Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1923-04-05
LOOKING IN
ON THE
LEGISLATURE

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Madison, Wis., Budget requests
totaling 1857 900 annually for each of
the next two years, were made by the
adjutant generals department of the
Wisconsin National guard to the joint
committee on finance.
This is a cut of $233,00O under the
original request of 100000 annually
for each of the years.
For the adjutant generals office
proper a request of $42,640 was made
and for the quartermaster general
$78,465. Aid to cities for rental and
maintenance of armories is set at
$198,677, with pay of troops $48,000,
bringing the total request to $367782.
Gov. Blaine has said that the guard
should be maintained at cost Oh
100000 or less so that a further re-
duction may be effected by the COM
mittee on finance.
The 1857 900 appropriation asked by
the guard for the coming biennium
is based upon an estimated strength
of 6,272 officers and men, required to
meet the federal allotment of strength
to Wisconsin, Adjt. Gen. Salsmen told
the committee. He said that this pro
vided for 329 officers and 5,893 men.
Two Labor Bills Killed
Two labor bills, one prohibiting
night work in bakeries, the other ex-
tending the scope of the law for one
days rest in seven to creameries and
cheese factories, were killed by the
Wisconsin senate. These measures
were passed by the assembly by
large majorities.
There was the first evidence of a
division in the upper house alignment
on labor measures, with several Pro
gressive Republicans opposing the
bills. This is taken to mean that
much of the lower house legislation
affecting labor will meet strong oppo-
sition in the senate.
The Killianl bill, prohibiting work in
bakeries after p. M. or before 4 a.
m. was killed by reclamation. The
huffing bill extending the scope of the
rest day law was killed by 13 to 10
vote.
Gas, Auto Bills Arouse Protest
The hearing before the joint high
way committee 'on the two highway
bills to produce 81, 900, 900 by means
Of auto weight and gasoline taxes
proved to be a curtain raiser in the
controversy over auto taxation for
bills for this week and the week fol
lowing to enable others to express
their views. Highway Engineer A. R..
Eirst explained the purport of the
bills and interpreted the figures bear
ing on the highway situation.
Mr.. Hirst said that next year motor
vehicles will travel 1900. 100000 miles
on Wisconsin highways and that,
though the cost of roads may appear
high, the figures show they will pay
only one-tenth as much a mile to
travel as they did ten years ago. He
denied that the state is pressing the
taxpayers to keep up with federal aid
requirements. Wisconsin, he said,
stands forty-second on the list of
states availing themselves of the aid
provided by the government.
Wants $40 License Retained
Speaking for the Wisconsin auto
mobile owners, H. A. Apple, MilWau-
kee, recommended that the auto IL
cense be retained at the $40 figure,
and that a 2-cent gasoline tax be
added to produce $3,250,O0O addition
al. With 100000 to be raised from
trucks, busses and dealers, he said
the sum of $8,000,0O0 would be avail
able, which would be ample if the
state would restrict its state highway
program SO that part of the money
could be used on county roads.
Gasoline dealers suggested amend
ments, one beng that the purchaser
of gasoline for other purposes than
automobiles should make his state
ment and obtain his refund from the
state rather than through the dealer.
Tax Secrecy Repeal Certain
Final approval was given the Sever
son bill removing the secrecy clause
to the Wisconsin income tax law
when the assembly concuTred in the
senate action on the measure and
sent it to Gov. Blaine for his sigma
ture
With the signature of the governor
assured, the Progressive Republicans
assert they have now carried out
their first campaign pledge. The
move to open income tax returns to
the inspection of any person or inter-
est was an outstanding feature of
the last political campaign,
The bill was cencurred in by the
assembly without even the formality
of a roll call.
Senator Max Heck's bill creating a
juvenile court and welfare commits
sion for Racine county was killed in
the senate.
A. E. Smiths bill for state board
with power to license and regulate
architects. engineers and land survey