Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1913-08-08
LEGISLATURE
ENDS SESSION
Republican SoIons Garry Out
Their Platform Pledges.
WAS RECORD-BREAKING TERM


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
days. A survey of the work accom-
plished shows that the Republican
party was faithful, with one one eX-
ception, to it's platform pledges. How
ever, it was distinctly a session of
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-McGovern con
troversy was intensely bitter This in
cident did more to delay legislation
and prolong 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
respect it was distinct victory for
Elsern, 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 keen his
record clean as governor, and that he
succeeded in doing so, is admitted by
the anti-M Govern 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
opposition takes a very different view
of the situation. The verdict, how
ever, rests with the people 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 We're 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
ytruction of the workmen's compensa-
ton act, Wisconsins 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
bill developed the most notable fight
In this measure there was 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
lowed for the powers. It was a HARD
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 6
value created in any intangible
rights claimed by the water-power in
terests.
Specific Compensation.
Acting upon the suggestion of the
industrial commission, the workmen''
compensation act underwent man!
changes so that now it is PRACTICAL!
compulsory act upon all employees
The last common law defense of con
tributory negligence is removed AM
without this it is not hkel
that any employer can affor
to remain outside the pale of tn
law. The bill also contains claus
fixing specific compensation TO
specific injuries, and thus remove
the necessity of orders by the commits