River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1913-08-07
LEGISLATURE
ENDS SESSION
Republican SOlOns Garry Out
Their Platform Pledges.
WAS RECORD BREAKING TE2.s..l


/ 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 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 fractional strife
and pickering within the Republican
ranks, compares favorably with the
record of other legislatures.
Form early in the session until the
Ilose 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 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
Ekern, who now holds his position IN
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-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 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
sor 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 final compilation will
show that about 500 bills were passed,
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 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. 1t was 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 a
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'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 a clause
fixing specific compensation for
specific injuries, and thus removes
the necessity of orders by the commits
| sion as to the amount of damages to
be awarded in each case. 1t was
claimed that the employer and the en-
! ploye considered this change advan-