The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1899-04-28
NEED FOR GREAT CARE
New Revenues Offset by Larger
Appropriations.
$3.50, 900 INCREASE OVER YEAR '95.


Lawyer Who May Be Tax Commissioner
General Griffin of Eau Claire)-No Beet
Sugar Bounty This Year Citizens to
Vote on Kindergartens.
Madison, April 25.-This session Of the
legislature will prove an expensive one
as regards appropriations. 1t requires
courage for members to vote against
appropriation bills The people who
want appropriations make the argument
with the members that it don't cost
them anything" that some time the
money will have to be spent-why not
now?
A conscientious member will vote
right where there is principle at Sc Ike,
whatever the cost to him, but when the
proposal to give the Green Bay re-
formatory $15O,000 for new construction
came up, it was easier to vote for 1t
than to refuse to do so. The board OF
control only asked for $4,000 and the
claims committee (Which keeps watch
of all appropriations discouraged it,
Yet the $780, 900 proposition got every
vote in the senate. The members who
come from normal school districts are
themselves after big money; so, too,
with Madison representatives and the
members from towns that have char
liable and penal institutions-they all
want as big appropria lions for them
selves as possible. And to go preach
ing economy would seem inconsistent;
and to vote for it might call down
revenge.
Much Money for Institutions.
But the outlook for big budget as
q result Of this session is ominous Sem
ator Baxter Of claims reports that
his committee books show appropria-
tons approved by the legislature in
1895, $780, 34, and by the session Of
1897, $1,SO9,149 The exact totals of
those sessions as shown by the statute
books he has not gathered, but the
amounts would be substantially the
same. For this session, to date, how
ever, he finds appropriations approved
by both branches (barring this $4,000
Green Bay reformatory item, VIII ch has
yet to be approved in the assembly,
of $2,426,634. Making the most favora-
BILE comparison with 1880 and the in
creased budget is $565,900. 1t should be
said that there are no more big appro
priaton bills clamoring for passage.
Moreover, the state is running a new
normal school (Superior) and the re-
formatory, which were not in existence
in 1895. and the other institutions are
growing naturally and cost more to
operate. But the fact remains that half
a million dollars is a big sum Of money.
1t is doubtful if enough new taxation is
uncovered to meet it.
Reforming Bad Boys.
Speaking of the Green Bay reforma-
tory, apart from this $15O,OO0 for added
buildings, there is appropriated $1,000
for maintenance for two years-$50, 900
a year. There are now at the reforma-
tory between thirty and forty patients,
though there are accommodations for
1876 patients-the most modern, almost
luxurious quarters for young men
whom it is hoped to redeem from a
vicious life. It is said to be doubtful if
there will be that number of inmates
by the time the next legislature meets.
Yet the reformatory has $50, 900 a year
to keep them and to do some other
minor jobs The Waupun prison has
about $50 conVicts and receives $35, 0CO
a year. An ingenious senator has q
calculation that it would be money in
the states pocket to take the whole
batch Of reformatory youth and board
them at the Hotel Pfister.
The Men for Tax Commission.
We are all waiting to see what the
governor will do with the three ap-
pointments to the tax commission. The
more the legislature puzzles as to how
life insurance and railroad companies
should be taxed justly, the more the
idea Of the commission pleases people.
Railroad lawyers have ably argued
against the 100000 increase in taxes
voted by the assembly and undoubted-
ly made an impression on the senate.
The Northwestern Life insurance tax
is more likely to be left where the as
sembly put it, but Judge Orion and
Mr.. Hall are not free from worry about
either Governor Scofield himself is
said to be disposed to a conservative
course
Amid this confusion as to what is
fair basis of taxation, one readily sees
what help a tax commission will be,
furnishing an authoritative pan. Cos
sip favors General Michael Griffin for
the $4,000 position at the head Of the
commission The G. A. r. men and
many others are strong for him, while
Mr.. Hall thinks he has been too long
| in politics and has acquired associa-
lions that will hinder him in aggressive
recommendations of reform. Mr.. Hall
would be pleased with the appointment
| of Mr.. A. /. Turner of Portage. 1t is
| expected Democrat will have one of
the places.
An Irishman Who Has Succeeded.
| General Griffin was born in Ireland 81
years ago, and has been in the state
| since before the war. He served all
through the war ard has been at the
| head of the 6. A. r.. of the state. Since
1876 he has practiced law in Eau Claire.
He has been city attorney; assembly
man (1S76) state senator (S0-SD, and
was four years in congress ('95-99).
Sugar-Beet Bounty Killed.
/ The scheme for beet-sugar bounty
is defeated in the senate, after hav-
| ing passed the house. The reports from
Michigan killed it. That state has just
appropriated s4OO.0OO-not because it
wanted to, but because the farmers
push was, too powerful to be re-
/ fl1Sad-at. least SO the Oun0nentS of the