The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1913-06-05
URGES IMPORTANT MEASURES
Governor Declares That Adjournment
of the Legislature Would be Fool
hardy and that Platform Pledges have
not been Redeemed by Legislature.

the political play that is being made
to secure an adjournment of the legis-
lature this morning when he sent to
both of the houses special message
in which he urged them to continue in
session and fulfill the platform pledges
of the republican party. The message
of the governor has caused lot of
excitement among the members of the
legislature. 1t was read in both houses
this morning and it is considered as
a statement of the governor on several
important matters. The special mes
sage follows:
The joint resolution providing for an
adjournment of the present session of
the legislature until next January, re-
Gently introduced and now pending be-
fore you is so unique if not extraor-
binary in character that the reasons in
support of it and the motives back of
itsshould promptly be made public so all
may understand,
In effect, this proposal means two
sessions of the legislature instead of
one, with corresponding increase of
expense. Between now and next Jan
uary members may die or move away,
necessitating special elections to fill the
vacancies thus created. Ground already
gained will be lost and a new begin
ming will have to be made
Why adjourn MOVIE While some time
has elapsed since this legislature met
and much patient labor has been spent
upon the work before it, little has yet
been done. No law of broad, general
interest or Importance has been passed.
But single platform pledge has been
redeemed. All the important bills are.
still pending. If you stop here no one,
especially no member of the party in
power, can hope to 60 back to the peo-.
pie without being held accountable to
them for a do-nothing Legislative SEES
sion.
The republican party has 9. clear ma
jority in both the assembly and the sem
ate of members elected upon platform
that specifically pledged the enactment
of laws respecting Mothers pensions,
a minimum wage for women, amend
ment Of the election laws, prison re-
form, supervision of the sale of corpor
ate stocks and bonds, and the regula-
ton Of water powers, besides the APP
amendments proposed two years ago.
But no law has yet been passed upon
any of these subjects. With respect to
some of these matters immediate
legislative action was definitely prom
ised. This is true of water powers and
the minimum wage. Upon the former
subject there has been no legislation
for a number Of years and as result
industrial development dependent there
on has been brought almost to a stand
still in Wisconsin. What valid excuse
can be given for letting this subject
90 over for another yearg
Even. more urgent still is the market
commission bill, which has been before
you for more than two months. Were
there any question about the Importance
of this measure when it was submitted,
there can be no doubt now. 1t has at
tracted widespread attention and evok-
ed 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 has three main objects: Reduc-
ton in the cost of living, increased
agricultural prosperity, and regulation
of trade to the end that present gross
abuses may be checked and equal OPP
portunity afforded to all. Everyone
comedies that the cost Of living is too
high. Even the critics of this bill ad-
nit in private conversation if not at
public hearings that the remedy it pro-
vides would reduce living expenses. Yet
it is seriously proposed by a progressive
legislature to postpone this remedy for
a year Why permit acknowledged
wrongs to continue for year more
when we now have the power to right
them?
1t is undisputed that the enactment
of this bill will improve conditions upon
the farm. Why postpone it. thena
is so fundamentally essential
to the wel-being of all classes of peo-
pie and tie harmonious development of
the state as agricultural prosperity.
delay amounts to denial
of relief.
It 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 opportunity is in