Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-03-17


GAINESVILLE, March 10.-The farmers
institute roundup last evening was
characterized by a very strong address
by Gov. Scofeld. In opening he de-
clared that the farmers lot is a hap
by one. The story Of developing CIVIL
ization. he said bears testimony TO
the many hOmely pleasures which are
the exclusive portion of the tiller or
the soil "If you who are engaged IN
farming do not appreciate your adyan-
tages, we, who are less fortunate, do.
Continuing he said: Il sometimes
fear YOU neither understand nor ap-
preciate your privileges and that the
farming element Of this state which,
rightly estimated, is the dominant ele-
ment, has not exerted the influence
it should have done. The reason for
this is, | believe, that you have not
taken an affirmative position in the
field of politics, nor matters gener-
aIIy pertaining to social development.
The solidarity of the farming interest
has been manifested more frequently
in an unanimity of complaint than
otherwise; and that is at It's best but
a negative use of power. The farm
inc interest will never play the I'M
portant part which it might In poll
tics and in the development of So
cietv generally while it devotes its best
energies to mere complaining. L
look to these farm institutes and the
ether means of education and develop
ment which are being brought to the
farmer in Wisconsin to bring about
better state Of affairs. I expect these
TO first of all teach the farmer high
er respect for himself and for his pro
fession. When he learns this he will
understand how much influence he has
and then how to use it.
tThe problem of taxation Is a serious
one which we of Wisconsin have to
solve, and you farmers must lend your
assistance in the solution. | do not
for one moment think that the il
CAPABILITIES so apparent in our system
:! taxation can be suddenly righted,
even by the combination Of all classes
OF industries, or the people engaged in
them. But there can be much done
anu dl IOIGSIy lllISlIASoNlAI SiLoAI wa
eventually bring order out Of the un
favorable conditions which exist. A
tax commission was created in this
state little over a year ago and
the members of it are hard at work
attempting to bring some order out
of our system of assessment Of taxes.
Their task will be a futile one, how
ever. if there be not cultivated high
er sense of the duties of citizenship
and of the obligations resting upon
every individual within this state to
raw his Just share of the expenses OF
government. I wish there might be
cultivated such a moral sentiment as
will put to shame the man who will
not perform his political duties and
who. for one cause or another, shifts
his burden OF the expense OF the gov
eminent upon others. If You are to
do anything toward solving this tax
problem you must first of all get an
intelligent understanding of the situa-
ton as it is, and then, without pre-
iudice, lend your aid in solving it. We
are no worse-rather better off, in fact
in this state than the people Of other
states; but that is no particular com
fort 50 long as the inequalities of the
system are so glazing. 1t is notori-
Gus fact TINT in Wisconsin, by far the
greater part of personal property es-
capes taxation entirely. Mr.. KEENAN,
of Milwaukee, a member Of the state
tax commission, who has devoted Ions
study to the question, informs me that
it is probable that at least 80 per cent
in value of the personal property
owned in the state of Wis-0"
capes assessment. Thomas Brown
tax commissioner Of the city of Mil
waukee, who is an authority on the
subject, gave me as his opinion tina
rs per cent. of the personal property
IN the city OF Milwaukee escapes taxa
ton and the balance of the state HI
thinks will not differ greatly. II
confederation of this are the figures
given Of property values in Wiscon
sin by the United States census o
1890, and a comparison of these will
the total valuation Of property in tn
state. The United States census o
1890 places the total property valuation
in Wisconsin at s1,S33, sos, 533 90. De
Quoting from this valuation the valu
of the real estat which is taxable ant
the real estate which is exempt, Their
is still left balance of personal prop
erty to the amount of about S735 900
900.
''It is pretty fair to assume tina
while the United States census may no
be altogether correct it is more apt t
err in putting the figures below tina
above the actual valuation. Our ow
state reports show that the total va
uation, by assessors of all state PROF
erty in Wisconsin for the year 1889
was 629,735.5 sos. This. under
stand, includes all real estate not e1
empt from taxation, and all persona
property. For the same year the tt
tai valuation, by assessors of the ne1
sonal property of the state is S110
O66,S5S. co. or little more than on,
sixth of the valuation of persona
as shown by the United States censu
But the most serious thing about the;
figures is that there is a gradual d
crease in the value of the persona
property as shown by the returns
the assessors. Thus the returns fl
personal property bv the assessors
1895, showed $4,000. 900 90: in 1S9
S114000. 10000: in 1897, $4,000. 000C