Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1909-01-20

The statute might give the discharged
employee the right to have his case
heard by the civil service commission.
tho decision of the commission to be
made final, except where the employee
files verified answer that his removal
was fo. political or religious reasons,
in which event the employee should
be permitted to resort to the courts
u he so desires The governor
thinks also that the compensation
paid the commissioners should be
made an annual and fixed salary.
The governor stands stoutly by the
insurance legislation of 1907 but says
that the failure of the last legislature
TO enact a law for the valuation of
policies of life insurance has left
in doubt the maximum rate of e
terest that may be used. l.
sides, the organizations of the ng.
companies has disclosed the desfs
ability of a more elastic system
of valuation than that heretofore spe-
ciically authorized by law. Complaint
is made that the present law taxing
fire insurance companies regults IL
imposing upon our domestic COM
panies undue burdens by the opera
ton of retaliatory laws of other states.
The law now imposes tax OF four
per centum upon the gross premiums
received in the state, dedueting
amounts paid licensed companies for
reinsurance. return premiums. and
actual losses less reinsurance losses.
No other state collects its taxes upon
this basis. AS a consequence, under
the retaliatory laws of other states,
our companies are compelled, in many
states having such laws, to pay the
largest amount of taxes which can be
computed on the basis of either their
laws or our laws. A reimbursement of
the basis of taxation to avoid this in
justice to our home companies can
be made without loss OF revenue to
the state. 1t Is recommended that
such change be made at this session
The governor declares that all ex-
Dense and compensation so collected
by the commission for examining
companies should be paid into the
state treasury and the commissioner
required to file his actual expense ac-
count, to be audited and paid as
other accounts are paid by the state.
This will insure justice to the com
panies examined and discourage un-
necessary examinations The COM
missioner now receives a salary of
SIS 600 per year, which compensation
is as liberal as that paid to any other
state officer
The governor thinks that free en-
ployment bureau for strictly farm help
might probably be provided, that an
excessive number OF blueboolSs is is
sued, and that some salaries in the
labor bureau be increased.
The governor denies 1t probable
that for many years to come the
state will not undertake the improve
ment of navigable rivers The ma
tional waterways commission Ia nov
engaged In practically same work
throughout the United States as Is
required OF our waterways commits
sion. In his opinion, the expense of
maintaining the commission longer
will not be repaid by the benefits re-
ceived and he recommends thre the
act creating the commissio.i be re-
pealed.
Passing Bills Late,
In conclusion the governor directs
the attention of the legislators to the
evil custom of leaving the passage of
the great bulk of bills until the clos
ing days Of the session