Weekly Watertown leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1908-1909, 1909-01-15
Davidson Urges Consideration of Income
Tax and Would Change UtiH-
ties Statute.
SEES PERIL IN GOOD ROADS PLAN


sage is the governors endorsement Of
the insurance legislation which has
been declared By q number Of life com
panies to be so radical that they could
not continue business with profit in the
state If, however, he says, there has
been some misunderstanding Of the stat
utes by the companies then there should
be correction, but, he says. there
should be no sacrlnce Uf tAe principles
Of these acts for that purpose
The governor advocates changes i'll the
primary election laws which would pro-
vide particularly for the rotation of
names on the ballot.
Anent the notable late senatorial con
troversy in which large sums of money
were used, Gov. Davidson believes that
the primary act should be so revised as
to provide for the filing Of election eX-
penses before the primary campaign. In
this connection he says:
I'm view of the large sums Of money
which the official statements of candi-
dates show were expended during the
last campaign preceding the primary, it
is well to consider whether there may
not be some way devised by which ex-
penditures by candidates for office may
be limited. A provision requiring can
didateS and committees to make and file
public statements showing the amount
expended. and the purpose of the ex-
penditure, before the primary, instead of
after it, and making the filing of false
statements a disqualification for office,
would tend to discourage the excessive
and improper use of money"
Peril in Highways
The governor points out Il dangerous
amendment to the constitution endorsed
by the people at the recent primaries
1t provides that the state may appro-
pirate money for public highways The
governors says:
This is a very important and far
reaching amendment, and one which
opens the door of the treasury to the dis
erection of the Legislature to an extent
not probably suggested by casual read
ing. The amendment now gives
unlimited authority TO the state. IS
Since all our navigable streams and wa
terWays, railroads, and canals, as well
as our wagon roads, are public high
ways" it viii be seen that the authority
Of the Legislature under the amend
ment, is very comprehensive indeed
call your attention to this
fact for the purpose of impresSing upon
you the necessity of n conservative and
careful exercise of the great power con
ferred by this amendment"
Other Recommendations.
Some of his other notable recommends
tons are as follows:
TAXATION
Test Of the present law declared unconstf-
titional by the attorney generaD providing
fer reassessment by the state commission
where protest is made. or re-enactment of
Il law that would be constitutional
Serious consideration of 4 graduated in
come tax law.
Enactment of laws to strengthen the in
heritance tax law, thereby preventing eva
sion.
Taxation Of telephone companies on a
,f,,I ,,f,
vide more equitable assessment.
PUBLIC UTILITIES.
Amendment TO law which would allow
corporations to surrender at any time fran
ChiSCS i'll exchange for indetcrminate per
mts
Passage Of law which would give the
railroad comm Ssion jurisdiction over all
railroad crossings, both in the cities and
out
Increase in transportation rates should he
prohibited until first authorized by tho ra il !
road commission, thus avoiding MANY small
appeals to alike burdensome to the shipper
and carrier.
commission to investigate and permit the
issuance of stocks ana bonds if amount is
found to be reasonable for the required pur-
pose
MISCELLANEOUS.
An appropriation Of 100000 to meet the
needs of the state university
The encouragement of correSpondCuce
schools in that institution.
Distribution of expense alike on Cmployc
and employer in personal injury suits
Passage of TOrrenS system of land titles
Making Lincon's birthday legal holt
Continuance of the state park system.
A law which will put trust companies re-
ceiving savings deposits under same reStric-
lions as banks.
Preservation of the state forests.
An act requiring reporting all cases of
tuberculosis
Amendment to dairy and food laws which
will remedy minor defects
Passage of an act preventing discharged
state employe carrying case before jury
when dropped for inCompetcnCy, but giving
such person right to appeal only to civil
service commission, except in certain eases
Abolition of fee system in state insurance
commissioners office.
Industrial accidents and insurance for
injured men or families of victims of
fatal accidents are recognized by the
governor as vital subjects. He says
that in 1909. according to past aver
ages. there will be 10000 accidents to
workingmen in Wisconsin. They will
mean the sacrifice of time amounting TO
the whole of a years time of 100 men
and 300 of these accidents, he SAYS
viii be fatal. the loss in wages amount
ing to 100000. 1t is recommended that
the legislators take the lessons presented
i'll foreign countries on these subjects.
This years message is not 4 long one
rs compared to documents of past wears
II contains fewer than 200OO words
ana taxes up thirty One SUBJECTS. W hen
the two houses met at 10 o'clock this
morning the message was almost the
first thing taken up. Copies were dis
tributed through the chambers ana while
the members followed inc reading tn
their copies, the message was read hv
Clerk c. Z. Shaffer in the Assembly
and by Clerk f. E. Andrews in the
Senate.
Following arc extracts frorl the gov
c~Dorss message:
FINANCIAL
The following table shows tse amount on
hand in the state treasury belonging to the
several funds OF the state. on the Seth day
of December 1895 viz:
General fund NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. So u 81. -
school fuIJ NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. S't3.2I
School fund iJcoEIc ............. ia;}. ;,5. 81
University fund NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 639..l+
University IunC income $1,000. 5.50i -tlg
Agricultural college rurd. .. TnG.G1
AEriCuftureI college fnna if.cn:.,a S1II.i