The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1900-05-25
REPEAL ORION BILL.
Milwaukee Insurance Officials
Will Resist Taxation Five
Times Increased.
GETTING TAXATION DATA.
Interesting People at First Hearing
Peck and Bowers, the High-Priced
Railroad Lawyers.

attempt Will he made Wnen -tne leglS-
Iature meets next January to repeal
the Orion bill.
The Northwestern Mutual Life In
surance company was chiefly hit by
that measure. 1t formerly paid the
state about $45, 900 a year. The an
nuaI tax was then 2 per cent. on the
premiums paid to the company, these
premiums amounting to considerably
over $2,000,00O a year The tax was
run up to considerably over 100000
a year and the company naturally re-
sistS it. The Legislature that enacted
the orion bill included members of
the Northwestern Life" who carried
$135, 900 themselves. But there are 25,
600 policy holders of the "Northwest
ern" in Wisconsin. These are appealed
to in a vigorous letter, signed by d. e.
Murphy, general agent for Wisconsin
and northern Michigan.
He begins by reciting the splendid
increase in business fenfOld in nine
teen years.. Indeed, the premiums re-
ceived in the state of WiscOn-
sin alone in 1899 were $347 900
in excess of the total premium
receipts of the company in 1880. Mr..
he calls that terrible, wholly unjusti-
fable, oppressive and uncalled for tax
bill passed by the last legislature"
What the State Has Got Out of 1t.
He recalls that the Northwestern has
become the fourth company in size in
the world, and asserts that it owes
nothing to the state of Wisconsin. In
deed, in New York and Illinois great
itC ho fro at
ally at no cost. Wisconsin, on the
other hand, has been largely advertised
by this company. he says. Mr.. Muir
ply then discusses the question of
whether life insurance should De taxed,
anyway. He admits their real estate
holdings should be, and that the insur-
ance department of the state should be
supported 10y the companies, but he
reasons that a mutual company like
his is conducted not for profit but to
furnish insurance at the lowest cost,
and it's assets, he says, are mostly
funds held in trust for widows and
orphans. The average policy of the
Northwestern is less than s., 900. There
are high authorities who hold that in
surance money should not be taxed, as
it is a blow at thrift; insurance should
be fOSterGd by the state. New York
state imposes no tax whatever, except
reciprocal taxation upon life insurance
companies.
Under this law, however, passed by
Wisconsin the Northwestern must pay
the state of New York / per cent. upon
the premiums collected by it in New
York This is an increase Of $4,000
on the Northwestern, in addition to
the more than 100000 paid to the Wis
cOnsin state treasury.
Where Orion Laid Stress.
Mr.. Murphy touches very lightly
upon the question of assets. 1t was
this $105, 100000 that Judge orion Of
Darlington kept constantly in mind. It
is One-siXth of the valuation of the
state of Wisconsin. While it is for
the protection of the policies, Judge
Orion claimed (and the legislature
agreed that it was no less competent
to be taxed than capital and savings.
If an individual does not insure his
life but puts his savings into Il house
and lot or a mortgage loan, he must
pay taxes. Why should an individual
whose savings are a part of a lump
of $105, 900 escape taxation? Thus
opponents of the OrtOn plan reason.
1t will be a notable fight when it
comes on next winter. Citizens of the
state do we'll to post themselves on
the arguments. Mr.. Murphy writes:
Il have talked with number of
people about this tax and / have yet
to find one who does not admit that
it is unjust and ought to be repealed
at the earliest possible moment. [
have reason to believe that we will
have the earnest cooperation of men
INF,
out the state in the work of it's re-
peal"
Some Notable Railroad Lawyers.
The first public hearing held by the
tax commission attracted to Madison
the chief legal authorities of the big
railroads. They wished to pay due
respects to the commission by appear
ing and also to get before the COM
missiOnerS the idea lin which they are
cOntident) that the railroads are pay
ing not only their share of the burden
of supporting the state but more than
their share.
These chief counsels" of railroads,
as they are called, are impressive men
to meet. They receive enormous sal
aries, from $4,000 to $4,000 a year,
and are not only able lawyers but
men of winning personality. George
r. Peck of the st. Paul road, made
his start in jefferson county of this
state, coming from New York when
a very small boy. He has worked his
way up, his schooling being broken off
that he might fight in the civil war.
Peck wears a SLOUGH hat and is
rough and ready, unaffected and kind
1y He studied law in GAINESVILLE with
the lamented Williams. and for two
years he had a ''shingle'' out in a
Kansas town that had no railroad.
Then he went to Topeka and Ingalls,
got him appointed United States at
torney. This position he held for some
eight years and then went ahead very
fast He is an orator of high degree,
and right good fellow" He got to
be the head of the legal department
of the Atchison-Sa Fe road, and in
1890 he was appointed United States
senator to succeed Plumb, who had
died.
When He Refused a Senatorship.
Speaking of this incident the other
day on the veranda of the Park hotel,
Mr.. Peck said it was the only Office
W.