River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1899-01-19

alton believtas ,h.1 such a change will
save the state thousands OF dollars
The Land Department.
In my recommendations two years ago
concerning the state service, ! referred 10
the land department. and expressed be-
lief that the expenses of carrying on that
department might be greatly reduced with
out injury TO the service. There was under
the new law very little, If any, reduction
made, ! think, In the force in this depart
ment. / earnestly recommend that as a
distinct Office ii be abolished; that the duty
be imposed upon some single department
of the government, and that the number of
persons employed In the performance of
the duties be limited by law This will,
| am sure, secure great saving to the
state, with gain of efficiency in the trans
action Of the business
Bank Examiner.
In my message to the legislature In 1897
/ called attention to the need of revising
the present banking code and its apparent
inadequacy to meet the requirements of
the banking business of the present day.
Steps were taken to prepare a new code
to be voted upon by the people, and such
code was presented, and voted upon a the
last general election, but was not adopted.
1t is worthy of your consideration wheth-
er it would not be wise to again bring this
matter before the people, so that it may
again receive their attention. l recon-
mended at that time, also, some changes
in the law concerning the Office OF bank
examiner, and pointed out that II was the
clear intent of the banking law now in ex-
istence that the state treasurer should
stand In the relation TO the state banks
which had been occupied prior TO the adop-
ton of the present code, by the bank comp
troller. II is very doubtful whether the
law passed in 1895 creating the office Of
bank examiner is in harmony with the
law adopted by vote of the people in
1860.
bureau of Labor statistics,
one of the chief features of the work
performed by the bureau of labor statis-
tics has been the attention given to the
question Of child labor. Under various
pretexts many Of them worthy of some
consideration, hundreds of children under
the age prescribed by law have been kept
employed, to their detriment as well al TO
the general injury of society. So rapidly
are the industrial institutions of the state
multiplying that it has been found neces-
sary to take advantage of the privilege
given under the present salary law to en-
ploy extra factory inspectors for this de-
partment. / believe it is necessary that
more factory inspectors be employed If this
department is to efficiently and success
fully carry on its work.
Dairy and Food Department.
While much attention is still devoted by
this department TO the dai y industry and
the enforcement of the laws against the
manufacture and sale OF impure dairy
products, and more and more attention is
coming to be paid to the general subject OF
food adulteration. There is a great field
here for the department, and its work in
the future will necessarily experience a
large growth The protection of the peo-
pie against adulterated and deleterious
food is a duty which may well claim Sc
rious attention from the state.
state Board of Immigration.
The state board of immigration has pre-
pared a brief report, which has been laid
before you, showing what work has been
accomplished in the way of inducing set
tiers to locate upon the vacant lands In
the northern portion of the state. Carefully
prepared figures show that during the past
two years 5,14l settlers have taken up land
in &c of the northern counties of the state.
About75per cent. of these new settlers came
from other states and foreign countries,
while % per cent. of them are merely trans
ferred from the older settled portions of
Wisconsin. These settlers entered $50, 00C
acres of government land under the home
stead law, and purchased, or contracted
for, 200 acres of uncultivated land. 1t
is not claimed, of course, that all these set
tiers are the direct result of the work per-
formed by the board of immigration, but
it shows very gratifying growth in the
population and resources of the state.
Arbitration and Cancellation.
The state board of arbitration and concil-
iation has assisted in settling all of the Sc
roius differences l believe, which have oc-
CURED between employers and employees
in the state during the past two years
excepting the strike at Oshkosh. 1t is
but necessary to point to the labor troubles
at Oshkosh to Indicate the value of the
work of such a board, and what a saving
to labor and capital may be effected by
wise efforts to bridge over difficulties be-
tween them.
Status of War Claims.
1t is my duty to advise you of the status
of the claim of Wisconsin against the
United States to indemnify the state for
expenses incurred during the war of the
rebellion. The claim was filed by previ-
Gus administration. 1t has within the last
TWO years received careful attention from
the encouragement and other state Of
ticers, and a. the proper auditing depart
ment of the United States, with view to
classifying the claim and separating the
items which fall clearly within legislation
heretofore enacted, from those not at any
be very clear that over 100000 of this
claim, being for interest paid by the state
on funds borrowed and interest lost by the
sale of Understanding securities, to raise
money with which to equip troops and
enable Wisconsin to do her part in the
preservation of the union, should be- with
out question, as a matter of justice, repaid
TO the state.
The swamp Land Claim.
ar1V in 1aC CT abr mi pa q
was introduced, at my instance. in both
houses of congress, to provide for the adj
iustment of the differences between the
state and the United States over the
swamp land grant of 1850. The senate bill
was referred, as is the custom, to the de-
partment of the interior for examination
and report, and l am advised that the
points of difference have been adjusted,
and that the department will recommend
the passage of the BILL with some amend
ments which seem to be just
The bill provides that before any pat
ent shall be issued to the state under its
provision, the state shall by Legislative
authority, relinquish all its right, title and
interest to the lands which have been dis
posed of by the government to settlers,
and also to the lands of which settlers are
the purchasers. and also to the lands, if
any, which have been allotted to the
Indians and to the swamp lands within the
Indian reservations. This subject has had
my careful and constant attention, and IS
receiving the careful attention of the del
egation in congress. 1t will if consum-
mated, give to the state of other public
lands over 10000 acres.
The Pass Question.
The two leading political parties in con
vention assembled adopted resolutions con-
demnatory of what is known as the pass
system" and demanded the enactment of
legislation to put an end TO it. These reso-
lutions were severally unanimously adopt
cd. They are to be taken, although differ
ing somewhat in form and scope, as eX-
pressive of the popular sentiment upon the
general subject, and l earnestly recon-
mend that legislation be enacted giving
full effect to the popular will as thus ex-
pressed. l believe that the legislation
should not be restricted to the giving of
passes by the corporations indicated, or
their acceptance by a public official for
his own use, but that the prohibition
should extend to any person upon the re-
quest of public officials. In this view the
law should prohibit the granting of passes,
or the acceptance of passes or franks, to
or by public officials and also the granting
of transportation or franks, or facilities of
any kind, to any person. directly or in
directly, upon the request of any public of
ncial. l recommend that an adequate con-
stitutional amendment be submitted TO
the people in order that, if adopted, the
prohibition shall be a part of the perma-
nent law Of the state, beyond reach of
legislative modifca ton or repeal; and that
there be promptly enacted legislation COW
cring the same ground. to be in force un-
til 1t shall have been superseded by consti-