Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1925-03-12
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legislature 81

.Sl& a 3SH0
The administration highway bill,
which provides a new two-cent gaso-
line tax, was passed finally, SO to 6, in
the assembly and sent to the governor
for signature. Virtually no opposition
developed on final passage.
The gasoline tax, which goes into
effect April /, will be collected from
wholesalers and jobbers, it was an
nounced by E. J. Onstad, assistant
state treasurer. A reorganization of
the staff in the secretary of states
office will give that department one
office clerk and three field men to take
charge of the active enforcement of
the new law
The administration highway bill pro-
vides the method sof distributing ap-
proximately $15,O00000 which is ex-
pected from the 2-cent tax on gasoline,
the automobile license tax and from
federal aid.
About $5,500,O00 will be needed for
the general state highway fund and
the free fund" to be expended by the
highway commission on the state trunk
system and $3,OOO,OOO for county trunk
roads. The residue Of nearly $780,
900 will go beck to the counties on
the basis of 60 per cent on road mile
age and 40 per cent on automobile
registration.
Three classes Of roads are provided
for, primary, secondary and other
roads The allotment for primary
roads is $500 a mile, for secondary
$500 mile and for other roads $500
q mile. All cities will be allowed from
$50 to 5000 mile for streets, accord
Ing to the population of the city.
The Holly marketing bill has been
advanced to final passage in the as
sembly by vote of So to 20, which
was preceded by desperate efforts to
block this action. Opponents of this
measure are fighting it upon the
ground that it gives sweeping powers
to cities, towns and villages to engage
In the buying and selling Of agricul-
tural products. Following five hours
of arguments, the assembly was thrown
into an uproar when forces opposing
the bill attempted to halt It's advance
ment by forcing roll calls at every step
and by makings repeated motions for
adjournment. Assemblyman Thomp-
son of Oshkosh took up nearly an hour
of time in reading a decision of the
United States supreme court concern
Ing a similar bill enacted In North
Dakota and when he began to read 1t
for a second time he was ruled out Of
order.
The Holly bill confers upon cities,
villages, towns and counties powers
to build, buy, lease and operate ele-
vatOrs and warehouses and cold stOr-
age plants; to buy agricultural prod
ucts from any person, cooperative
organization of producers, or govern
ment agencies and sell such products !;
TO act as agent In the sale Of such
products.
A finance committee bill, aimed to
stop mounting salaries In the state
service, has been engrossed in the SEN
ate. The bill provides that depart
ments cannot raise salaries except with
the approval Of the governor. The
much agitated question Of preventing
legislators from holding state Offices
is dead, with the senate killing the
Titus bill for this purpose. The vote
was IL to 10.
The Schumann resolution for a ref
erendum on modification of the Vol
stead act was killed in the senate,
with both wet and dry senators against
it. Senator Ben Gettelman, Milwau-
kee, declared the measure SILLY" The
state affairs committee recommended
that the Schumann resolution be killed.
Five appropriation bills, passed by
the senate, have been concurred in by
the assembly. They provided for oper-
alton of the department of engineer
ing, real estate brokers board, Wis
consin mining school, commissioners
Oh puD1c -ldnUS ana transfer Oh money
from the soldiers rehabilitation fund
to the university fund income.
The assembly has eliminated num-
Der of bills, including proposals to
abolish the treasury agent and con-
solidate the office with the state treas
urer, create a state building and loan
department and require automobiles to
stop at railroad crossings where there
are warning signals.
The assembly has reversed Its pre-
vious passage of the Hillman bill for
uniform school term of nine months
and indefinitely postponed it, 30 to 36.
Opposition developed from some who
favored home rule in school affairs
The senate has killed the Polakow-
ski ne-day-restin-sey bill which
would have extended the seven day
work prohibition of the present law
to janitors and bakery, mill, hotel and
restaurant employees.