Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1911-01-18


may be defeated by showing that he was
guilty OF contributory negligence no mat
ter in how slight degree. that the acci-
dent was due to the ordinary risks OF the
employment which the law says he as
sumed when he went TO work, or that II
was due to the fault OF a fe low servant
Tested by these rules probably in not
over fifteen per cent. OF these personal
injury cases does a valid right Of action
exist
The present system which bases the
right OF recovery in these cases upon
litigation should so far as possible be
abolished altogether and a system OF
just. promnt and certain compensation
Of all wage-earners injured in the course
of their employment should be subsu-
tuted for it
1T seems 10 me that Of all plans thus
far put in operation, the German system
Is the best. II is compulsory and re-
quires no contribution from employees in
accident cases. So long as the constitu-
tons of the state and nation remain as
they are. any system Of workmen's com
pensation 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-
ty OF the legislative mind will ind way
for the enactment Of statute which
VIII do for us substantially what the
German law has accomplished"
Conservation of Natural Resources.
Tho conservation of the natural re-
sources OF the state is a question of vital
public interest. 1t is comparatively
new subject having received but little
attention until a few years ago. The
general movement in favor OF conserva-
ton. nationwide and all-embracing as It
now is, has found expression in this state
In more sober and sensible attitude rel
alive to the preservation of the fertility
OF the soil. the care Of our forests ana
the utilization Of our water powers. The
time has come. therefore. for the adop-
ton of a definite general policy in Wis
consin concerning these subjects to take
the place of the special and sporadic leg
isiation 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 obligR-
lions to contribute their just share to-
ward the support of the government Con-
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 IT,
probably time alone and experience In
the administration Of such law can
tell. Until we have had such experience
1t may be well to proceed with caution
in the matter OF the Immediate abolition
or reclassacation of the present personal
property bax
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 he prov'd
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-
ically 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 Ievying upon the
latter an occupation or privilege tax
when they are mined proportionate in
value TO the amount Of ore removed
IelephoEe Companies.
The state treasurer reports that under
the present method Of taxing telephone
companies on their gross earnings, ffty-
eight companies paid no tax whatever
last year while forty-five other com
panies paid less than one dollar each.
The satisfactory results obtained by the
taxation OF railroads, street car and tele-
graph com ID les on an advalorem basis.
seem to tn governor to Justify an ex-
tension Of the advalorem system to all
telephone companies in the state. In
this way these companies win be taxed
upon 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 initfa-
tive, the referendum and the recall have
been proposed as effective means for ac-
comprising this result, says 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
flexible
strument in their hands for the promo
ton of the public welfare. cannot be in
PRODUCED in Wisconsin by mere legisIa-
tive enactment. Under the constitution
Of this state all legislative mower Sc
vested I'm the senate and assembly. and
any attempt TO confer such power or anv
part Of 1t, upon others. even upon the
people themselves without an appro-
pirate amendment to the constitution
would be Intellectual. Believing. as I do
I'm the wisdom and practtcability Of these
reforms, I most earnestly urge the pas
sage OF Joint resolution by this Iegis'a-
ture for the submission 10 the people OF
an amendment to Section !, Article 4, Of
the constitution Of this state so drawn
as to permit the exercise by the people
Of the powers to which have here re-
ferreG
The governor next takes Up the subject
OF home rule for cities. On this subject
he says:
Every consideration Of good citizen
ship, efficient local administration and
wise public policy suggests a change in
this regard, and the enactment OF legtE-
lation which viii confer upon cities fun
powers of local self government includ-