The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1899-01-14

taxed and on further investigation. 1t may
he found that there are others which should
be placed in this list. The trust companies
are somewhat of an experiment In Niscon-
sin, and realize that II VIII be dlfncult
10 reach a fair basis upon which TO tax
them But until such basis has been
reached. ! recommend that these companies
be taxed as other companies are. upon the
property they own. Certainly there can be
no injustice in this; for there Is no reason
why the property OF trust company.
where 1t is accessible, should ne exempt
from taxation, more than the property OF
a lumber company or any similar corpora
tion.
The present system of taxing Insurance
companies is In many ways unsatisfactory
The inequality of the present method can
he understood when it is stated that the
life and fire Insurance companies OF WIS
consin, with assets aggreSatinS S'4.ooV,
600. pay hut S34 600 In the way of taxes
There will ultimately. through tax com
mission or otherwise he determined some
just plan for taxing them. but in the mean.
time some of the unreasonable features OF
the present system might be dispensed
with. Under the law now In force. fees
are collected from agents. as Wen az from
the companies. l am persuaded 1t would
be wiser. temporarily at least. to apoilSn
Rll fees in connection with life. fire, accl
dent and casualty companies. except level
license fee upon the gross premium re-
ceipts. 4 measure changing the methods
thus would not reduce In the least the
safeguards now placed around public inter
ests. while it would reduce expenses in
the insurance department ana largely IN
crease the states receipts
1t may be found that the proper method
of taxing insurance companies Is TO charge
a fee upon their gross incomes as IS now
done in the case of railroads.
The Sleeping Car and Express Com
panies.
In a special message transmitted TO the
Legislature in 1897, returning without my
approval. for reasons stated therein, bills
taxing sleeping car and express companies
doing business within the state, took oc-
caSon to express my views on the subject
in the following language:
/ desire 10 call your attention ~ the inipor-
tance of these measures, and to urge upon Nni
the necessity for properly enactins both: ihtls
before the adjournment of this session, II we
are to maintain in this state Il righteous system
of taxation it is necessary that We see to 1t that
borders, and receiving without discrimination. or
stint the fuil protection Of our laws shall not
escape paying their Just share of the expenses
of the government.
here reiterate that recommendation.
These companies should contribute through
taxation their fair proportion to the eN-
ppnse of the state government. That they
81 not now do so Is obvious. ! MIDST ear
nestly commend this subject to your prompt
consideration and action. 1t is possible that
the best mode Of reaching them is through
Il charge upon their gross earnings within
the state, whether 1t be called q license fee
or a tax. If ii be found that this method
cannot secure from these nonresident cor
pOrations Il fair amount, there still re
mains the method of assessing them by
what is known the unit rule. which
has beer sustained by the Supreme court
of the United States in IL case from Ohio.
The history Of attempted legislation upon
this subject impelS me to call your atten
ton to the Importance in passing such
measures of observing the requirement Of
section s Of article s of the constitution,
which Is as follows:
ON the passage in either house of the Legis-
lature of any law which imposes continues or
renews tax. creates a debt or charge, or
makes. continues rencws appropra ton of
public or trust money. releases. discharges or
question shall hs taken by yeas and nays which
shall he duly entered on the journal; and three
ffths Ut all the members elected 10 such house
shall. in all such cases, he required to conStl-
tute quorum therein.
There has been much discussion as 10
whether Il license fee is or is not Il tax
within this constitutional pro-ision. 1t is
my belief that it Is tax 4 bill. there
fore. attempting to tax these companies.
10 be efficient. must be enacted III Il con
way. Certainly common pru-
dence requires that no question of the kind
should be left open, especially as it is SO
easily avoided.
Treasurer's Statement.
The following statement prepared by the
state treasurer shows the balances in the
several funds in the state treasury at the
close of business December 81. 1898: