Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1913-06-05
SENDS A MESSAGE
OPPOSING RECESS
GOV. M'GOVERN ADVISES LEGIS
LATURE AGAINST TAX
ING ADJOURNMENT
ASKS THAT PLEDGES BE KEPT
People Have Right TO Demand Fulfill
ment of Platform Promises, De-
cIares Governor-Urees Passage CT
Marketing Bill.

Madison.-Gov. McGovern's massage
10 the Wisconsin legislature upon the
question Of adjournment until next
January is, in part, as follows:
Madison.-The following is a mes
Eage of Governor F; E. McGovern to
the Wisconsin legislature upon the
question Of the adjournment until next
January:
The joint resolution providing for
an adjournment of the present session
of the legislature until next January,
recently introduced and now pending
before you, is so unique if not extra
ordinary in character that the reasons
sn support of it and the motives back
of 1t should promptly be made public
go all may understand. In effect, this
proposal means two sessions of the
legislature instead of one, with a cor
responding increase Of expense. Be
tween now and next January members
may die or move away, necessitating
special elections to fill the vacancies
thus created. Ground already gained
will be lost and a new beginning will
have to be made
The Republican party has clear
majority in both the assembly and the
senate of members elected upon a
platform that specifically pledged the
enactment of laws respecting moth
ers' pensions, a minimum wage for
women. amendment of the election
Jaws, prison reform, supervision of the
sale of corporate stocks and bonds,
and the regulation of water powers,
besides the approval of a number of
constitutional amendments proposed
two years ago. But no law has yet
been passed upon any of these sub
jects
Even more urgent still is the mar
ket commission bill, which has been
before you for more than two months.
1t has attracted widespread attention
and evoked favorable comment not
only among the people of our own
state but from every section of the
country. No valid objection to it has
been made. No good reason can be
given why it should not speedily be
enacted into law.
1t is plainly demonstrable that the
enactment of this bill will check the
most pernicious trade abuses by
which commerce is now beset and by
means of which equality of opportun-
tty is in many instances practically
destroyed. Why allow oppression and
exploitation to go unchecked for an
other year?
We have been accustomed in Wis
consin to regard platform pledges as
binding contracts with the people.
The people have a right now to ask
that these pledges be kept without de-
lay. If this be not done the people
are very sure to locate the blame
and will hold those who now counsel
procrastinatiOn responsible for any
betrayal of party honor that may
occur.
Thus far over $50 bills have been
enacted into law; but not more than a
few can fairly be said to be of general
interest, and these few consist princi-
&NAAAJ VI tAOtS dEpt OPP ldIluS pUDlIc
money. The rest, taken singly or col
lectiyely, do not justify the expense
incident to legislative session.
1t is true summer is approaching.
Warm weather is at hand. Those who
live by farming naturally suffer heavy
loss by enforced absence from home.
But it is still only May, and no mem
Der of this legislature has ever had
reason to anticipate that the business
of this session might be completed
during the winter months The Iegis-
lature of 1909 continued until the mid
die of June; that of 1907 until the
middle Of July; that of 1905 until
after the 2Gth of June. The last leg
islature continued until the middle of
July and made an enviable record for
legislative achievement-one we'll wor.
thy of emulation at this time.