The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1907-07-25
Resume Of the Session Of Legis.
lature Shows that Assembly.
men and Senators were Busy
ADVANCED LEGISLATION WINS
Many Laws of Pronounced Forward
Movement Are Passed by Wisconsin
Legis1ators-Most Important
Measures Passed

The session of the legislature just
closed was memorial in respect to
quality and character of legislation
as well as in respect to quantity of
new statutes and duration of the ses-
sion. The most important work was
accomplished along the lines Of
Life insurance regulation;
State control of public utilities;
Stock and bond regulations;
Primary election revision;
Residence district saloon option;
Form of election ballot;
Two cent passenger fare;
Substituting comparative negli-
gence" principle for the old econ
tributory negligence" in personal in
jury suits;
Regulating building of new lines
of railroad SO as to prevent unneces-
sary duplication of railroad facilities;
Liberal appropriations for the care
of the states charges in the eleemos-
ynary institutions for the state uni
versity, for new normal schools and
for the advancement of the states
educational equipment.
Some of the legislation is of the
kind known as advanced" or radical.
Not a few of the bills that went
through the mill, some with little or
no opposition, would have had no
chance, ten, eight, six, four or even
two years ago. Among such are the
following:
l. Providing for the regulation of
rates and of service of water, electric
light, gas, telephone, telegraph. street
railway, power and heating COM
panies.
D. Providing for the regulation of
the issue Of stock and bonds of all
public service corporations, giving to
the railroad commission supervisory
control over these issues and pre-
venting the issue of any stocks and
bonds except for actual value.
8. The enactment of insurance
Legislation affording protection to
Wisconsin policyholders, making
mutual in name by the abolition of
proxy in companies, mutual in fact as
well as company elections, providing
for publicity in all the affairs of the
companies and providing an account
of the po1icyho1ders' share in the sur
plus and an apportionment of divi-
ends.
4. Providing that slight negligence
on the part Of an injured employe
shall not be bar to the recovery Of
damages by him if the jury shall find
that the negligence Of the company is
greater than his own.
5. Submitting to the people pro.
posed amendment to the constitution
imposing a graduated tax upon in.
comes.
6. Providing for the expense and
formal ballot for a primary election
at which delegates to national con-
ventions of the various parties shall
be elected. The enactment of a law
which relieves cities other than Mil
waukee from holding a primary nn-
less stipulated percentage of cleo
tors call for primary.
z. Enabling cities and villages to
own public utilities and permitting
municipalities, when they purchase
public utility, to pay for the utility
out of the proceeds of certificates Of
Indebtedness which shall be lien on
the property SO purchased.
8. Submitting constitutional
amendment to the people, which
would permit the state to engage in
internal improvements, and partic-
ular1y extending state aid in the con-
struction and improvement of high
ways.
9. Providing for the humane and
sanitary housing of people in tene.
ment districts and for the inspection
and regulation of tenements.
10. The creation of a board of
immigration and for advertising the
opportunities for home seekers in
Wisconsin.