The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1899-05-05

Life Must Pay Big Taxes ($19O,OOO In
crease NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Escape and
Some Reformers Don't Like 1t : A Y. Nj.
C. A. Statesman.
Madison, Wis, May 2.-This is the
last week Of the legislature. Whatever
day it closes, it will have been a long
session, more than the 100 days which
is SO additionally regarded as the linn
it that some enormously conceive the
constitution fixes it SO.
The Republicans will claim that this
legislature has lived up to the pledges
made in the last party platform. An
anti-pass bill has been passed that is
more stringent, forbidding not only
legislators, capitol employees and judi
cial officers from riding on a free pass;
but it applies to delegates to all politi-
cal conventions; candidates for office,
members of the county board; city
aldermen. The fact is, the lawmakers
were SO incensed at being obliged to
give up their free passes, express franks
and the other good things, that they
determined to shut out as many others
as possible. The penalty is state prison
from one to five years, or fine Of from
5000 to $1,000.
And people who say Officials will
ride anyway" are in error. There will
be some trickery and evasion but dead
headism will be discouraged and driven
into a corner, and while some of the
desperate and don't care people will
be able to get railroad favors most
men will either be too honest or too
sensitive to violate the law and be sub
ject to gossip, if not to arrest.
Lobbyists Must Register.
Then too, the platform promised an
anti-lobby law and that is on the
statute books. Amusingly enough the
first to register were the swell Milwau-
kee jurists-General Winkler, Judge
Dwyer and others here to oppose the
bill taxing life insurance companies so
severely. This pleased the regular"
lobbyists immensely.
Taxing Milwaukee Life Insurance Co.
The platform promised vigorous cor
poration taxation. Of course the big
gest stroke is the raising of the tax
on the Northwestern Mutual from
$37 ,OCO in 1858, to $224,000 1t was thought
the influential opposition to this Orion
bill would avail to reduce it. Many
good men thought the dose pretty stiff.
The basis of taxation is 1 per centum
of gross income from all sources an
nually, excepting income from rents of
real estate upon which the companies
have paid taxes, and excepting income
upon United States bonds, which are
exempt from taxation.
There are other items that should
al Io fod Of
but the legislators were afraid to amend
the bill SO near the end Of the session
They feared the bill might utterly fail
and the appropriations are big this
year. The situation recalled the con-
versation in a Montana restaurant.
A stranger dropped in for a lunch.
He ate piece Of pie and drank cup
of coffee. Then he asked for the bill.
Ninety cents" said the man behind
the counter.
isn't that pretty stiff price for pie
and coffee?" asked the man from the
east.
cit is for fact" conceded the man
behind the counter, "but the truth is,
stranger, I need the money"
Rush at End of Season.
The company was willing to pay $780,
900 and had it been safe to delay and
think the matter over, perhaps, a COM
promise bill could have been framed
But Governor Sco1ield had frightened
the members with a special message,
telling them they were spending more
money than they were providing for.
The plan to get $500, 900 more from the
railroads had been killed in the senate
CATER passing the house, and it was
decided the great, rich corporation
could stand it. But it threatens to re-
sist payment in the courts.
With the taxing of other corporations,
sleeping car, express, etc.. the whole
state is familiar. And yet it is not GER
tain that there viii not be criticism Of
the legislature, especially for not pass
ing some bills aimed at the railroads.
either for bigger taxes, cheaper freight
rates, or for regulation.
1.-THE state" which has been markedly
kindly, is now taking on a more CEN
serious tone; and it is possible the fac
tional furry is to be resumed to some
extent.
However Mr.. Hall is very happy in
the passage of the anti-pass bill. He
has worked on it for many years and
deserves no little credit. He says he
will retire from public Office now. AS
rule, this is a meaningless phrase
from a public man, but coming from
the Dunn county man, it is no doubt
in good faith.
Janesvil1e's Great Senator.
Senator J M. Whitehead, who passed
the tax commission bill and conducted
True's marriage reform bill and gave
the right bent to the corporation taxa
ton measures, has proved himself a
very able man. More than that, he
commands universal confidence, and the
GAINESVILLE district will do well to send
him back to Madison, or better, rally
round him for congress, for which he is
already talked. He has conducted him
self with rare discretion and good
judgment, and every one knows just
where to find him at all times.
A man who can be the head of the Y.
M. G. A. in the state and fill the inf1u-
entail place he has at Madison this
winter comes pretty near human great
ness. Senator Whitehead, by the way,
is to deliver the Memorial day address
at Juneau.
General Griffin Head Taxer.