WISCONSIN 933 



Wherever there is urban postal free delivery, express companies must deliver free any 

 intra-state shipments by express. Railway corporations are liable for damages by fire from 

 locomotive engines, and engines operated in forests and bush lands must have spark ar- 

 resters. The railway commission may order any railway to adopt block signals. 



It is unlawful for a physician to prescribe intoxicating liquor unless it is necessary for the 

 health of a patient, or to prescribe more than is necessary, under penalty of a fine of $ib 

 to $100 or six months' imprisonment and for a second offence within one year the revocation 

 of thejdoctor's licence. Liquor must not be sold or given away at public auctions; public 

 drinking of intoxicating liquors on railway trains is forbidden, and no intoxicated person 

 is to be allowed on a railway coach. In liquor sale prosecutions the possession of a Federal 

 licence is prima facie evidence of guilt. Stricter laws were passed for the sanitation of bake- 

 shops; against the colouring and adulteration of canned goods and for the protection of food 

 products displayed for sale; dry goods, groceries, clothing and hardware stores are not to be 

 opened on Sunday. The manufacture and sale of certain fireworks and of fire crackers more 

 than three inches long and one-half inch in diameter were forbidden. Pandering was made 

 punishable by imprisonment for from 2 to 20 years ; the act permits the testimony of an 

 injured woman, even though she be married, and makes it no defence that a part of the acts 

 forbidden by the law were committed outside the state. 



A law in effect on September I, 1911 (held constitutional by the state supreme court on 

 November 14, 1911) provides for compensation for accidents to workmen but is not compul- 

 sory except for the state and municipalities; it applies to all industries but not to casual em- 

 ployees. The employer's choice of compensation must be made in writing. The employee 's 

 choice is presumed after the employer has elected compensation. The defence of assumed 

 risk and of fellow service (if there are four or more employees) is abrogated. Suits for damages 

 are not permitted if the employer chooses compensation. There is no reduction in liability 

 because of special contract. Disability must last more than one week to be compensated. 1 

 For the death of an employee the compensation is $100, if no dependents are left, otherwise 

 four years' earnings not less than $1,500 nor more than $3,000, and this is the limit for 

 compensation for total disabilities; 65% of the average earnings, if a nurse is required, but 

 100 % after 90 days; for partial disability the compensation is 65% of the wage decrease. 

 Medical and surgical aid are to be paid for, if they last 90 days or less. Disputes are to be 

 settled by an industrial commission, which is empowered besides to establish free employ- 

 ment agencies and to enforce other labour laws. Employers are required to install and main- 

 tain safety devices and the exercise of ordinary care is not a sufficient compliance with the 

 law. The law for the safe-guarding of machinery was made explicit. A law was passed 

 against false representation in the employment of labour especially as to the existence of 

 strikes or labour disputes. The industrial commission is to investigate contracts of employ- 

 ment. Contracts for public work must stipulate an eight hour day, except in "extraordinary 

 emergency" which is limited to protection of life or property. Illiterates under 14 are not 

 to be employed; children between 14 and 1 6, if employed where there is an evening or con- 

 tinuation school, must attend five hours a week during six months of each year, and their 

 employers must allow a reduction in hours if school and working hours coincide. The age 

 limit for selling newspapers was raised from 10 to 12 for boys and from 16 to 18 for girls; for 

 other street trades, from 12 to 14 for boys and from 16 to 18 for girls. No boy under 16 may 

 work at a street trade without a permit issued by the state factory inspector, showing school 

 attendance. Boys under 14 may not sell newspapers after 7.30 P.M. in summer or 6.30 P.M. 

 in winter formerly IO P.M. all the year. Employment in bakeries, restaurants and messen- 

 ger service was added to trades at which children under 16 should not be employed "required, 

 suffered or permitted to work" the words in quotation being additional to the previous 

 law without a written permit. To the list of dangerous occupations in which children under 

 18 may not be employed were added mining and quarrying. Children under 16 may not 

 work more than 8 hours a day or 48 hours a week (formerly IO hours a day and 55 a week), 

 nor may they do night work after 6 P.M. formerly 9 P.M. Women may not work in manu- 

 factories, mechanical or mercantile establishments, laundries or restaurants, confectionery 

 stores, telephone or telegraph offices, with express or transportation companies, more than 

 IO hours day or 55 a week in the day time, nor more than 8 a day or 48 a week, between 8 

 P.M. and 6 A.M. Night work for one day in a week makes the whole night work under the 

 law. All physicians must report to the state board of health cases of occupational diseases 

 including lead poisoning and "caisson disease," but not mentioning anthrax, as do similar 

 laws in other states. 



Finance. The joint commission of the legislature on finance was authorised to employ 

 trained experts in accounting and in making public financial statements. An important 

 income tax law was passed in 1911 and was declared constitutional by the state supreme 

 court on January 9, 1912. It allows for certain deductions from the gross income such as 

 losses sustained and not insured, taxes on the source of income, interest on bonds exempted 

 from taxation, and salaries and pensions from the United States. Corporations are taxed 

 on their incomes by a scale according to the percentage that the income bears to the assessed 



1 If it lasts more than four weeks the compensation must include the first week. 



