Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1862-06-25
ID Mills Final Discharge Adjourned Session Per
Diem Fraul -Palners Bogus Tax Law.


Is not every body glad that the Legisla-
ture has at last adjourned? The men that
pretended to spurn per diem ard mileage
on the 9TH Of April last for the late recess,
have skunk to their several homes, disap-
pointed and disgraced, unicss the Supreme
Court decides il their favor, on the ground
that their absence frora their dates was
more beneficial to the state thar their pres
lence. And what the legislature did not
do is far better than any thing it las done
Or could have done. There was no use Of
the extra session. IF the decision Of the
Supreme Court required any legislature,
laws could as well be made in April as in
June. There had been no decision against
the validity Of the act Of 1860, exemptIng
railroads from general taxation, and requir-
ing them to pay bonus directly to the
State. And yet | am happy to declare,
in spite Of the enormous and extraordina-
~ expenses imposed on the people OF this
State by the present war, the State tax for
all purposes is less than usual-only the
sum Of one hundred and fifty thousand
dollars. A republican state government
can be run even during war with this paltry
and be far too extrayagant at that. The
democracy which had resorted to every
means to swell the state tax, looked upon
the figures with amazement and confusion.
For the last three years they have prophe-
cied the government must sink for want OF
means, and still it runs on. Ericson's cal
oric en- zine only requires an armtul OF fuel
per day, and the democrats really believe
the republican administration have invent
ed some new machine 10 run the govern
ment with, CT like Napoleon Third, they
have invented some chemical agent for
making money. Old Dir. Faustus invent
ed machine for printing bibles, and he
sold them SO cheap the priests believed
him in partnership with the devil. penn
ocratic administration in times of profound
peace could not carry the state through for
less than $50 or 100000 a year, and that
we have but $4,000 Of state tax the
present year, must astonish even republi'
cans themselves, yet, do not pretend to
say they have practised the economy /
could wish, or that the times rec qire.
Some, and all must wonder at the result.
It has been in part accomplished as fol
lows: The United States are satisfied
with our war vouchers, notwithstanding
the puerile report Of the investigating COM
mttee, and will refund to us what we have
laid out in equippiDg volunteers before the
matter was taken III hand BY the Federal
Government Out Of this fund we can pay
the extra five dollars per month for con
siderable time. 1t is fortunate that The
power of the investigating committee was
not equal to its malice. 1t intended to
damage our claims before the war depart
ment, and If possible saddle The whole ex-
pense Of fitting cut the first six regiments
on the state. The young gentleman who
wrote thatreport knew rotbing more about
fitting and equipping armies than a pea
cock knows Of stars outside Of it's own tail.
SSH there is some fine rhetoric in that re-
port, aud its perusal will be Of advantage
to the admirers Of this art. Another fact,
the railroad income to the state will, the
present year, be thrice what it formerly
was, and what the Legislature did not do,
and | hope will never do, is this: it did
not pass a law authorizing this revenue to
be absorbed by the school districts towns,
villages and cities through which theroads
pass Railroads can well afford to pay
five per cent. more Of aggregate tax direct
lly to the state, than to be subject to the
imposition and annoyance Of every village
through which they may run Milwaukee
demanded this extra session for this special
end. Her ablest representative, Hon. Ell.
/ Z. Palmer was the author Of the late tax
bill. 1t was the pretence Of gentlemen
from that city that taxation should be
equal on all property. But this sham Is
exposed by section three Of the bill which
makes larger exemptions than are found in
chapter 18 Of Revised Statues. II requir-
Ell Of merchants aud manufactures to list,
not an average of their stock for the last
twelve months; not as in some states, tho
largest amount they right have on hand,
| three or six months previous to a fixed day !;
but the amount they might have on hand
on the first day of May. The merchant
could afford aud prepare himself for bank
ruPtcy one day in the year. 1t took us
back to the iaxity existing in territorial
times. The assessor might exact or dis
pense with written statement under oath
Just as he pleased. Soma towns and some
persons would be valued on oath; others
upon honor, and others on the Judgment
Of the assessor. The cloven foot Of the
measure was not half concealed. Farms
can't be locked UP in strong boxes, nor
sheep and cattle in pocket book. The
farmers property was visible; there was
no compulsory mode Of reaching invisible
property, credits, but the assessor was left
to exact sworn written statement if he
thought proper, 1t was a Law for the cit
les against the country; for money shayers
whose assets were invisible against the
farmer. And there were farmers in the
assembly who did not see the snare--far-
tners that voted for it. The state board
of equalization was not the Senate, but the
State Treasurer, Secretary Of State, &c. Ii
would have been holiday for our large
cities, if this bill had become law. This
cry for equality only meant exemption fol