River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1917-02-15


appropriating to the city of Madison
income of which shall be used for the
perpetual maintenance and care of the
graves Of Louis 2. Harvey and William
r. Taylor, former governors of Wiscon-
sin. The city of Madison maintains
trust fund for the care Of graves and
the interest on 500 is deemed sufficient
to pay all expenses for each grave.
That the University of Wisconsin is
in danger of "deteriorating" unless
there is an increase in the salary allow
ance for members of the educational
staff was the statement made by Presi-
dent Charles r. Van Hise before the
joint committee of the legislature. The
recommendation of the state board OF
education would leave university sal
aries about as they are. President
Van Hise asked for a gross increase Of
$62, 700 for the next fiscal year and
500, 800 for the following year. He said
that many of the better men at the
university were leaving the institution
because of the low salaries paid.
There will be no changes in the Wis
consin civil service law at this session
of the legislature. Senator Bennett Of
Vernon county offered a bill early in
the session, which would practically
exempt legislative employees from the
terms Of the civil service act. This
measure has been reported back to the
sente with all references to the civil
service law stricken out, but carrying
a provision reducing the number of
employees in the senate for the next
session of the legislature.
A special committee of the legiSla-
ture, composed of three senators and
four assemblymen, will be created to
consider all matters relating to the
change Of the wOrkmen'S cOmpensa-
ton insurance law. The bill on this
subject was offered in the senate by
Senator Roy P. Wilcox Of Eau Claire.
The idea back Of the bill is that this
committee shall hold hearings and re-
port upon bills which can be agreed
upon as changing the schedule under
the wOrkmen'S compensation law. 1t
is planned, however, to continue this
legislative committee after the session
is over to make further investigation
of the subject of WOrkmen'S cOmpen-
satiOn.
Several measures strengthening the
building and loan statute in the state
have been offered by Assemblman John
af
ure would limit the operation of a
building and loan association within
fifty miles of it's home office, and an
other would limit the operating eX-
penses to 2 per cent of the revenue.
That the Progressives of the legisla-
ture will make a determined fight
against the Bray bill for the legalizing
Of primary party conventions was in
dictated when Lieut.. Gov. e. f. Dith-
mar, Baraboo one of the leading Pro-
greSsives in the state, appeared in
opposition to the bill.
''This bill is the entering wedge to
the return to the old caucus system"
declared Lieutenant Governor Ditmar.
"There will be feeling among men
that they will not want to be candt-
dates for q position once that con-
vention has met and decided on GER
tain candidates. They would think
that it would be breaking the rule OF
regularity. 1t means by this clever
scheme we will have the old conven-
ton Endorsements and the principles
Of the primary election law will be
abrogated In spirit if not in letter"
Many of the larger manufacturers
of the state appeared before the as
sembly committee on labor to protest
against the Campbell and Jeske bills
providing for an eight-hOur day In
practically all employments. There
are certain provisions In these bills eX7
empting emergency work.
Assemblymen Campbell, Turner and
Duffy appeared before the committee
in favor Of this legislation. They de-
clared that the health and comfort of
employees demand a shorter wOrkday,
Assemblymen Rogers and Hemmy
opposed the bills because of the aOpli-
cation which the measures have to ag-
1dDOI. IL IA Ii
Platteville, representing the mining in
terests, was opposed to the bill. He
said that this was a matter for con-
tract between the employer and the
employee and that the Industrial COM
mission at the present time had the
power to order a shorter day after
hearing, if it could be established that
the health of employees was affected.
Governor Philips message to the
state legislature at It's opening early
in January warning lobbyists against
interference with the work of the
legislature, seems to have had the
effect which he desired to accomplish.
The fact is noticeable here that there
are fewer lobbyists in Madison at this
session of the legislature than at any
time in the past. This does not mean
that fewer lobbyists have registered to
appear before committees, but does
mean that the lobbyists do not stay
Az bo+oIc md arnIn6 tho leg,