River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1909-01-21

f! will incapacitate them from work for an
average period Of four weeks each, which
| is equal to the full time of over $50 men,
More than this, it is probable that $50 Of
| these 10000 accidents will be fatal This,
added to the $50, makes a total loss of the
wages of 600 men per year Based upon
| the average annual wage rate of $500
each, this means a loss OF $500, 600 yearly
| to wage-earners and those depending
upon them, to say nothing about the loss
| in producing power (Which, no doubt,
| amounts to a much larger sum- and the
cost in court expenses to the taxpayers
of the state arising out of damage suits
Should not losses by personal injuries
be laid by some workable plan of mu-
tual contribution, upon the whole body of
the employers, the employees, and the
public, thus repairing, to the maximum
of practicability, the individual misfor-
tune, and minimizing the individual loss?
If that should be done, then how best to
do it. under our wise constitutional sys-
tenn, is the most inviting field for legis-
lative study and action of the day HUI
knynanity and economic prosperity, as well,
appeals for the best efforts of the best
minds on this question. I most earnestly
commend it to your consideration as a
question of first Importance.
The governor recommends the re-enact-
ment of the law regulating tenement,
lodging and boarding houses which was
passed by the Legislature of 1907 and later
declared Unconstitutional, the obectiona-
BILE features not affecting its essential OBJ
jects and being easily eliminated
In my message to the legislature Of
1907, called attention briefly to the i'm
portance of taking some action to SIM
plify our complex system of transferring
titles to lands While the population of
the state was small and conveyances Of
land infrequent the expense of our pres
ent system was not felt, but the dissati-
faction with present conditions now ap-
parent calls for some remedial legislation.
The governor declares the present system
cumbersome and recommends the adop-
ton of the ''Torrens System"
State Parks.
The governor urges the setting apart in
the state of all places of scenic beauty
and historic interest as state parks be-
fore it is too late. He also urges the
making of Lincoln's birthday a legal
holiday to "take rank in importance
with the birthday of Washington.
In reviewing the penal and reformatory
institutions, the governor reports them
in very satisfactory condition. He says
the Home for Predetermined at Chippe-
wa Falls will soon be filled and new
hospital will be necessary.
The Banking Laws.
In the department devoted to banking
the governor urges an amendment to the
statutes whereby a bank director must
own some substantial amount of the
capital stock of the bank before he can
be eligible for that office. He also urges
the adoption of more uniform methods of
keeping the books of banks.
In a former message, I called attention
to the inconsistency of our laws, which
do not provide the same protection for
savings deposits in our commercial banks
;e cd win intT CT d
to a mutual savings bank. Since COM
mercial banks are permitted to establish
and conduct savings departments, these
funds should be kept separate from COM
mercial deposits and be protected by
prescribing the character of the securi-
ties in which they may be invested.
Consideration should be given to eX-
cessive loans to officers and directors
of banks, and to enterprises in which
such officers are financially interested.
AS the security of banks is a matter Of
first Importance, the state can do no
greater service for the people than by
Strengthening their stability in every le-
Ultimate way.
In a section of the message devoted
to forestry interests the governor re-
views the vast interests of the state and
strongly urges every effort towards con-
servation He declares the statutes rela-
tive to setting fires should be made as
strong as possible and should be en-
forced by Furnishing those guilty Of the
infringement with the utmost vigor.
The Public Health.
Concerning the laws governing the
public health the governor recommends
the following amendments
First, statute providing for the COM
pulsory registration Of all cases Of tu-
berculosis. Second, the sanitary condi-
lions of schOolhouSeS and SchoolgroundS
is "a subject which deserves special atten-
ton. 1t seems, therefore, polite, that the
supervision of schoolhouses and grounds,
so far as sanitary and hygienic features
are concerned, should be under the i'm
mediate control of the state board Of
health.
The Importance of the dairy and food
laws of the state are reviewed and en-
phasized by the governor who urges
amendments to the laws to correct tech
nical defects.
In speaking of the National Guard OF
the state the governor says it is q mat
ter of congratulation that there have
been no infrastionS of law that have
made it necessary to call the guard into
active service during the past two years.
On the subject of civil service the gov
ernor says THAI the report of the COM
mission shows that effective and COM
mendable work has been done during the
past two years, and that generally the
statute has met the approval of the peo-
pie of the state
He recommends that the compensation
paid the commissioners be made an an
nual and fixed salary.
The governor reviews the insurance
laws passed by the legislature of 1907 and
then says: The failure of the last leg
islature to enact a law for the valuation
of policies of life insurance has left in
doubt the maximum rate of interest that
may be used The bill recommended by
the insurance investigation committee as
amended and passed by the assembly at
the session of 1907 would make the law
certain and while fully protecting the
policyholders would give elasticity neces-
sary to permit the organization and
growth of new companies on an honest
and solvent basis.
Complaint is made that the present law
taxing fire insurance companies results
in imposing upon our domestic companies
undue burdens by the operation of re-
taliatory laws of other states A read
justment of the basis of taxation to
avoid this injustice to our home COM
panies can be made without loss of reve-
nue. to the state. 1t is recommended that
such change be made at this session.
Arbitration Board.
After reviewing the work of the state
board of arbitration for the year 1908
the governor says: If it is possible. with
in constitutional limits, a method should
be provided by law by which the board
must be given notice of impending
strikes and lockouts That thereafter a
few days be given the board for invests
CATION and action before either party
shall proceed TO strike or lockout
That after the expiration of the fixed
ai%Ior h0th artioS han ha