River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1913-08-07

AA1~A Fdo accomplished WHICH means
great benefits to the rank and file OF
cltlzenship. The child labor law is
clearer and more elastic than before
Inc same is true of laws relating to
the employment of women The legis.
lature is believed to have taken a step
IN the right direction when it named
a committee to investigate occupation.
al diseases in the state of Wisconsin.
Upon the basis of the findings of this
committee new labor legislation no
doubt will be enacted two years
hence. The work of this committee
may ultimately lead to the establish
ment OF system of sick benefit in,
surance in Wisconsin.
Appropriates $36,ooo,ooo.
The legislature appropriated $780,
100000. In many instances the maxi
mum amount was appropriated to de-
partments, but it is not considered
likely that all of the money will be
used, in fact, it is estimate that prob
ably 100000 of the total will not
be used. Over 100000 is set aside
for the state charitable and penal in
stitutions. The legislature appro-
priated $1,500,000 for the improve
ment OF state roads, which is being
handled upon an elaborate basis.
Political bills were numerous. but
few of them were enacted into law
Two important bills relating to public
health were passed and signed by the
governor, one providing for the ster-
1lization of certain inmates in state in
situations and the other for eugenic
marriages in this state. The opposi-
ton to the latter bill though that
both parties desiring to enter into
matrimonial contract should be in
cluded in the law, but it was finally
decided to make it apply only to the
male person. Scores of bills aim
ed at the liquor traffic were in
troduced and killed. The legislature
was not disposed to tamper with the
primary law and the political pamph-
let issued under the law. Both at
tacks assumed the form of bills which
were killed.
Earlier in the session there was a
! movement to limit the powers of the
state railroad commission, but this
plan failed to the extent that the COM
mission was given greater power and
authority to act The commission was
given supervision over the issuance
of securities by private corpora
tions. The so-called blue sky law
makes it compulsory on private cor
! porations to file with the commission
prospectus and values of the prop
! erty they intend to sell The pros
pecus must be accompanied by
| statement as to the securities which
| the corporation intends to issue, and
upon this the commission is given
| authority to issue a certificate permit
| ting the company to issue securities.
If the original plans of the company
| are not lived up to the certificate
may be revoked and securities stop
| ped. The commission is also given
| power to order the joint use of street
| railway tracks or to allow one COM
| pany to use the tracks of another COM
|
of an excessive fee for the use of
tracks; it means development of
street railway lines.
Bills That Failed to Pass.
The legislature. showed a marked in
terest in the common schools. 1t did
not go very far in the enactment of
legislation touching upon the life of
this educational branch, but it gave
much thought to the subject and
| thereby paved the way for future
legislation. By the passage of the
Hull consolidated school bill, giving
| state aid and transportation to con-
solidated districts, the legislature
gave strong impetus to the move
ment for the consolidation of school
districts. The passage of a bill for
| county boards of education is also
| believed to be step in the interest
of the common schools. In the Hull
bill it is providd that the state shall
pay ten cents per pupil per day for
| the transportation of all pupils who
are obliged to travel over one mile to
a consolidated school district There
are numerous other measures which
aim to benefit the rural schools in
which over 10000 children are direct
| ly interested.
Of bills that failed the measures re-
lating to the marketing question are
of the greatest interest to the people
of the state Governor McGovern
took special interest in this subject,
but his bill was considered too drastic
by the senate which finally got to-
gether on compromise measure
which aimed to make sort of publ
city bureau out of the industrial com.
mission. This measure did not strike
a popular chord in the house, where
1t was killed. Another important
measure which failed to pass was that
recommended by the special commit
tee on insurance providing for fire
insurance code. Another bill killed
provided for state control of fire in
surance. These were but two of the
several bills which were championed
by Insurance Commissioner Ekern
but failed Mr.. Ekern's quarrel with
the governor and subsequent events
growing out of that controversy had
much to do with. the defeat of meas
ures relating to insurance.