Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1925-01-22
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Legislature

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Indeterminate sentence in criminal
cases Improvement of our present
laws" were urged by Gov. ]. ]. Blaine
In his biennial address to the Wis
consin legislature
The governor said that his message
called for practically no new legisla'
ton with the exception of the portion
recommending an indeterminate sen
tence law, giving the board of control
power to determine the length OF con
hnement of the prisoner between the
minimum and maximum periods pro
yided by law.
Indeterminate Sentence Law
There are more than 100 judges in
the state who have power to impose
sentences in cases of felony" he said
The result is variety of sentences
producing the greatest inequality
The confirmed criminals are frequent
ly given short sentences while the
comp aratively innocent or casual OF
tenders are given long sentences, with
the further result that the first of
tenders and habitual criminals go in
and out of prison together"
Following are other recommends
made by the governor:
Favors Gasoline Tax
Enactment of a 2 cent gasoline tax
Ratification of the child labor
amendment to the constitution.
Budgeting of highway revenues and
expenditures for six years, beginning
July l, 1925.
Adjournment Of the legislature by
May /.
Asks EquaIized Taxes
Equalization of state taxes upon
the principle that those who are best
able to pay should bear their equitable
share of the burdens Of government
and to that end, recommend and ad
justment of income tax rates and dis
tribution.
Passage of proposed highway legis-
iation by March /.
Concurrence by the legislature in
the constitutional amendments provid
ing for the initiative, referendum and
recall
Completion Of the home rule pro
gram.
Fewer Commissions Sought
Reduction of state board and com
missions.
Appointment of an interim legisla-
tive committee to formulate refor'
estation plan for the future.
That the legislature turn its atten-
ton to ''The very serious problem OF
school taxation and expenditures
which have reached the enormous sum
Of over $5S,OO0,00O per annum."
In so far as practical, that all emer-
gency laws and all indefinite and I'M
limited appropriation acts be SO
limited as to meet unforeseen emer-
gencies and contingencies only"
Sachtjen Chosen Speaker
1t became evident soon after the
converting of the legislature that the
forces to the policies of Gov. Blaine
are In control of both the senate and
assembly. In the assembly, Herman
w. Sachtjen, former state prohibition
commissioners, was elected speaker on
the third ballot. The first two ballots
showed a spirited contest between
Sachtjen and Charles B. Perry, anti
Blaine candidate, the latter receiving
80 votes in each instance, while Sacht-
jen had As on the first ballot and AZ
on the second On the final ballot the
vote was Sachtjen, So; Perry, 20;
scattering, 49, Ed. Shaffer was elect
ed chief clerk of the assembly with
out contest. For sergeant-at-arms
Thomas Bartingale, Chippewa Falls
was elected with So votes. Other con
testants were Sixtus Lindahl, %; T
G.. Cretney, 10, and Alfred Becker, s
Blaine Forces Rule Senate
A resolution sponsored by Blaine
supporters, created committee or
committees passed the senate by 9
vote of IL to 16 This received the
votes of Senators Sauthoff, Keppel and
Severson, who had been counted as
insurgents against Blaine domination
Organization of the senate was thus
put under control of friends of the
governor
There was little contest for senate
posts. Senator Howard Teasdale was
elected president pro tenn, F. w
schoenfeld, chief clerk, and C. A
Leicht, sergeant-at-arms.
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