Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1898-07-21

and patriotic, now as ever, the people
OF this state are profoundly interested
in the war, its vigorous prosecution,
the approaching and final triumph
of our arms. But the great burden Of
debt to follow a war costing million
dollars day, falls first upon the peo-
pie. Now, more than at any other
time in recent years, there is urgent
necessity for practical, effective legis-
lation, justly equalizing the burdens of
taxation. 1t is becoming well under
stood that the man Of moderate means
pays an undue and disproportionate
share of the taxes; that homes and
farms and visible property are within
easy and certain reach OF the tax
gatherer, while bonds and notes and
mortgages Of many wealthy holders,
and the great incomes of many corpo-
rations, escape taxation wholly or in
part. As recently stated by EXPIRES
ident Harrison there exists an appall-
ing condition of things. The evil
seems to have been progressive until
in some of our great centers of pop
ulation and wealth, these forms Of
personal property seem to have been
eliminated from the tax lists
The people of Wisconsin, especial
ly, have been made to seel the weight
of this unequal burden by the levy
Of an exceptionally large direct tax,
followed by the easy and inexcusable
escape of sleeping-car companies, ex-
press companies and trust companies,
from legislation designed to subject
them to share in taxation. Common
justice demands, and places the re-
sponsibility on the dominant party in
every state to enact, laws that shall
make the state an instrument OF
righteousness, instead of creator
of inequality in the matter of taxa
ton.
when it is considered that some
of the very corporations which wholly
escape taxation, furnish free trans
portation TO public officials under the
guise If an official courtesy the pass
and frank question becomes an issue
in Wisconsin politics which VIII never
be settled until the use of passes by
public officials is prohibited by law.
The people of this state will brook no
further trifing on this subject. No
quibbling or evasion will serve. No
violation or reputation of platform
promises will be tolerated There
must be plain dealing and no com
plant can be made if a bond of good
faith is demanded with the pledge
The presence at the state capital Of
powerful lobbyists for special inter-
ests, with their private legislative
chambers,-the operation Of which, by
a sort of evil contagion, extends be-
yond the scope of their original en-
ployment to the defeat of every good
measure possible-demards the en-
actment and enforcement of laws that
shall make this method of influencing
legislators, a punishable offense in the
same manner as improperly approach
ing judge or jury in a court Of justice.
And the good name Of the republican
party, as we'll as the public welfare
demands that persons who accept and
hold important political positions
should not engage in influencing legis
lation in behalf of personal or cor
porate interests
That measures to make untaxed
property bear a part Of the
burden Of government, to effectively
prohibit corrupt practices in
campaigns and elections, to secure all
possible relief from combinations and
trusts that destroy competition and
restrain trade. to prohibit the accept
auce and use of railroad passes, sleep
ing-car passes, express, telephone and
telegraph franks by public officials
have not found a place on the statute
books Of our state, proves that an all
powerful influence. hostile 20 the COM
mon interest, controls official action
This is the rule of the political ma
chine manipulated for private inter-
ests. The people have come TO know
that il controls caueuses, names dele
gates dominates candidates, directs
legislation. and dominates state ad-
ministrations The time has come
when the people Il Wisconsin will no
longer eabmit 70 minority control