Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-01-19

The governor urges the creation of e
state highway commission to supsrvis,
and assist counties and towns in tho
work Of road building. He says:
The state commission should have am
pie authority to protect the states in
terests. and should be provided with ade-
quate funds so that all work done with
state aid may be properly inspected be-
| fore It is finally accepted. The policy OF
state aid should be one OF real co-opera-
ton between the state and its subdiyi-
sions not only in financial way but also
| in the matter OF supervision and organi-
cation 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 finan-
cial support is urged.
The governor urges the passage of A
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.
Boards of health. public hygienic lab
oratories and other similar agencies
should be so provided and equipped at
pubic expense as to give assurance of a
nigh and steadily advancing standard of
usefulness in the prevention of disease
the study OF sanitation and the protec-
ton of health and life"
Stock and Bond Law.
4 The stock and bond law enacted /,
1907 has been so construed by the Su-
preme court as to limit the scope of in
CURRY which the railroad commission may
institute where public service corpora
tons 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.
Yer-capitalization Of corporations,
commonly called ''stock-watering,' is q
most mischieyous evil, with far-reachtng
consequences. The manifest purpose of
the legislature in enacting Chapter 57s
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 a law which will
clearly define the powers of the commits
sion and extend its 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 a tribunal
to settle disputes In accident cases. This
board, he says, should be so organized
as to work in cooperation with the bu-
reau of labor.
The creation of a 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 It should
be broadly and literally considered. The
various agencies and institutions now
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 illogi-
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.
Consolidation of country schools has,
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.
state that at the end of the fiscal year.
1910, there was a balance on hand in the
general fund of s79S, 06791. Two years be-
fore this fund showed balance of ST.
1856, 291 go The receipts for the fiscal years
1909 and 1910 were S12, 631, 49485 and the
disbursements during the same period
were s12, 9S9, 1856. The receipts from July
list, 1910, to January 1st, 1911, were ST.
469, 1852 and the disbursements during
the same period were $2.773. 90. The
balance in the general fund therefore, on
January LIST, 1911, was $494, 80. It Is to
be borne in mind that these figures re-
late only to the condition of the general
fund.
cat the close of the fiscal year, June
Goth, 1910, the balance in all funds in
the state treasury aggregated 1854, 9242s
Figures showing the balance on hand for
all funds on January 1st, 1911, are not
available at this time"
important Measures First.
In concluding the governor says:
TN the main the legislation here rec.
commended has already been overwhelm-
ingIy approved by the voters of the state
It's enactment, therefore, should not be
delayed
Fundamentally this demand is for an
increasingly enlightened appreciation of
the rights of the average man. It is
call for a return to the ideal of equity be-
fore the law in both business and politics
In the final analysis all Of the things
here urged upon your attention signify
just this and nothing more"
These suggestions come to you not
as the personal views OF any individuaf
or the perfunctory recommendations OF
any department of government but in a
veIy real sense as a mandate from the
people themselves and they should so
fax 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 OF influence which may sur
round other proposals Of less general sig
nificance In this way, I believe. busi-
ness may be best expedited and justice
done and this the 5oth session of the leg
islature OF Wisconsin concluded as I
trust it may be- at an early date