Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1875-09-24
ga Bit of History"

Under the above caption, the Madi-
son Democrat Of last Wednesday pre-
sents an array of figures and makes
certain statements that more grossly
pervert the truth of history than any
document Of the same length that ever
came under orr observation. The fol-
lowing is a specimen:
In the first place, it is we'll known that
one of the first acts of the Reform party
was tc increase the roilroad license tax.
thereby compelling these corporations to
bear their just burden of taxation, which,
under Republican Rule, they had hereto
fore avoided. This measure of justice to
the people was only adopted after a severe
struggle and the fact that sirteen gears of
Republican ascendGncy had passed with
out even an attempt to accomplish 1t effec-
tually, bars all doubts or question as to
whom belongs the credit.
Now for the truth of history: When
the Democratic party was in the ac-
'cendancy they established the policy of
licensing instead of taxing railroads,
and they fred the license at one per
cent. Under Republican rule-it was
N 1862, we think-the license was in
creased to three per cent and yet the
Democrat says that for sixteen years no
N'attempt" to increase the tax was made
Again in 1873, Hon. Ill. Breese the
Republican Secretary of State, called
the attention of the Legislature to the
subject. The bill making the increase
was introduced in the Assembly by
Zion. l.. B. Caswell, Republican.
Having showed the 'talsity of the
democrats claim, we proceed to the
next point. Having claimed the law
ass the act of Reformers, it proceeds:
The receipts to the State from this
source under the old law so long main
taned by the Republican party for the
last year of their power was S2lO,374.99.
The receipts under the law directly at>
tributable to the Reform victory of 1873
were for the first year 1898, 235 40, or the
large sum of 1852, S60.4l saved the tax
payers and producers annually from this
one.
The truth is, the railroad companies
were behind in their taxes in 1878,
$4,000. The amount was paid in
shortly after the report was made, and
went to augment the receipts of 1874
by that amount; but the more impor-
tant fact is that the 1898, 235.4O rail-
road tax which the Democrat points to
so exuitingly as the result of Reform
laws, was the amount derived from the
railroads, under the old lau of three
per cent, and the figures represent
nothing, except the increased amonnt
Of railroad earnings. No report has
yet been made Of the receipts from
railroads under the law of 1874. and
will not be until October.
What shall we say of the wretched
bungling the Democrat makes an at
tempting to give information to the
people upon the subject it treats of so
deliberately. We doubt if it has sim
gle reader who is so ignorant of the
facts as that sheet has shown itself to
be.-State Register.
The Prairie du Chean Union thus
appropriately discourses on a subject
which is of special Importance at this
time:
The season when every man wants
his money is at hand. Itnoes an hon
est man good to pay his honest debts.
Remember yeur merchant, your law
yer, your doctor, your preacher, your
man-servant, your maid servant, your
OK and your Mule and the stranger
that fixed your gate. And don't for
get the PRINTER 1t is the author
ized circulating medium that force the
equine to proceed.