Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1911-01-13


may De defeated by showing that he W.
OF contriDutory negligence no MAJ
seI IN now slight degree, that the acci
1ent was Que to the ordinary risks of the
enIpioyment which the law SAYS he as
"hen ne went to work, or that il
Tas uue 10 the fault of a fellow servant.
1esleo by these rules probably I'm not
over nfteen per cent. of these nersonaI
exist oi' u "clioii
Inc present system which bases the
,isht or recovery in these cases upon
nusauon should so far as possible be
aoohsned altogether and a system of
Jost, prompt and certain compensation
Oh all wage-earners injured In the course
OF their employment should he substi-
tuted for It,
Ii seems to me that of all plans thus
iar put In operation, the German system
- the best 1t is compulsory and re-
CURES no contribution from employees in
accident cases. So long as the constitu-
IONS or the state and nation remain as
they are, any system Of workmen's com
pehsauon established here. unlike that of
germany, cannot be compulsory. but must
be optional or elective. I have faith that
even with this exception and in the face
OF constitutional difficulties, the ingenu-
" or the legislative mind will find a way
LOT the enactment of a statute which
VIII do for us substantially what the
German law has accomplished"
Conservation of Natural Resources.
The conservation of the natural re-
sources of the state is a question of vital
public interest 1t is a comparatively
new subject, having received but little
attention until a few years ago. The
general movement in favor of conserva-
tlon, nationwide and all-embracing as it
now is, has found expression in this state
In a more sober and sensible attitude rel
atlVe TO the preservation of the fertility
or the soil, the care of our forests and
the utilization of our water powers. The
time has come, therefore, for the adop-
ton of definite general policy in Wis
consin concerning these subjects to take
the place of the special and sporadic leg
islation characteristic of the past"
Income Tax.
Governor McGovern recommends that
the proposed sixteenth amendment to the
constitution of the United States, which
confers on congress the power to enact
an income tax law, be approved. and also
that state law taxing incomes be en-
acted. The enactment of such a law
the governor says, will compel men Of
great wealth who now in a measure es-
cape performance of their public oblga-
lions to contribute their Just share to-
Guiding this subject the executive says:
ITO what extent an income tax may
become a substitute for our present per-
sonal property tax, or any part of II,
probably time alone and experience In
the administration Of such law can
tell Until we have had such experience,
1T may be we'll to proceed with caution
In the matter of the immediate abolition
or reclassiflcation of the present personal
property tax"
The present method OF taxing auto
mobiles is, according to the governor. ut
terly inadequate. The present plan OF
advalorem taxation is not adapted to
them. Instead, there should be provid-
ed a license fee based upon weight or
horsepower of these cars, and the rev.
enue should be applied to highway pur
poses.
Minerals.
The taxation Of minerals is a subject
which should receive attention and the
laws relative thereto possible revision.
says the governor. The mineral wealth
OF the state under the present law prac-
tically escapes all taxation. This situa-
ton may be met by taxing the lands as
we now do without regard to their min
eral deposits and then levying upon the
latter an occupation or privilege tax
when they are mined. proportionate in
Telephone Companies.
The state treasurer reports that under
the present method of taxing telephone
companies on their gross earnings, fifty
eight companies paid no tax whatever
last year, while forty-f1ve other COM
panies paid less than one dollar each
The satisfactory results obtained by the
taxation OF railroads, street car and tele-
graph companies on an advalorem basis
seem to the governor to Justify an ex-
tension of the advalorem system to all
telephone companies In the state. In
this way these companies will be taxed
upon a basis Just and fair to all and
many thousands OF dollars will be added
to the public revenues.
Initiative and Referendum.
The great task OF the time is how to
make and keep the government really
representative OF the people. The initia-
tive the referendum and the recall have
been proposed as effective means for ac-
complshing this result. saws the COVER
nor They have engaged the thoughtful
attention of the entire country. and in
the recent campaign in this state receiv-
ed the endorsement OF all political par
ties.
Concluding an exhaustive discussion OF
these measures the governor says:
"These measures. intended as they are
to bring the government closer TO the
people and make II a more flexible In
strument in their hands for the promo
ton Of the public welfare. cannot be in
PRODUCED in Wisconsin by mere legisla-
tive enactment. Under the constitution
OF this state all legislative power is
vested in the senate and assembly, and
any attempt to confer such power or any
part OF It. upon others, even upon the
people themselves. without an appro-
pirate amendment to the constitution
would be Intellectual. Believing. as I do.
In the wisdom and practical ility of these
reforms. most earnestly urge the pas
sage Of a Joint resolution by this legisla-
ture for the submission to the people Of
an amendment to Section l. Article 4. Of
the constitution Of this state, so drawn
as TO permit the exercise by the people
If the powers to which I have here re-
ferred."
The governor next takes up the subject
NJ home rule for cities. On this subject
he says:
.'Trverv consideration Of good citizen
shin efficient local administra ton and
wise public policy suggests change in
this regard. and the enactment Of lesis-
rs+ion which will confer upon cities full
mowers OF local self-governmeut. includ-
ING the right to adopt the initiative. ref
erendum and recall"
Good Roads.
The governor urges the creation Of a