The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1913-08-08

Stormy Scenes Enacted in Both Houses
Water Power Bill, Reconstructed
Workmen's Compensation Act and
Mothers Pension Bill Are Notable
Achievements.
Madison, Wis, Aug. 5.-The Wis
consin legislature has closed it's rec
ord breaking session of more than 200
days. A survey Of the work accom-
| plished shows that the Republican
party was faithful, with one enc ex-
ception, to it's platform pledges. How
! achievement, and the work accom-
| plished, in spite of factional strife
and pickering within the Republican
ranks, compares favorably with the
record of other legislatures.
Form early in the session until the
close war clouds lowered over both
| houses. The Ekern-M cGovern con-
| troversy was intensely bitter This in
| cident did more to delay legislation
and pro,ong the session than all of
| the opposition to all of the bills that
| were introduced and considered. What
capital was made by the opposing
| forces, the McGovern men on one side
| and the La Toilette men on the other,
| is a matter of speculation. The fight
on the part of the governor to remove
Ekern for political activity was taken
to the courts and Ekern won. In that
infn
Ekern, who now holds his position I'm
disturbed McGovern stuck close to
| the ship throughout the session, and
his followers worked hard for the
character Of the legislation that the
! party pledged itself to enact. The
governor was determined to keep his
record clean as governor, and that he
| succeeded in doing SO, is admitted by
| the anti-McGovern members. That
| the governor gained strength In the
legislature is shown by the acts Of
| the lower house during the closing
days on bills in which McGovern was
! especially interested. The McGovern
men insist that the governor has gain
| ed ground, politically, and that he is
| stronger today than at any time in
| his public career in the state. The
| oppoN.tion takes a very different view
| of the situation. The verdict, how
ever, rests with the people of the
state, and the real significance of the
McGovern strength as against the
strength of those who are opposed to
| him will not be known until the next
| election.
| Record Breaking Session.
| One of the governors notable fac
| tional victories occurred when the as
! sembly killed a bill to appropriate
| $4,000 to pay Mr., Ekern's attorneys
! for his defense The original bill car
| ried an appropriation of $4,000, but
| the amount was cut in two and the
| bill was then passed in the senate,
which remained friendly to Ekern
! throughout his sqaubble with the gov
ernor The measure caused a slight
| furry in the house and was then killed.
! Earlier in the session the governor
never showed as much strength in
the house as he did near the close.
| The record breaking session was not
| due so much to lack of work as it was
! to the immense amount of legislation
| that the legislature was forced to con-
| slider. A total of 1868 bills were in
troduced. This breaks all previous
records, and a final compilation will
show that about 500 bills were passed,
a volume of legislation such as has
seldom been equaled by any body.
The waterpower bill and the recon
| struction of the workmen's compensa-
ton act, Wisconsin's greatest indus
| trial measure, stand out as large
| achievements. These measures with
the mothers pension fund act and the
| minimum wage form the greatest
legislation considered at this session.
! AS was anticipated, the waterpOwer
bill developed the most notable fight.
In this measure there was a question
of public policy and principle at stake
The underlying principle was the
right of future state ownership on
terms which would not permit OF
! speculative values. being ultimately al
lOWeu lOT the powers. II Was udl u
! fight between the state and the water
! power men and the state won out
Both houses were strongly in favor
/ of the principle that the state should
be able to finally acquire waterpowers
without being compelled to pay a
| value created in any intangible
rights claimed by the watsr-power in
| terests.
Specific Compensation.
Acting upon the suggestion Of the
Industrial commission, the workmen's
compensation act underwent many
changes so that now it is practically
compulsory act upon all employees.
The last common law defense of con-
tributory negligence is removed and
without this it is not likely
that any employer can afford
to remain outside the pale of the
law. The bill also contains clause
fixing specific compensation for
specific injuries, and thus removes
the necessity of orders by the commits
L.