Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1899-05-11
WISCONSIN, LEGISLATURE.

Madison, May S.-rhe senate and
| assembly held three sessions each
| tuesday and cleared up lot of bust
ness preparatory to final adjournment
which will be taken at noon to-mOr-
row. The feature of the day was the
appointment of Judge ~ S, ellison Of
Fond du Lac as the democratic mem
Der OF the state tax commission The
senate confirmed the appointment and
a bill was rushed through both
houses raising the salary of the posi-
ton from $4,000 to $4,000. The
committee on claims reported for non
concurrence No, 402a, relating to the
expenses OF state employees. The
senate adhered to its amendment on
No. 535a, the bin to increase the
taxation Of street ear companies. The
amendment leaves the small roads on
the same basis as at present but will
increase the taxes Of the Milwaukee
company about $4,000. On motion
Of Senator rhayer, the chair appointed
a conference committee consisting OF
Senators rhayer, Welton and Arson,
The Holland resolution to allow Mr..
Frost to introduce bill taxing rail-
roads was non-COncurred in after some
discussion. Senator Roehr talked on
the Hall inheritance tax bill which
came up. Senator Martin said the
assembly had thoroughly digested 1t
for weeks. Senator Jones opposed
It, and moved the matter be laid over
until evening. Senator Whitehead
corrected Senator Jones, saying that
real estate was excluded. The bill
imposes Il tax of per cent. on direct
inheritances, 3 per cent. on collateral
1t is modelled on New York state law
except that realty Is excluded. Some
y states have such a law. The county
reserves ID per cent the balance to
go to the state. The bin as finally
amended by the senate was concurrcd
In. AS amended 1t is made to apply
only to personal property on which
the owner has not paid taxes the
year previous to the time given or
when II descends to the heirs Further
more It applies only 10 estates found
10 be worth more than 10000. No
53Ga, TO permit towns to vote on the
construction Of gravel and other
roads, was cOncurred In. fhe LANCE
bill for the appointment Of fire war
dcns was cOncurred in.
In the assembly Mr.. Baldock pre-
sented a resolution permitting Mr..
Frost to introduce bill fixing railway
fnny Al !
first class roads, i12 per cent. OF gross
earnings; second class "A third 4 per
cent, fourth 3M, fifth 3 per cent
sixth IS per mile where the earnings
exceed $500 per mile, S. where the
earnings are less than 81 80 per mile
and 2 per cent, on the earnings OF
pile and pontoon bridge companies.
These rates would bring The. state
about $150000 additional revenue an
nually. Later the bill was introduced,
but before It could be passed, the SEN
ate adjourned, thus making further ac-
ton frivolous. Senator Whitmans
Dewey day resolutions were adopted
by a rising vote. Senator Martins
bill forbidding incorporated villages
from holding Joint caucuscs with towns
in which they are located. was killed.
81 to %. The Stout forest bill. pro-
yiding for state superintendent OF
forests at $500 a year and expenses,
was also killed, IS TO "a. A like fate
was accorded Senator Harris bill, put
ting an export duty on Ice Of 10 cents
per ton.
The night session was notable for
the reason especially that the senate
adjourned prior to the hour set--mid-
night--for the transaction OF business,
thus leaving utterly futile any further