Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1899-05-03
SESSIONS LAST WEEK
Burnett" Tells Of the Rush Of
Wisconsin Legislative Work.
ANTI-fAsS is N DEAD EARNEST.
People Who Say 1t Won't Stop Free Rides
Are Misinformed- The Northwestern
Life : Must Pay Big Taxes ssI9oooo In
crease Annually Railroads Escape and
Some Reformers Don't Like 1t "A i. M.
c. A. Statesman.

Madison. Wis. May 2-This is the
last week Of the legislature Whatever
cay II closes. II Will have been d long
session, more than the 100 DAYS which
Is so additionally regarded as the linn
II That some enormously conceive the
constitution fixes ii so.
The Republicans viii claim that this
legislature has lived up to the pledges
made IN the last party platform All
anti-rass bill has been passed that is
more stringent forbid6ing not only
legislators. capitol employees and judi
clai officers from riding on free pass:
but y applies to delegates to all politi-
cal conventions; candidates for office.
members OF the coanty board: city
aldermen. The face is. the lawmakers
We're SC 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 a fine of from
5000 to $1,000
And people who say Officials viii
ride anyway" are in error There win
be some trickery and evasion. but dead
headism Will he discouraged and driven
into 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
C To 10 hxNrl A
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 MitwasAee 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
$4,000 in 1925, to 1924 coo. 1t was thought
| the influential opposition to this Orton
bill would avail to reduce it. Many
good men thought the dose pretty stiff.
The basis of taxation Is ! per eentum
of gross insNne from all sources am
nualiy 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
| likely be exempted, as death losses, etc,
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-
yersation in Montana restaurant.
A stranger dropped in for a lunch
He ATE a piece of pie and drank cup
of coffee. Then he asked for the bill
Ninety cents said the man behind
the counter.
s1sn't that pretty stiff price for pie
and coffee2a asked the man from the
east.
1T is for a fact" conceded the man
behind the counter, 'but the truth is.
stranger, I need the money"
Rush at End Of Season,
Fhe company was willing to pay $780,
600 and had it been safe to delay and
think the matter over, perhaps. coma
promise bill could have been framed
But Governor Seofield had frightened
the members with a special message,
telling them they were spending more
money than they were providing for.
The plan TO get 5000, 900 more from the
railroads had been killed In the senate
iafter passing the heusel and ii was
decided the great, rich corporation
could stand it. But it threatens to res
sist payment in the COURTS,
With the taxing of ather corporations.
sleeping car. express etc. the whole
state is familiar. And yet it is not eer~
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, ar for regulation.
The state, which has been markedly
kiadly, is now taking on more GEN.
serious tone; and it is possible the fac
tonal furry is to be resumed to some
extent.
However, Mr.. Hall is very happy in
the passage Of the anti-ps 3 bill. He
has worked on II 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.
JanesvilIe's Great Senator.
Senator j M. Whitehead, who passed
the tax commission bill and conducted
True's marriage reform bill and gave