River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1911-01-19

aOOO nOdOS.
The governor urges the creation OF q
state highway commission to supervise
and assist counties and towns in the
work of road building. He says:
1.-THE state commission should have am
nile authority to protect the states in
terests, and should be provided with ade-
ouate funds so that all work done with
state aid may be properly inspected be-
fore 1t Is finally accepted. The policy Of
state aid should be one OF real co-opera-
ton between the state and its subdivi-
sions not only in a financial way but also
In the matter of supervision and organi-
zation of forces in the actual construc-
ton OF roads.
THE value of the legislative reference
department Of the Free Library commits
sion is pointed out and more liberal flnan-
cial support is urged.
The governor urges the passage of d
law authorizing the publication Of the
revised statutes as soon after the close
of each session of the legislature as pos
sible.
On the subject Of public health the
governor says:
Z Boards of health, public hygienic lab
oratories and other similar agencies
should be so provided and equipped at
public expense as to give assurance Of q
high and steadily advancing standard of
usefulness in the prevention of disease.
ton Of health and life."
Stock and Bond Law.
1.-THE stock and bond law enacted in
1907 has been so construed by the Su-
preme court as to limit the scope of in
quiry which the railroad commission may
institute where public service corpora
lions desire to issue stocks and bonds
or other evidences of indebtedness. for
money only. to an ascertainment OF the
legal capacity or competency Of such cor
poration to issue these securities. So con-
strued. this law is Of little value. 1t
should be amended without delay so as
to give the commission the broadcast pow
ers OF investigation possible.
"Over-ca pitalization of corporations,
commonly called stock watering" Is
most mischievous evil, with far-reaching
consequences. The manifest purpose of
the legislature in enacting Chapter SIC
of the laws Of 1907 was absolutely to
prohibit 1t, so far as public service cor
porations are concerned This purpose
should be effectually accomplished now
by the enactment of q law which will
clearly define the powers of the commits
sion and extend it's authority in the ways
herein suggested"
The governor points out that the en-
actment of an employees compensation
law will require the organization OF
state board or commission as tribunal
to settle disputes in accident cases 1hls
board, he says, should be so organized
as to work in cooperation with the By
reau Of labor.
The creation of state commission to
investigate the marked increase in the
cost Of living is one Of the strong recon-
mendations of the new governor.
Amendment of the law is urged to pre-
vent fraud In weights and measures now
prevalent in the state.
Education.
The question Of education is always
one of fundamental Importance. 1t should
be broadly and literally considered. The
various agencies and institutions now en-
gagged in educational work in Wisconsin
are all parts of a single system. They
have nothing to gain by dissention. RIVAL
ry or jealousy between them is as 1llog1-
cal as it will ultimately prove unprofit-
able. The common schools cannot be
built up by tearing the university down
any more than the university can be
built up by tearing the common schools
down. And so Of the relation Of the high
schools to both the common schools and
the university And SO of the normal
schools and the county training schools.
They are all agencies Of the same state
having one great object and depending
for financial support upon the same peo-
pie.
The common schools are now the weak
est part OF the entire system. Country
schools, especially, have not kept pace
with city schools. The country schools
need better attendance, better instruc-
ton and better supervision. Competent
observers maintain that at the present
time, in about half the country schools
of Wisconsin, all of these essential fac
tors are lacking and that in all of them
supervision is far from satisfactory.
l1-A4 ~ ~Ir
according to the governor, resulted in
great improvement In efficiency. Better
supervision and higher wages for teach
ers are subjects upon which the COVER
nor takes a decided stand. Liberal sup
port of the university is also urged.
Financial Statement.
ct am informed by the secretary Of
state that at the end of the fiscal year,
1910, there was a balance on hand in the
general fund of $79S, 067.91. Two years be-
fore this fund showed a balance of ST.
156, go. The receipts for the fiscal years
1909 and 1910 were $12, ,494s5 and the
disbursements during the same period
were SIP 9S9, 1885. The receipts from Jelly
1st 1910, to January LIST, 1911, were ST.
469, 1852, and the disbursements during
the same period were $2.773. 1858. The
balance in the general fund. therefore, on
January LIST, 1911, was $494, 057.90. It Is to
De DOrne IN nina tnaC CneS9 &sssS9f9S re-
late only to the condition OF Gias general
fund.
"At the close of the fiscal year, June
30th 1910, the balance in all funds in
the state treasury aggregated $1,541, 1924. IS.
Figures showing the balance on hand for
all funds on January 1st, 1871 are not
available at this time"
Important Measures First.
In concluding the governor says:
I'm the main the legislation here rec
commended has already been overwhelm-
ingly approved by the voters of the state.
It's enactment, therefore, should not be
delayed.
These suggestions come to you not
as the personal views of any individuai
or the perfunctory recommendations OF
any department of government, but in q
very real sense as a mandate from the
people themselves and they should, so
far as possible, be given precedence upon
your calendars and in your consideration.
Let other bills wait until the main bust
ness of this session has been transacted
and these most important measures have
been heard upon their merits, free from
any interest or influence which may SUR
round other proposals of less general sig
njacance. In this way, I believe, busi-
ness may be best expedited and justice
done and this the 50th session of the leg
islature of Wisconsin concluded. as
trust 1t may be, at an early date"