The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1913-01-16
MESSAGE IS SENT
TO LEGISLATURE
GOV. MGOvERN MAKES RECON-.
MENDATiONS TO WISDOM
SIN LAWMAKERS.
MUCH SPACE TO INCOME TAX
Governor Urges Lawmakers to Pro-
coed Slowly in Any Proposed H.-
vision of Law Mothers PEN
sior Bill Given Approval.


Madison.-Gov. McGovernS mes
sage to the Wisconsin legislature, in
part, is as follows:
BEFORE passing on to a consideration ~
the purely public matters that | am about
10 present TO yon permit me to greet you
warmly and in the name of all our people
10 welcome you to the capitol
nave frequently commended the work
OF the last legislature and congratulated
me people of Wisconsin upon the amount,
nlRh quality and enduring character of
the legislation then enacted | have felt
and still feel that too much cannot be said
IN Its praise.
LABOR LEGISLATION
No topic occupied more Of the time and
Thought of the last legislature than the
Nights Of labor ON this subject il took
advanced ground. 1t generously fulfilled
the platform pledge that in all matters ar
tecting workers Wisconsin should be plac.
I'd In the lead. 1t enacted the first valid
workmen's compensation law ever put into
eject IN America II regulated the hours
OF employment of women 1t amended and
improved the statutes relative to child
labor and street trades. Most important
oI az, II llfted the whole subject of the
reiation or employer and employee to n
new and higher plane by establishing the
INDUSTRIAL Commission modelled after the
WISCONSIN Railroad Commission that has
deserved! won such widesp read common
dalton. Through this new commission as
through its prototype the public interests
are now adequately protected and the poor
practically to buy il in court in an un,
equal struggle with wealthy and powerful
adversares
The legislature of 1911 was rightly eau
nous in granting to the Industrial Com
mission very much discretionary power in
heailng with exceptional labor conditions.
speeding child labor. women's hours OF en-
ployment and other similar subjects. But
IN the administration OF these laws the
commission has found variety of con
iltionS IN different industries that seem
to call for greater elasticity. In the en-
torcement Of the wonen's labor law for
instance 1t has been found that there is a
vide difference between the light work on
4 rural telephone with frequent periods
of rest and the nervous strain at city
switchboard lnharmonious provisions in
the law have also come to light, such as
an hour for dinner in the women's law
and only half an hour in the children's law.
In respect OF these and similar matters
II would seem to be advantageous TO make
the law more flexible by authorizing ex-
ceptions from the strict letter of the stat
ute es at present laid down in every case
whore the Commission shall find on pub
lie hnaring the requested notifications to
De wnhin the spirit OF the law aud not
pre1udicial to the health of the employees
to be affected by it, The law may be
permitted TO stand rs it is but the legis
lature 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-
biiity 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 workmen's compensation act has
been fny ylndlsated BY experienee On
about $4,000 employees had come within
Its operation. During the month of No
vemoer 1912, A per cent of the accidents
reported TO the Industrial Commission
were subject to compensation under this
plan. Thus nearly half OF all Industrial
hazards are already covered by the act.
sumption OF risk and the negligence of, n
fellow servant were taken away from EN-
Other states like Massachusetts Kansas.
Michigan, Ohio. New Jersey. Rhode Island
and Illinois In legislating On this subject
abolished not only these two defences hut
also that of contributory negligence In
surance rates in these states are now found
to be about the same for those within as
laws, and marked tendency Is NANTES.
to come under them. With this object
in view. 1t seems to me the defence of
out here also, That no hardship will re-
suit from this course is shown by the
fact that among all who accepted this
uuHiuhf tHdttlutHt Only mas
thus far taken advantage of the oppor-
tunity it affords to withdraw from the
operation of its provisions.
number of states. including NIichi
gan, New Jersey. Massachusetts. and
Rhode Island. have made provision for
compensating employees for specific in
turtles such as the loss OF an eye or hand
by requiring payment for definite time
on the basis OF a certain percentage of the
wage received when the injury occurred
Our law fixes the amount to be paid on
lhn M Of
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
sling With the Commission notice Of his
acceptance. and after he has given such
sotice workmen in his employment are
presumed To accept the law unless they
specifically notify the Commission to the
contrary. The rule applicable to employ
.rs should now be revised so as to har-
nontze with the requirements imposed up
On workmen. AT certain date fixed by
be deemed to be within the scope and
operation of the workmens compensation
get unless prior to this time they shall
have notified the Commission in writing
10 the effect that they do not wish to
10 50.
TAXATION.
Taxation Is one of the most important
subjects with which legislators have 70
.ge citizen is ever sensitive to its weight
No effort therefore should be spared to
lQualize the burden The demand OF rural
communities for better roads and schools
The requirement of rapidly growing cities
for streets. sewers and sidewalks and for
more and better parks and Fairgrounds
Inevitably call for increased expenditure
which must be met by increased taxes
The problem of distributing tnis burden
70 that each shall contribute his lust share
Is by no means either simple or easy to
tolve
The Income Tax.
The Wisconsin method of taxing prop
srty has long ranked among the best In
The country. but it necessarily shared the
iefects inherent In all systems of general
property taxation. The 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-
hcal breakdown of personal property tax
ston. Thereupon the people of the state
demanded substitute and the legislature
" 1911 took long step in advance by
snaeting an income tax law
In the language Of Chief Justice Wins
low who delivered the opinion OF the court
in the Income Tax case, this law marks
very important change in the taxation
policy OF the state, and * but Il concrete
embodiment of popular sentiment which
has been abroad for some time"
As might be expected SO radical change
n our hscal system aroused strong oppo-
sition. especially among those directly af-
fected by IT, many OF whom had not borne
their fair share OF the public burden un-
der the old plan. Notwithstanding this