Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1907-01-16
cO-empIoye Legislation.

lot SdcH bfancn INSTITUTION opened by
it,
co-empIoye Legislation.
The governor recommends the pas
sage o. a law which will permit rail-
way employees to recover damages for
injuries, If it is found that their negil-
gence was less than that of the rail
road or that of a co-employe contrJ-
uting 10 the injury, and that in all
cases there shall be submitted 70 tie
jury the question of the existence of
contributory negligence and the com
parison of the negligence as between
the railroad and the employee.
Civil Service Commission.
The experience and investigation of
the civil service commission has deni.
onstrated that the working organtza-
ton of the different state departments
is not suited to present conditions. In
some Offices employees are still work
ing under an apportionment of duties
and salaries provided in the statute
originally creating the department.
The duties of other employees nave
changed, o. been increased or les
sened. Positions are being main
tanned for which the work required bv
law is not sufficient TO warrant the
salary expenditure, while often in the
same office an undue amount of work
is required of another employee Many
persons are being employed. the ma
ture of whose duties have no relation
to the title of the posi- ton which they
hold. There is also no just relation
ship between the salaries paid and the
work performed The governor rec.
ommends that reorganization of the
state service be made to the end that
duties be more specifically defined
unimportant Offices for which there Is
not sufficient work be combined wber
ever feasible. or abolished and their
duties assigned TO other employees. and
that salaries be paid in proportion o
the value Of the service demanded
He submits for consideration the pro
priety of appointing a joint ST.. ding
committee, whose duty it shall be dur
ing the first nCnth Of the session t.
conduct an investigation into the prac
teal working Of the several depart.
ments of the state government for
the purpose of ascertaining the meth
DDS adopted for the conduct Of the
public business, the number of EN-.
plcyes and their duties and the con.-
pensation now provided by law Such
a committee would be able to report
to the legislature within reasonable
time, any changes which may BE
deemed advantageous 10 the service
Primary Election.
The primary election law passed
1908, and adopted by vote of the
people at the general election in 1904.
was given its first trial in 1906
While opportunity had been previous
y afforded to observe the operation o.
the law in the nomination of munici
pal officers, it remained for the gen
eral election of 1906 to subject this
measure to the severe test. In gen
eral. says the governor, the law has
been a success. and gives every indica-
ton of accomplishing the results prom
Used for it. A strong interest was
manifested in the law in all parts Of
the state, as was evidenced by the
large vote cast at the primaries II
can be said that no grave defects hase
been revealed and while some core.
plant w0a occasioned in regard 10 the
workings Of geftath provisions, II must
be born IN mind that the law was an
exceedingly radical one in the num
Der Of innovations over the old caucus
and convention system Il am con
fident that in time the difficulties com
planned of Will disappear as the pub
lie familiarizes itself with the methods
followed Criticism Of much the
same nature was evoked by the first
| trials Of the present ballot system,
but they soon disappeared as voters
became more thoroughly acquainted
with the practical operations Of the
law. | am inclined 10 regard present
complaints as only temporary In
view Of the fact that all members Of
| the present legislature, with the ex
ception of senators elected two years
ago, were nominated under this law.
the experience and opportunity for
study thus afforded should serve as a
valuable aid in determining what
amendatory legislation should be en-
acted"
Land Titles
The governor thinks our present
system Of transferring land ties nag
become complex and he suggests that
under the Tore Us system TIE title TO
realty Is registered as distinct from
the deed The owner Of the land up
plies to the register o. deeds for IT'S
registration. and where the title Is
found perfect II is reg, te"sd an
guaranteed The official guaranty at
title is the distinguishing feature of
this system. Tie governor say thai
| If in the Judgment Of the legislature
the present method Is too cumbersome.
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