Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1923-06-14
LOOKING IN
ON THE
LEGISLATURE

Madison, -Wisconsin's entire
tax revision fight, which has been
keeping the state legislature in stew
for months, has shifted to the assem-
bly, following the killing of all of the
tax measures on the senate calendar
The Dahl bill, sponsored by the
speaker of the lower house, is on the
assembly calendar this week and will
form the basis of attempts at COM
promise between the Progressive fac
lions.
The measures killed in the senate
included the joint faance committee
bill, the Johnson substitute, the gov
ernor's bill and the Carey substitute
amendment which took the form of a
separate bill, and the Severson BILL
Speaker Dahl announced he would
call a conference committee of Pro
gressives in final attempt to agree
on amendments that will make his
tax bill acceptable. While the assem-
bly, might accept his bill in its present
form, it would stand no chance I'M
amended in the senate.
The Severson surtax bill was the
only one on which there was close
vote in the senate, engrossment being
refused, 16 to Is.
The tax bills killed sought to relieve
property Of $7,500,o0O taxes a year and
would have increased income taxes
by this amount.
Each of the bills sought in differ
eIlt way to shift a large revenue bur-
den from general property to corpora
ton and individual earnings. Bust
ness interests of the state had fired
broadsides of criticism against the
measures, threatening in some in
stances to move industries from the
state if the proposed laws were en-.
acted.
1t was proposed in each tax meas
ure to repeal the state mill taxes for
educational purposes, including the
support of the state university and
the normal schools, and to substitute
additional income taxes imposed
through revision of the present laws
SSIS OIL OidSitOStS T cNOiCA
By vote of II to Is, the senate
passed the Bentley bill which, if con
Cured in by the assembly, provides
that all who desire to practice the
healing art must have studied the sub
ject of diagnosis.
"This bill simply carries into effect
the recent opinion of our supreme
court" explained Senator Bentley.
Those who treat the sick, other than
by spiritual or mental means, can be
sued If they use improper treatment
by reason of lack of reasonably
correct diagnosis. This measure would
ascertain whether the applicant had
such knowledge before permitting him
to set up his practice
The upper house reconsidered and
then advanced without further change
the amended MINER bill, providing for
the licensing of chiropractors. Under
terms of this bill, as amended in the
senate, chiropractors would be given
a representative on the state board of
medical examiners and would be
licensed after an examination. Such
examinations would be by a committee
of chiropractors for all subjects ex
cept diagnosis, which would be by the
board.
Gasoline Tax Passes in Senate
Wisconsin's road building program
has been definitely settled by the sen
ate and there is every indication that
the assembly will approve of the sen
ate program. The senate passed a
bill providing for a 2 cent tax on
gasoline in Wisconsin used for motor
vehicles and if this bill is concurred
in by the assembly, the road build
ing fund in Wisconsin will be en-
riched by about 100000 annually
Each cent Of gasoline tax raises ap
proximately $1,500,0OO in revenue
annually.
The tax for gas is part of the
road building program. A separate
bill has been set for passage in the
senate providing for graduated
auto license fee, ranging from SO to
S26, depending upon the weight of
the car. The auto license fee will
raise approximately a fund of SO,
100000. Of this sum, however, over
$2,500,000 is returned to the county
The 70 per cent retained by the state
is used to meet purposes Of federal
and state aid and the construction of
bridges.
Abolition of the Wisconsin blind
bureau and transfer. of its duties TO
a field agent working under the state
board Of control was voted almost
by the state senate
This bureau was created by the 1921
AS a result of admins
tration of the new state department
started two years ago, the blind of the
state urged the present legislature to
do away with the bureau. There was
little opposition to the repeal bill,
after it had been amended to give $751;
900 to the state board Of control for
field work among the blind.
Governor Blaine signed bill intro
duced by Assemblyman Charles B.
Perry, Milwaukee, which adds to the
list of organizations definitely men
toned in the statutes whose badges