The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1875-01-14

surplus funds upon interest. Subsequent
observation and reflection have served to
confirm the views I then expressed. To
require of the people the payment into
the Treasury of large sums of money
many months before its use is ordinarily
required, and this, at period of the year
most inconvenient for nearly all classes of
taxi payers, is an eXaction without appar-
ent excuse But, if insisted upon, the
people should at least receive partial
compensation for the inconvenience thus
unnecessarily imposed upon them, in the
earnings to which the use of their idle
money is entitled in the market. The
change proposed is sanctioned by exam
pie and experience elsewhere, and no con-
sequence could be anticipated from its
adoption here more serious than the i'm
position of this additional restraint upon
lavish appropriation and expenditure.
EXEMPT PROPERTY.
The returns of property exempt from
taxation are again incomplete, and COM
paratiVely valueless as a basis of legisla-
ton the present year. Therefore, in &C
cordance with the suggestions of the Sec
rotary of State, | recommend the enact
ment of law on this subject the present
session, similar to chapter 43, Laws of
1874, with view to more accurate and re-
liable statistics for future reference.
SALE OF MORTGAGED LANDS.
The report of the State Treasurer refers
to cases of extreme hardship, occasioned
during the past year by tho oalo, without
notice of lands mortgaged to the State
and forfeited by purchasers for the non
payment Of nominal sums Of intere st. No
principle of justice car sanction proceed
lngs OF this character, and urge prompt
amendment of the law in the manner in
dictated by the Treasurer.
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.
The sum paid from the general fund
for the prosecution of the geological sur
vey, the past fiscal year was $4,000. The
importance OF this work to the complete
Development of the State, cannot be ex-
aggerated. | recommend careful con
sideration of the progress already attained,
and of the propriety of further legislation,
with view to a more prompt and CON-
plete utilization of the results accom-
plished
APPORTIONMENT OF TAXATION.
Next to the question of prudent expen-
diture is that of an equitable ap-
portionment of taxation. The total
assessed value OF taxable property
in the State is about $780, 100000,
upon which the taxes of 1874, for State
and local purposes, averaged about two
and three-tenths per cent. 1t is believed
that the actual value of the total taxable
property of the State, if such property
were fairly and fully accousted for and
assessed. would equal or exceed twice the
sum given, and that the average of total
taxation for State and local purposes the
current year is really about one per cent
The aggregate of railway property re-
turned to the State is stated by the com
panles themselves at about $4,000, 900
This includes large amount of new road
which has thus far yielded little or no
profit upon investment. The receipts into
the treasury from railway licenses for the
fiscal year 1884, not including defcien-
cy of $48, 24053, due but unpaid the pre-
viOus year, amounted to $34499487. By
the legislation OF last winter, the tax upon
gross earnings of railways was increased
from three to four per cent, and other
things being equal, the receipts from
this source for the fiscal year 1915,
will amount to One-third more than
the preceding year, or about the round
sum of $460,000. Should the gross earn
ings of the two principal lines operated
in the state for the year 1874, equal the
gross earnings of the same lines tor the
year 1873, this increased tax, including
the local taxes paid by these companies
would approximate one per cent. upon
any fairly estimated value of the proper
ty, and is therefore substantially eQuiva-
lent to the estipated tax upon other prop
eTty, at its full and fair valuation. A
large variation from apparent equity
arises, however, from the comparatively
diminutive income of eleven of the thir-
teen railways operating under license.
The gross receipts of these eleven roads
bear no just relation to the actual or re-
ported cost of the roads, and the tax up
on the property is CORRESPONDENCE small.
The present method of taxing railway
companies upon the basis of gross receipts
renders this result inevitable in the case
of new roads, and implies an intent on the
part of the state heretofore to extend a
liberal encouragement to enterprises of
this class. In view of the practical bene-
tits of railway construction, by way of de
Yeloping our material resources and in
rapidly approaching the aggregate of tax
able property, and especially in view of
the rapidly increasing revenue thus en-
sured from the roads themselves, [ hest
tate to condemn policy so manifestly
beneficial tothe public and ultimately to
the treasury itself.
TELEGRAPH AND EXPRESS COMPANIES.
The apparent partially Of the past
Legislatures to express and telegraph
companies, with reference to taxation, is
a just source of apprehension and COM
plant Other public corporations are
subject to legislative supervision, and in
large measure compensate the treasury
for the protection afforded them by law.
Nor do we hesitate to send the tax gather
er into every farmhouse, workshop,
ware house, factory and foundry, to col
lect tribute from property assessed, some
what in accordance with its productive
value. In this respect our express and
telegraph companies are exempt from The
uniform rule.
1t may be claimed that these corpora
tons are already subject to local taxation
upon their capital, at home or abroad.
In these respects they are not peculiar,
nor are their relations to the public dis
tinguishable from those of banking
corporations or from those of railroad,
plankroad and insurance companies, 1t
is tue Jnat express companies; in
addition to nominal tax, already Uuu-
tribute indirectly to the support of gov
ernmeut, by contributing to the gross re-
ceipts of railroad companies. But the
farmer, the manufacturer and the mer-
chant also contribute indirectly to the
treasury in a similar manner, without ex-
emption from ordinary taxation on that
account.
1t is true, also, that the state derives no
direct revenue from the Wisconsin earn
ings of sleeping Car companies, or from
the so called colored freight lines organ
lied without the state. Past LEGISLATION as