Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1907-01-18

ton to aid in fixing fair and just rate OF
COMPENSATION for services rendered.
A limit should be placed upon the capl,,
taliZatio of local service corporations, anu
the issue of stocks and BONDS Dy tnem
should be under the supervision OF tne
state commission charged with reguiatlon
of such corporations, Massachusett rs ana nn
New York have provided that no stocks or
bonds shall be issued by this class OF cor
portions without application having hrst
been made to the state COMMISSION anu us
approval obtained after an examination as
to the necessity of such issue ana tne
methods and purposes of the lnvestment OF
by actual investment, just rates can readily
be ascertained and the accumulation OF
large surplus funds through excessive
charges may thus be prevented
Municipal Ownership.
There is a growing sentiment in favor
Of municipal ownership and encouragement
should be extended in this direction. es,
pecially with respect to water WORKS ana
gas and lighting plants. / recommend the
necessary legislation to enable any CITY
or village to establish public utilities, or
to acquire such as may already exist I'M
der the power of eminent domain, and to
pay for the same out or the pr9 zee Soe OF
be made a lien ON the property SO ac-
CURED In the purchase of such utilities
by, the municipality, it should not fo ne the he
franchises where the same have been
granted without consideration me leg
islation already recommended to limit the
duration of existing franchises would be
q material aid to municipalities contem-
plating the purchase, of public utilities;
I have treated this subject at sollls
length because l am thoroughly convinced
of its great Importance, and that the regu-
lation Of these corporations by state com.
mission is necessity. me sentlm sad IN IN
the several party platforms, Is pronounce
and emphatic for legislation giving me
as well as the executive stand pledgea .
to the enactment Of law provlding I or
the regulation of the rates WndGn Sna b be
charged and the services which shan De
rendered by such corporations, Tor the ue-
termination of the valuations OF properly
Of all corporations engaged ~ IN sl pnoi of
stocks and bonds of such corporations anu
for the restriction of such issue 10 a nt az
value. There is no desire on tue par AZ ~
the people of the state to needlessly lntere
fere with the ownership and operation on
public service corporations or to impair
the value Of legitimate nnder
stand the public mind, longer TO poslptonJI
legislation for the supervision and controdd
of such corporations for the protectlon VI
| earnestly hope that the legislative arm arm
of this state which has seen fit to protect
the people Of the commonwealth Lr r2iloo uis
viii also grant appropriate relief to the
people Of our cities against the e1acllonS
The LEGISLATURE is urged to carry out
the reforms urged by the committee
which investigated the life insurance
companies
The governor then told the Legislature
of the needs of the state, penal ana
charitable institutions which are for the
most part in good condition.
The states school system is also III
fine condition.
The dairy and food laws should be
amended so as to strengthen the COM
mission.
Condemns Branch Banks.
The governor condemns branch banks
as he says that they not only supplant
independent banks or preclude their
formation, but enables the parent bank
to solicit business at unwarranted and
improbable rates outside of districts
naturally tributary to it and to indeh-
nately increase it's liabilities without
corresponding increase in banking cap
ital The governor recommends either
the prohibiting of branch banks or re-
uuirement of increased capital. He also
urges more stringent laws safeguarding
savings banks.
A law permitting railway employees to
recover damages for injuries it it is
found that their negligence is less than
that of the railroad or that of co-em-
ploye contributing to the injury. 1t
seems no more than just" says the gov
ernor, "that where the negligence Of the
railroad contributed to the injury, the
company should bear a proportionate
share of the loss"
Mr. Davidson recommends that re-
organization Of the state service be made
to the end that duties be more specific
ally defined, unimportant offices for
which there is not sufficient work be
combined wherever feasible, or abolished
and their duties assigned to other en-
ployes, and the salaries be paid in pro-
portion to the value of the service de-
manded.
Regarding the primary election law the
governor says:
In general the law has been a success and
gives every indication of accomplishing the
results promised for 1t. 1t can be said that
no grave, defects have been revealed in the
law, and while some complaint was &C.
casioned in regard to the workings of GER
tain provisions, it must be borne in mind
that the law was an exceedingly radical
one in the number of innovations over the
old caucus and convention system. I am
confident that in time the difficulties COM
planned of will disappear as the public
famiIiarizes itself with the methods fol-
lowed. I am inclined to regard present
complaints as only temporary.