The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1917-02-14
employees in the senate for the next

/ change of the workmen's compensa-
ton insurance law. The bill on this
subject was offered in the senate by
Senator Roy z. 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-
saion.
! Several measures strengthening the
building and loan statute in the state
have been offered by Assemblman John
A. Donnelly of Milwaukee. One meas
ure would limit the operation of a
| building and loan association within
fifty miles of its 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 determined fight
against the Bray bill for the legaIizing
Of primary party conventions was IN
! dicated when Lieut.. Gov. e. F. Dith-
mar, BaraboO, one of the leading Pro-
1 gressives in the state, appeared In
F.. opposition to the bill.
This bill is the entering wedge 70
| the return to the old caucus system"
declared Lieutenant Governor Ditmar.
There will be a feeling among men
/ that they will not want to be candi~
dates for a 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 ex
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 Kenny
! opposed the bills because of the appli-
| cation which the measures have to ag-
rOcultural labor. l.. A. Brunkhorst,
| PIatteville, representing the mining in
| terests, was opposed to the bill. He
! said that this was Il 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 Il shorter day after
hearing, if it could be established that
the health of employees was affected.
New Vote Plan Proposed.
Assemblyman Oil of Milwaukee
has introduced a bill for an
amendment to the constitution which
will permit the use of the initiative
| and referendum in this state. Under
| the terms of his resolution any bill Of
the legislature could be referred direct
to the people, which would be refer
endum. The people might likewise
start a movement for the enactment Of
q certain law and have the question
submitted on petition. which would be
the initiative.
After a sharp debate the assembly
killed the Campbell bill which would
require the labelling of prisOn-made
goods. Assemblyman w. L. Smith of
Milwaukee argued that these goods
should be labeled inasmuch as they are
placed in opposition TO goods made by
free labor. Assemblyman Pieper said
that the state was anxious that the
butter and cheese of Wisconsin be
properly labeled, and it ought TO be
as honest with the people and properly
label goods which il manufactures it
self. Assemb1yman Camper of Taylor
county contended that the state could
not sell its prison-made goods were
they labeled. On q roll call the bill
was killed by vote of 43 to 30.
The assembly killed the Campbell
bill which would repeal all laws on the
statute books relating to dueling, and
also bill which would increase the
penalty for stealing automobiles. After
spending nearly two hours tine with
the discussion of the subject OF
whether the poll tax should be in
creased from $3.50 to 50 a year the
question was again referred to the
state affairs committee for further
hearing.
Hospital for inebriates.
4 state hospital for the care and
treatment of inebriates Is provided for
in bill offered in the assembly by
Assemblyman Oil of Milwaukee. At
this hospital all persons suffering from
chronic inebriety, whether caused by
the excessive use of Intoxicating Ii
quors, morphine. opium, cocaine,
chloral or other narcotics shall be
given treatment. The board of control
is directed to select a site on not to ex-
coed 800 acres of land and to erect a
suitable hospital. Persons may be
parOled from the proposed institution
after 80 days if the physician in charge
believes the patient has sufficiently re-
covered.