Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1915-03-25
Makes Rest Day Imperative.


Madison. = Relief from excessive
hours Of employment for railroad
employees is sought in a bill lust
offered by Assemblyman Budlong.
upon request, and referred to the
committee on labor. The bill makes
it the duty of every railroad
company TO provide every employee
working eight hours or more in a day,
except conductors, brakemen, en-
glneers, fremen and other trainmen
and enginemen, with one full rest day
OF a consecutive hours during each
week, except in cases of emergency,
as provided in the statutes.
The senate about-faced in its posi-
ton Of extending sympathy and en-
couragement to President Wilson.
Two weeks ago. when Senator Bray,
Republican, introduced such a testi-
monial, four Democrats voted with the
majority and sent it to death. The
democrats have since caucused on
the subject, with the result that Sena-
tor ". ]. Bichler introduced a joint
resolution following the lines of the
Bray measure After some parlia-
mentary tactics and more or less
caustic comment on alleged incon-
sistency on the part of Democrats, the
measure was adopted with only the
votes of Senators Ackley. Everett and
Perry in opposition.
Without any dissent, the senate
adopted Senator Skogmo's Joint reso-
luton memorializing the president to
call conference of the neutral ma
tons to take steps to bring about
peace among the war-torn countries
of the old world. 1t was messaged at
once to the lower house.
The senate passed the bill abolish
ing the municipal court of Milwaukee
county, vesting it's powers in the cir
cult court, and providing for an addi-
tional judge for the Second circuit,
and the Fairchild bill comforting upon
the municipal court of Milwaukee
county concurrent jurisdiction with
the circuit court in matters pertaining
to writs of habeas corpus.
Strong opposition to the Hart and
Burke bills to amend the workmen's
compensation act so as to increase the
scale of payment for injuries developed
at the hearing before the joint COM
mittee of the legislature, when the
bills were taken up for hearing.
Former State Senator A. W. Sanborn
of Ashland, who as chairman of a leg
islative committee spent two years in
vestigating the subject and later draft
ed the workmen's compensation act,
came out in opposition to the proposed
increase. Senator Sanborn said that
the last legislature extended the scope
of the law so as to include practically
all employees. There had been one
years operation Of the law in its pres
ent form and he did not believe this
was sufficient to predicate a change
at this time of business depression.
Senator Sanborn pointed out that be-
fore the law was enacted computa-
tons showed that injured employees
in Wisconsin were at the end of court
actions and otherwise about $780,
600 annually. In the past year under
the workmen's compensation act ST.
100000 was paid to injured workmen.
A. l.. Osborn of Oshkosh said the
manufacturers of Wisconsin were
passing through a period Of business
depression and it would be unjust to
saddle them with additional burdens
at this time.
The senate committee on state af-
fairs has recommended for passage
the Bosshard bill requiring the display
of the flag on school buildings in fair
weather. when the school is in ses-
sion.
Senator Bray's joint resolution in
viting Professor Gilmore of the uni
versity to assist the waterpower COM
mittee in drafting a waterpower act
was recommended unfavorably.
Upon request Of those favoring the
repeal of the Hedding boxing bill the
assembly committee on state affairs
has granted a second hearing, which
will be held on March %. The argu-
ments will be held on the Julius Han
son bill, which seeks to prohibit box
ing, sparring and prize fighting and
at the same time repeal the state box
ing commission law.
In asking for another hearing on
the bill, the opponents of boxing said |
they wanted the committee to hear
more citizens from Milwaukee and
Hudson on the matter