The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1900-06-15

for him, and the other regents uncon-
sciously deferred to his judgment, and
there are very able men among them,
too. His mind seemed to work like
machine and the questions were ad-
justed and decisions reached from
basal principles, apparently automat-
ic in the eX-senator's mind. What
every contrary opinions there may be
as to Colonel Villas, no one who
knows him questions his mastery
power in disposing Of details of bust
ness. His friends ridiculed the idea
that he would accept the presidency.
The Sphinx, q college free lance pub
lication, evidently takes the matter Sc
riOusly and lately published a caustic
article, the drift of which was that it
would be unfortunate to promote to
the presidency one connected with
politics. The article is said to have
annoyed Colonel Villas a good deal,
and those who know his value as
regent were afraid that in disgust he
would give up his post.
Birge and Turner Also Mentione ed.
Of course there are other SuggeS-
tons for the presidency when Presi-
dent Adams shall have retired. The
two members of the faculty most in
mind are Dean Birge and Professor
Turner. Professor Birge has been con-
nected with the university for twenty
five years, and has been the right hand
Of a number of presidents, and so at
tanned a close hold on university af-.
fairs, He is a remarkably clever and
versatile man, adding to his ac-
knowledged standing in biology an
ability to talk helpfully on any subject.
Professor r. J. Turner, the histOr-
ian would have strong faculty back
ing him for the position. Turner is the
son Of the Portage retired editor, and
the son inherits the clearness Of mind
and grasp of affairs that have made
the father marked figure in state
annals. The political adroitness of the
father is sOftened into an all-rOund
adaptability in the son, who is a schol-
ar of the finest quality, with standing
for original work among the historians
of the country, and most winning
manners. AS an inspiring eXamplar to
young men, his unaffected and yet
forceful personality, his gentle yet
strong manliness would make him very
successful.
Of course, there has been talk of
others. Cyrus NOrthup has been such
a success at the head Of the Mime
sofa university; coming from Yale
twenty years ago, that Madison may
repeat the experiment. But in view of
the excellent material at honest it rs
unlikely. In the meanwhile, if Presi-
dent Adams get so he can do a full
days work again, the present regime
may be continued Indefinitely. While
Adams is deficient on the side of per-
sonal and sympathetic touch with the
student body, he is very effective as
an administrator and the results in
growth of the institution under his
conduct speak for themselves.
High City Taxes Made the Trouble.
We hear a good deal about tax re-
form and have a tax commission at
work; but If we had good local gov
eminent in cities and villages there
would be no tax problem and no tax
commission.
Somehow the idea is abroad that the
tax commission is an outgrOwth of
extravaganza of state government. A
few figures will set one right on that
score. Each year there are raised in
Wisconsin taxes to the amount of $16,-
100000. That is an average of about
So to the individual, though, of course,
corporate interests pay a great part
and practically a man with his wife
and five children does not pay $56
year in many instances.
Of this $16,OOO,0OO, about $1,OOO,OOO
goes to the support of the state gov
ernment-legislative judicial, execu-
tive, military, educational and all the
activities of a commonwealth. 1t is
a small fraction Of the total tax bud
get of which we hear so much, is it
not?
County government is an expensive
item. This is matter of some 3d.
100000 for which the people are taxed.
1t is city and village taxation where
waste, extravaganza and worse things
abound that pinch the taxpayer and
pile up the taxes and make this matter
so momentous to the country itself, &C
cording to Benjamin Harrison.
City and village taxation of Wis
conSin is an item of some $11, 100000
1 repeat that the incompetency and
wastefulness of boards of aldermen
and other local officials explain why
we have tax commission at work in
Madison. The cost of state govern
ment, the question of railroad taxation
and these other matters are mere Incl
dents.
The tax commission is making itself
useful, it's circular to assessors over
the state being its first public effort
at usefulness. In the assessment of
property the law requires full value to
be noted. Each town, trying to get
lower taxes imposed upon it than it's
neighbor, and each county ditto, the
practice has sprung up and there is
no deceit about it, of assessing prop
erty at two-thirds and One-half and
even less than its real value. This
practice is so common that it eXcites
no comment; it is a frequent question
to ask, What is the accepted ratio of
assessments
In attracting business, neighbors
and immigration and in anniversary
editions, communities brag about their
great wealth. In the tax season each
city and village discredits and min