Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-04-01

VI IAC ouUuut uOESooa'J W OO ioiooN
and the Senate (Republicaus and Re-
formers) unanimously voted to raise a
tax of 1857 ,525, but the chairman of
the finance committee, in the Assem-
bly,, estimated the revenues from rail
road taxation at 100000 more than
heretofore, and reduced his estimates
of the state tax to be raised according
ly. The Senate unanimously refused
to concur in the Assembly bill, deem.
ing the levy too small, but a compromise
was finally agreed upon, fixing the
amount at 1887 ,525, which we dare
predict will be found insufficient.
5. IF the next legislature should
vote to tax railroads the same as other
property the state revenue will be de-
creased more than $20O, 900, and the
state tax levied in 1874 will be found
to be more than 100000 too small.
1t is hardly worth while to count so
much on revenues from railroads, for
state purposes, when there is SO pre-
valent feeling that all property
should be taxed IN the manner
6. The legislature, as body, did
not refuse passes; but the railroad
companies generally, determined more
than six months before the legislature
met to issue no more passes to any
body. There is precious little virtue
in such necessity.
7. The appropriations for the cur
rent expenses of the state institutions
were. as large as usual, in about every
| instance, and were all that were called
for, but not as much was needed for
building purposes. as heretofore. Just
how this fact entities our reformers to
any special credit for economy will be
invisible.
s. The bills increasing licenses for
railroads were recommended by the
Republican Secretary of State, and
were introduced in both branches Of
the legislature by Republican members
and were passed by aid Of the nearly
unanimous vote Of the Republicans of
the two houses The bill for taxing
life insurance companies was defeated
in the Senate by the almost unanimous
vote of reform Senators, and was al
most as unanimously voted for by the
Republican Senator's @ il
9. Several previous Assemblies,
and SeDates too, passed excellent bills
regulating warehouses, but means were
l Gafo sal,
bill passed by the Assembly had the
hearty concurrence of the Republican
members, but it was defeated in the
Senate by the almost unanimous vote
Of the Reform Senators, the Reform
Attorney-General having been in.
duce? to give an official opinion that
the bill was unconstitutional The
Republican Senators very generally
voted for the bill, however, preferring
to take the opinion Of the courts as
to the constitutionality of the measure
IL. 1t is not the only Assembly
that ever passed bill to prevent rail
road stock holders from contracting
with themselves. The Republicans
passed a very stringent measure on
that subject, but it was repealed by
the general railroad law, passed in
1873, drafted by Mr. Reformer John
W. Cary. This fact was as well known
to the editors Of the Democrat as any
body else, for they had published more
than one article, in reply to the Mil
waukee Sentinel, on that subject.
IL. 1t is the first Assembly that
ever drew pay for more days than it
was in session. and is about the first
body we ever heard Of that didn't know
when it had got done. 1t is a matter
Of doubt, Judging from an editorial
article in the Democrat, if the editors
of that paper knew exactly when the
Legislature did adjourn. Here is what
they said Saturday morning:
AS silently as the Arabs, the noble solons
folded their tents. or in other words, pack
ed up their stealings yesterday, quietly said
quits last night, and before we could realize
the situation, the two gavels fell, and the
thing was done. We had supposed that
Saturday would still find the Legislature n
! session (at ST.: 900 per day, y but the three
| OR four Senators and as many Assemblymen
who convened last evening" saw the farce
of attempting to prolong the session, and a
little conference meeting resulted in ad-
! jouring then at all hazards. As 40 one ex.
| pected it, the attendance was not such as
would be likely to inspire set speeches, and
the final mallet sound was prefaced by the
| briefest remarks
GATHOIIc VIEw The Boston