River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1917-01-18
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LlOn ACT Inat is now available 1t is gen
orally agreed that certain schedules
should be revised There is a wide
difference Of opinion dis to what is fair
and equitable in the, revision of many
of the provisions of the act. 1t would
be unwise to make changes, the wis
dom of which may be doubted, without
serious consideration.
In order that the revision may be
based upon sound and equitable prin-
ciples, / recommend a revision at this
session of those schedules upon which
there is general agreement. l further
recommend that you appoint a joint
legislative committee with power to
make a thorough study of the whole
subject of workmen's compensation in
the light of developed experience and
present day information. The commit
tee should report it's findings to the
governor for transmission to the next
session of the legislature in order that
that body may have intelligent and re-
liable information upon which to base
revision of this important law.
Fire Insurance Rates.
Fire insurance is now recognized as
a commercial necessity. The prosper
ity of our people is largely dependent
upon their ability to obtain fire insur-
ance protection of unquestioned quail
ity. To this end we need financially
strong companies of our own state as
well as those of our sister states.
The insurance company is the
agency through which the cost of fire
waste is distributed over insured prop
erty, while the owner of the property
is the real burden bearer. The insur-
ance company is entitled to fair and
reasonable profit for the service that it
renders. 1t is not entitled to more
than that.
/ therefore recommend and urge
upon you the enactment of law that
will require all companies writing fire
insurance on property located in this
state to be members of a rating bu-
reau, to be located in this state, and
that will further require cooperation
in rate making to the end that the cost
be reduced and uniformity obtained.
The law should prohibit discrimination
and require the rate charged to be rea-
sonable.
further recommend that such 1egis
lation permit variation from rates
made by bureaus, so that economies III
management or favorable loss exper
fence may accrue to the benefit Of the
owners of insured property. The bu-
reaus charged with this important
function of rate making should be re-
quired to obtain a license from the
state. Bureaus authorized by law, as
well as insurance companies and insur-
ance agents, should be subject to a
penalty for violations.
State Board of Control.
The business of the Board of Con-
troll is growing rapidly and correspond
ing responsibilities are coming to it as
a natural consequence. AS the board
is now constituted it is composed of
five members. However, only one
makes his home in the city of Madi-
son. The expenditures managed by
the board are necessarily large. The
institutions in their charge are of
great importance to the state, as is the
proper and economical administration
of them. 1t would, in my judgment,
be in the interest of the state to re-
duce this board to three members, the
same to reside in the city of Madison
and devote all of their time to the
business of the board. The salaries
should be increased to an amount
large enough to attract and hold good
men because the public interest de-
mands that the work assigned to the
board be ably done.
National Guard.
On June 10, 1916, all recognized
units of the Wisconsin National Guard,
excepting one infantry company, were
called into active federal service by
the president of the United States. At
the present writing about one-third of
these troops are still held on the Mex
lean border for service under federal
authority. We have received the as
surance many times, through the press
and in statements Of department COM
manders and officers of high rank in
the regular army, that our people may
well be proud of the soldierly qualities
of the officers and men of our Guard.
The National Defense Act, passed by
the United States Congress, was made
effective June 3, 1916. At the time this
call went into effect the total strength
of the Wisconsin National Guard, off,
GERS and men, was approximately
5000 and their annual period of field
training was seven days. Under the
new federal act the proportionate
quota of troops required to be organ
lied and trained by the state of Wis
consin is 10,400, the requirement to be
fulfilled within approximately four
years, and all such troops must annu-
ally have not less than fifteen days of
field training. Since the act became a
law the strength of the Wisconsin Ma
tional Guard has been increased to ap-
proximately $500, officers and men,
and must necessarily continue to In
crease until the full quota is reached.
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