Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1913-01-15
MESSAGE IS SENT
TO LEGISLATURE
GOV MeovERN MAKES RECON-
MENoATIONs TO WISDOM
SIN LAWMAKERS.
MUCH SPACE TO INCOME TAX
'-cvera7s Urges Lawmakers to Pro-
coed Slowly in Any Proposed Re-
vision of Iaw-Mothers' Pen
sion Sill Given Approval.

MadisOn.-Gov. AIcGoYern's mes
sage TO the Wisconsin legislature. in
part, is as follows:
Before passing on to a consideration Of
tne purely public matters that | am about
70 present 70 you. permit me TO greet you
wa MY and in the name vi all our Deople
70 welcome you to the capitol.
nave frequently commended the work
~ the last legislature and congratulated
the people OF Wisconsin upon the amount
hlgh quality and enduring character OF
tne legislation then enacted | have felt
and sun feel that too much cannot be said
IN its praise.
LABOR LEGISLATION.
No topic occupied more of he time and
tnoaght Of the last legislature than the
rights of labor ON this subject II took
S sS ground II generously fulfilled
the platform pledge that in all matters ar
Iectlng workers Wisconsin should be pIac-
Ell IN the lead. Ii enacted the first valid
mvrAnneh ; compensation law ever put into
eteet IA America Ii regulated the hours
oI empioyinen of women. II amended and
improved the statutes relative to child
nDor and street trades Most impor4ant
u all IL Efted the whOie subject of the
relation OF employer and employee to a
new anu higher plane by establishing the
industrial Commission modelled after the
Wisconsin Railroad Commission that has
deservedly won such widespread commen-
cation Through this new commission as
tnrough IT'S prototype the public interests
are now adequately protected and the moor
are enabled 10 get Justice without having
pIacticallg 70 buy II in court in an I'M
equai struggle with wealthy and powerful
adversaries
The Legislature of 1911 was rightly eau.
nous III granting TO the Industrial Com
mission very much discretionary power in
dealng with exceptional labor conditions
instead. rigid rules were laid down re-
speStIhg enid labor, women's hours OF en-
pioyment, and other similar subjects But
IN the administration of these laws the
commission has found a variety of con
ditions in different industries that seem
TO call TOT greater plaSfffsffy In ha ON.
toreement OF the wOmen's labor law. for
instance. 1t has been found that there is
VIDE difference between the light work on
u rural telephone with frequent periods
OF rest and the nervous strain at city
switchboard, lnharmonious provisions in
tine law nave also come to light. such as
an hour for dinner in the women's law
and only half an hour in the children law
in respect OF these and similar matters
tt would seem to be advantageous to make
the law more flexible by authorizing ex-
ceptiOns from the strict letter of the stat
ute as AZ present lald down IN every case
where the Commission shall find ON pub
nc nearing the requested notifications TO
be within the spirit Of the law and not
prejudicial to the health of the EMPLOYEES
to be affected by IL The law NAV he
permitted to stand as il is but the iegis-
iature should now. in view OF the known
methods of administration employed by the
Commission and the marked success that
has attended them, consider the wisdom
OF authorizing greater opportunity for the
exercise of discretion IN clearly exceptional
cases. This principle of greater adapta-
bility should apply To the laws concern
ing child labor, street trades women s
hours OF employment. and possibly other
similar matters now committed to the In
dustrial Commission for enforcement.
workmen's Compensation.
The workmens compensation act has
been fully indicated by experience. on,
about $4,000 employees had come within
Ms operation. During the month of No
yember 1912. A per cent of the accidents
TpuOrtpd to the Industrial Gnmfni .gin n
were subject to compensation under this
plan. Thus nearly half of all Industrial
When IL was passed the defenees of as
sumption of risk and the negligence OF a
fellow servant were taken away from EN-.
plOyers who did not accept its provisions
Other states like Massachusetts. Kansas
Michigan. Ohio. New Jersey. Rhode Island
and Illinois in legisIatinC on this subject
abolished not only these two defenees but
also that OF c0htributory negligence. In
suranee rates in these states are now found
to be about the same for those within as
for those outside the operation of such
laws. and marked tendency is manifest
to come under them. With this object
in view. IL seems TO me the defence Of
contributory negligence should he wiped
out here also. That no hardship will re-
suit from this course IS shown by the
fact that among all who accepted this
humane enactment only one employer has
thus far taken advantage OF the oppor-
operation Of its provisions.
A number of states including Miehi-
gan, New Jersey. Massachusetts. and
Rhode Island. have made provision for
compenSatfng employees for specific in
juries such as the loss of All eye or a hand
by requiring payment for definite time
on the basis Of certain percentage of the
wage received when the injury occurred
Our law fixes the amount to be paid on
the basis of actual loss of wages only.
This is not always just and recommend
an amendment which will provide for the
adoption in such cases of the rule now
followed in other states.
AS the law now is no employer can be
come subject to its provisions without first
filing with the Commission notice of his
acceptance. and after he has given such
notice workmen in his employment are
specifically notify the Commission to the
contrary. The rule applicable to employ
ers should now be revised SO as to har-
monte with the requirements imposed up
on workmen. At a certain date fixed by
law all employers in Wisconsin should
be deemed to be within the scope and
act unless prior to this time they shall
have notified the Commission in writing
to the effect that they do not wish 10
do so.
TAXATION.
Taxation is one OF the most important
subjects with which legislators have to
deal Whether heavy or light. the aver
age citizen is ever sensitive to its weight.
No effort therefore should be spared TO
equalize the burden. The demand OF rural
communities for better roads and schools
the requirement OF rapidly growing cities
for streets sewers ana sidewalks and for
more and better parks and Fairgrounds
inevitably eall for Increased expenditure.
which must be met by increased taxes.
The problem Of distributing this burden
so that each shall contribute his just share
Is by no means either simple or easy to
seIve.
The Income Tax.
The Wisconsin method of taxing prop
srty has long ranked among the best in
the country but it necessarily shared the
defects inherent in all systems of general
property taxation. Tie selection OF as
SCISSORS every year. the difficulty of val
uing many classes Of property and the
hostile attitude of large numbers of peo-
pie well able to pay. resulted in the prac-
teal breakdown of personal property tax
alton Thereupon the people Of the state
demanded a substitute and the legislature
of 1911 took a long step In advance by
enacting an income ta Jaw.
In the language OF Chief Justice Wins
how who delivered the opiniou of the court
in the Income Tux ease. this law marks
very important change in the taxation
policy OF the state. and is hut q concrete
embodiment Of popular sentiment which
has been ABROAD for some time"
As might be expected, radical a change
in our fiscal system aroused strong Oppo-
sition especially among those directly af-
fected by it. many OF whom bad not borne
their fair share Of the public burden I'm
der the old plan notwithstanding this