Our land = La Nostra terra. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 191?-1913, 1913-05-31
MADISON NEWS

ployees of the state was the motive of
bill which passed the senate this
week. If it becomes a law the state
mployee will be placed upon the merit
system and salarie determined solely
in proportion to ability.
The bill originated in the joint COM
mittee on Finance and removes respon-
sibility of finished salaries from the le-
gislature and placed it in the hands of
department heads The bill also fixes
salaries of the executive and admins
trative officres In some instances
they we're lowered and in Others raised.
The purpose of the bill is to equalize
salaries as much as possible.
Tvs years ago the joint committee
Oh finance employed an accountant and
efficiency expert to investigate state
departments. Amo other things he
rec mmended was the establishment of
a~stata board of public affairs. A
state board of public affairs was tenn
porarily provided and reported to this
Legislature.
The data which formed the basis or
the present bill was the result Of inves-
tigation by this board The board has
made an exhaustive Investigation into
every state department and have re-
commended sweeping changes in the
management and organization Of some
of the departments.
In the matter of state employees it
found that there were 1871 positions;
of which 1882 or 80 IL per cent had
their salaries fixed by the heads of de-
p9rtments. while only 279 or Z 1-2 per
cent had their salaries fixed by the le-
gisIatore. Under the proposed bill 81
- percent of the salaries which repre-
sents all except legislative EMPLOYEES.
will be fixed BY the heads of depart
ments and the remaining ! II percent
is the executive and administrative Il
ficers whose salaries are fixed by the
legislature or by the constitution.
That this metho will result in great
er efficiency is pointed out in the fact
that the railroad commission, tax and
industrial commissions, fix salaries Of
emnlovees. These commissions main
tain a cost system and each employee
is md according to his earning ability
Under the system Of salary fixing by
the legislature the state employee was
offered no incentive t greater activitv'
A comparison Of salaries prove that
the innovation viii save the state mo-
new Twenty stenographers in the
above mentioned commissions receive
salaries of $946. per annum while stem
aranbers in Departments where the le-
yisIature fixes the salaries receive
stM4 II per annum.
Under the new methods the depart
won't would be allowed a specified sum
v/aries, and with the aid Of cost
srstan the state would get better and
ohaoner service while the efficient en-
nIovee would be permitted and the
drope weeded out.
Madison Wis. Special The defeat
4 ~, nropressive plan for the control
five insurance rates and the preyen-
If fires is laid directly at the door
ecovarn MeGovern. and is attributed
5'.a.tlv to politics by these in Madison
f.,niliar with the tuation.
These bills we're offered by the spe-
fire insurance committee after
80 ST. investigation. and represent
~ IN same principle in fise insurance
ca ,i.t,on ',l that the railroad ana public
nalities measures represented in lso'
O,',', ,oos in public service regulation
Rotb features Of the proga" mapp-
-, oat BY the committee were defeated ,.,.
H. assembly By Mc0oVeth' .'Nc''
IN t4e S.+b . would have passed except for
ana oo.., 'oo.ition Of the Governor. This IS
the ppg Understood here and is not dis
eot@5 by the Bull Moosers' .t.+
E The nam tsa ro<er ON, Of rate control to the
giving ...ioner '3o aq Of insurance. TIE biA
oon5,,s,lp5s,I Ms eop.oIidation Of the fire may
tor ,5.s tae of5ce S95s AID the department Of in
shal. ss 5 0r-s. vas the part of the plan neoes,
soranoS t5e \ effective wOrkine out OF
fsary 1' '-. - in unison with the equa-