The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1899-05-11
SCOPE OF NEW LAWS.
WISCONSIN LEGISLATURES VARI-
GUS REFORM MEASURES.
LARGE APPROPRIATIONS MADE
Pledges of Republican Party Fulfilled at
the Session Just C1osed-Ant1-Pass and
Anti-Lobby Bills Put Through-Per-
manent Tax Commission

the Legislature since the organization
of the State. It's duration was la
days. The regular session two years
ago lasted 1O2 days, work being fin
ished on April "a. A prolonged Sena-
torial contest at the opening of the
session and the disposal of measures OF
unusual Importance account for the
delay.
The present Legislature will doubt
less go down in the annals of the State
as notable chiefly for the taxation leg
islation enacted. No past body ever
dealt with so many difficult measures
of this nature.
Most of the pledges made by the Re
publican party have been carried out.
Most conspicuous of these was that
plank pledging legislation to prohibit
the use of railway passes and franks by
public officials. The antipass law is
sufficiently broad in it's scope to please
the most ardent advocates of reform
along this line. Another party pledge
has been kept in the passage of the
Roehr lobby bill. This measure, while
it will not prohibit the lobby, will serve
to regulate it in such a manner as will
tend to more efficacious legislation.
Probably the most important bill
passed was that providing for the Gre
alton of a permanent State Tax COM
mission to investigate the general sub
iect of taxation and to make recon-
mendations to future Legislatures.
Bills were passed also to provide for the
taxation of sleeping car, equipment,
freight line, and express companies.
Just what amount of revenue these bills
will bring to the State is not known.
The Importance of the bills lies in the
fact that they make complete change
in the taxation system, and on their
successful operation will depend in
large measure the policy of the State in
regard to corporations.in the future.
These bills provide for returns of earn
ings, capitalization, bonded indebted
ness, etc., to the State Board of As
sessment, and the board is then to esti
mate the value of the property in the
State and provide for it's taxation as
other property is taxed. A similar
bill, having application to telegraph
companies, was killed the last night Of
the session,
Another important step in the matter
of taxation has been taken in the
passage of the Orion insurance bill.
The bill is aimed especially at the
Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance
company of Milwaukee. Heretofore
this company has escaped with the
payment of tax of about $34, 900 a
year. Under the Orion bill it will pay
from 1920, 900 to $225,O00 year.
The Legislature, however, made no
provision for increasing railroad
taxation.
Large appropriations have been
made by the Legislature The Com
mittee on Claims considered 120 appro
priation bills, carrying So, 05l, 63l. Of
these the committee favorably reported
amounts aggregatiug 1886, 592, thus
cutting down the amounts asked for
$685,039. The appropriations at this
session will exceed those of any previ-
Gus Legislature by about 100000.
Chairman Baxter, of the Claims COM
mittee, estimates that the new tax laws
will increase the revenues of the State
about 100000 for the biennial period.
The largest lump appropriation was
$341 900. This was for improvements
and additions to the charitable and
penal institutions. The largest single
appropriation in this bill was to the
Home for the Feeble Minded, $265, 900.
An appropriation of $3.50, 900 was made
to the Green Bay refornatory. The
appropriation for the building of the
State Historical Library was increased
100000. This is to be expended in a
period of five years.
An appropriation of 100000 was
made for new engineering building at
the State University; $4,000 for an
addition to the Wisconsin Vererans'
home at Waupaca; $4,000 for the
Barron county fire sufferers; $4,000 to
purchase q silver service set and a
bronze badger for the battleship Wis
consin; $4,000 for improvements at the
Industrial Home for Girls in Milwau
kee. $25, 900 for a Wisconsin Building
at the Pan American Exposition IN
Buffalo, N. Y; $4,000 year for two
years to continue the work of the nat
ural history and geological survey of
the State; $4,000 year for the trans
portation of the State fish car; $50, 1000
for normal school improvements; So, 900
a year to establish the State Board
of Immig ration; 1866, 1000 for the main
tenance Of the charitable and penal
institutions of the State; $35, 900 for a
water tower for the university and
Capitol. Provision was made for
specific appropriations for the support
of the university and normal schools in
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