The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1917-01-17
GOV. Philips MESSAGE
CAUSES A BIG STIR


says:
Gov. Philip recommends steps for
a constitutional amendment, extend
ing the term of governors to four years
and also making the offices OF state
secretary, treasurer and attorney gen
eral appointive instead of elective.
It is easy to see why the latter
change recommends itself to the gov
ernor. Under the present elective sys-
TEN these officials may be, and some
times emphatically are, not of har-
mony with the views and policies of
the responsible head of the admin
stration. That seems anomalous. By
making the Offices appointive, the gov
ernor would have the cooperation Of
a cabinet as in the federal system
And there is much to be said for the
change from that point Of view.
The arguments in favor of longer
gubernatorial term are familiar. And
in some Of them there is a good deal
of cogency
AS for the primary law, the COVER
nor holds that since it was adopted
by vote of the people it should only be
repealed by the same authority.
That is logically sound. Our i'm
preston is that if put to the vote the
people would favor repeal. The gov
ernor does not, however, recommend
a referendum But he does urge
amendment in the direction of
a legalizing party conventions, proven
ton of the defeat of the representa-
tive principle through the raiding by
members of either party Of the other
party's primary, and the doing away
with the absurd post-primary candi-
dates platform convention.
Platforms should be representative
party declarations, binding upon the
candidates and framed in party con-
ventions representatively land as the
governor proposes, electively) consti-
tuted.
But we shall not get thorough re-
form until we have the party candi-
dates selected by the party conven-
tons instead of the chance survivals
of the raft of self-nominated scram-
blers at the present primary election.
But the governor asks for no more re-
form at present than he believes he
can get, and in view Of the fact that
the conventions have already auto
maticaIly come back his requirements
certainly are not excessive.
Evidently sensible is the recommen-
dation that state building operations
be cut to the minimum of necessity
Materials are very high and labor is
fully employed. The obviously sensi-
BILE thing to do is to defer dispensable
building operations until they will
cost something within reason and the
means Of taxpayers.
The recommendation, on grounds OF
economy and more expert service, OF
the creation of county assessors to re-
place the present local and township
assessors, the new county officials to
serve also in reduction of the present
force of income assessors, calls for
serious consideration. But any STEP
that might possibly impair the present
efficiency of the income tax gather
ing machinery must be taken with
great caution.
Entirely sound is the recommends
ton for the repeal of the absurd and
unjust provision compelling the home
owner to pay income tax on the rental
value Of his home.
AS for debatable propositions, the
governor favors doing away with the
law enabling the use of the personal
property tax as an offset for or de-
duction from the income tax.
He also dissents from the tax COM
missions opinion that the personal
property tax be abolished, arguing
that since the state needs the money
the loss of revenue would be recouped
at the expense of real estate owners
and of the already double taxed in
come tax payers. But OF those argu-
able propositions more hereafter
In few of the fact that the present
surplus in hand of the state fire in
surance fund is only s5,66163, and OF
obvious considerations of the danger
Gus disparity between possible liabil-
tiles and the means of meeting them
the governor says we should discon-
tinue this form of insurance.
The sections of the message on state
finances, on taxation, insurance, work
mems compensation and compensation
insurance, etc, are interesting and
important, and must be reserved for
future comment
State action looking to a develop
ment and settlement of northern Wis
consin is urged, and a sound recon-
mendation is that for the reconstruc-
ton Of the state board of control, sc
that it shall consist of three members
only, who shall reside at the capital
and devote their entire time to the
work
AS for the lobbyists who were sc
perniciously and obstructively active
during his first term. the governor
serves notice:
Il shall use all the powers of my
office to resist such influences and
punish the guilty parties if the unlaw-
full methods that were employed two
years ago are again attempted"
GRtNn uATEI RUPNS