in the assembly by Assemblyman
Mark, of Iron county. 1t was referred
to the committee on highways.
The resolution sets forth that al
legations have been made to the effect
that gasoline and oil prices are higher
in Wisconsin than in other states and
that if such difference exists, it is a
gross injustice" and unfair expense"
to the citizens of this state.
The investigation committee would
\ be instructed to make such recon-
mendations in bill form as it may
deem expedient at the present legis-
lative session.
The Huber senate joint resolution,
proposing an initiative and referen-
dunn amendment to the constitution,
was concurred in by the assembly, SO
to 20. Under the constitution, the
resolution will have to be approved
by another legislature before it can
be submitted to a vote of the people.
The proposed amendment would give
the people power to propose laws and
to enact or reject them at the polls
and to approve or reject at the polls
any act of the legislature. 1t would
| also provide for submission of amend
nents to the constitution upon petit
ton of the people.
Salaries of all state employees would
be limited to $4,000 year unless the
wages paid any employee above that
amount are definitely provided for in
the budget of the department upon
which its appropriation is based, un-
der provisions of the Oliver bill, en-
crossed in the assembly The meas
ure is aimed at state employees, both
in the government and the university,
| whose salaries have been advanced
beyond the $1,000 a year point, with.
out approval of the legislature.
The assembly killed Speaker Dahl's
joint resolution naming May 10 as
sine die adjournment date for the