The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1899-08-25

anthrOpy never can be comfortably
| fixed in point of money. If it has
enough, the institution naturally wants
to broaden it's coasts. The chief trou-
bic is that the best business ability is
not usually found in the ranks Of the
humble workers who bear the heat and
toll of the responsibility of the associ-
alton.
Once in while as in Wausau, a live
business man of standing takes the
presidency and gives the building an
hour or two day of his oversight and
figuring as he would bank. That is
noble Christian service.
The State Fair Sept. I1-15.
The state fair occurs in Milwaukee
from Sept. Ills. The outline of the
features announces best of all, no
gambling, skin games or bOoZing on
| the grounds The fact that $4,000 is
put up for $50 fast horses, plus $4,000
for exhibition steeds, indicates that the
reform management yet recognizes the
frailties of poor human nature. The
programme, as a whole, is one to in
| spire the confidence of the agricultural
| interests and under Secretary True's
| management Colonel Watrous' famous
| suggestion that one day be reserved as
Farmers Day." promises to be with
| out point this fall. The cattle premi-
! ums aggregate $4,000: sheep for half
| as much; swine for over $1,000; pOul-
| try for $1,000; fine arts for nearly
| $1,000; horticultural for $500; dairy for
nearly $1,000; pigeons and ornamental
| birds for $500, besides scores of valua-
| BILE special premiums. Special attrac-
! tions daily: Trained elk, diving from
| high trestle into deep water; diving
| horses in similar act; field of hot
| PAGERS in a hot contest without driv-
| ers; balloon ascension by Miss Ida Le-
| Roy, the celebrated aeronaut; automO-
| bile display races on the course.
Trolley in Black River Valley.
The plan to build an electric line
| from Lacrosse to Black River Falls
| and then Neillsville is taking practi-
| cal shape The towns are bonding
| themselves to promote construction.
| 1t is expected to increase the value of
| farms in that section two-thirds of the
| present value and to make MelrOse a
| thriving city of several thousand in
| habitants and also be the means of eS-
| tablishing several new market towns.
| 1t is said the object of the company
| is to construct a through line from
| Lacrosse to the lakes through the
hardwood country of northern Wis
consin. We notice the Kickapoo val
| ley road (steam) is to be sold under
| foreclosure, when it is expected either
| the st. Paul or Northwestern system
will buy it in 1t is not unlikely that
| an electric lire might have met the
needs of that section had construction
been delayed until the new mode of
| transportation were as we'll understood
as now. It is vastly cheaper.
| Nothing pertaining to railroads has
| caused more discussion than the Ques-
ton of taxation. How should railroads
| be taxed, and what should be the basis
| of taxation? Railroad Commissioner
Rice, in his recent report, thus sum-
marizes history:
| "Last winter in our state a deter
mined effort was made to change the
method of taxation; also to increase
| the amount of taxes. | might say here
| that I have used the word ''tax," but
| Wisconsin courts do not recognize this
work in the sense that I have used it
! under the present law the proper word
| being license.
! Railroad Taxation.
| "For three or four years the several
| roads in the state were assessed as 9TH
er property, and paid taxes the same as
an owner of private property. In 1854
| the legislature changed the SYSTEM and
| the railroads under the law were COM
PEELED to make report of gross earn
| ings to the state treasurer each year,
| and also to pay license, which should
be in lieu of all 'axes-1 per cent. of
| their gross earnings. In 1860 this law
| was modified so that companies must
ask for license and procure the same
before operating road. In 1862 the
| law remained practically the same, eX-
| cept that the percent. Of licenses was
very materially increased, being raised
| to per cent. In 1874 there was fur
| Their increase to per cent; in 1876
! another departure was made, and the
| roads were graded and paid license
| fee based upon the gross earnings per
mile, as follows: On all roads whose
gross earnings eQUalled or exceeded
| $4,000 per mile, 4 per cent; On all
roads whose gross earnings were $1,000
per mile and less than $4,000, S. per
mile and 2 per cent. on all earnings
in excess of 81 500 per mile; on all
| roads whose gross earnings were less
| than 800 per mile, S. per mile.
q
and five grades were established as fol-
! lows: On roads whose gross earn
| ings were $4,000 per mile or over, 4
per cent; on roads whose gross earn
| ings were $4,000 per mile and less than
! $4,000, 31a per cent; on roads whose
! gross earnings were $4,000 per mile
and less than $4,000, 3 per cent; on
| roads whose gross earnings were 81 800
and less than $4,000, So per mile and
| 21b per cent. On all earnings over ST.
| 500 per mile; on all other roads SIS per
mile. An effort to further increase the
| license fee was defeated in 1899. This
| effort brought forth much discussion
and talk in the legislature
ORLANDO BURNETT.
Direct Evidence.
Here is a good parrot story. One of
! these birds occupied the witness stand
| the other day. Poll strayed from
| the house Of its owner, Meyer POsnek.
Jacob Hanf1er, a saloonkeeper, took it