Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1901-02-21
TAXES
FOR ALL
State Commission Grinds
Out Another Grist
of Bills.
Assessors to be Under a
Sharper Jurisdiction
Hereafter.
Telegraph, Telephone and
Street Car
Taxation.

L dAdLIOlls
The tax commission turned in to the
legislature last evening another series
of bills Of large Importance. One is
street railway taxation bill, which pro-
vides for license fees to be paid by
street railway companies and repeats
sections 1,222c, 1920, 1,222e, 1,222f:
statutes of 1898, and chapter 354 of
the laws of 1899 The provisions of
the bill are in large part similar to
the provisions of the repealed sections.
but it is drawn with the purpose Of
making the definition of a street rail
way company and such as also include
the business of electric light, heat and
power companies more definite and
certain. In other particulars the bill
is like the license fee bill for the
steam railways that was introduced
some time ago. The rates for license
fees vary from per cent. of the an
nuaI gross earnings of all street rail
way companies whose gross earnings
do not exceed $4,000, up to 5 per cent.
Of the gross earnings with grada-
ton OF one-tenth of one per cent. addi
tional for every $500 OF gross
earnings over $4,000 up to
100000, after that an increase
of one-tenth Of one per cent. for each
additional $4,000 up to $190,0O0 of
gross earnings. All gross earnings Of
$4,000 or over are taxed per cent.
4 change is made in the proportion Of
the license fees that so to the state
and the proportion that goes to mu
inequalities through or III which the
roads are operated. Under this bill 20
per cent. of such license fees are to be
paid to the state treasurer and 80 per
cent. to the municipality. The state
ment OF gross earnings to be made by
the street railway companies must be
approved by the commissioner Of tax
alton. Otherwise the commissioner of
taxation and the two assistant commits
siOneTs are to act as a board to ascer,
tain and determine the amount of gross
earnings which should have been re-
ported.
Phone Taxes.
A bill for the txation of telephone
companies provides for taxation on
gross earnings and repeats section
l222a of the statutes of 1898. The
provisions OF this bill are similar to
provisions of the bill taxing street
railway companies, except that the
license fee on the telephone compan-
les ranges from IA per cent. of
gross earnings on companies whose
gross earnings per annum are 81 600
or less up to per cent. on companies
whose gross earnings per annum are
$4,000 or over, the gradations be-
tween the same as in the case of the
street railway bill, for all companies
whose gross earnings per annum are
over $1,000 The same provision for
approval of the statement Of the tele- !
phone companies by the commissioner
is found in this bill as in the street
railway bill. All Of the license fees |
from telephone companies so to the |
state
After the Assessors.
A bill for the removal of assessors
for violation of Official duty adds new
provisions to the statutes and pro- !
Vldes that any assessor or member of |
a board of review or supervisors as
q nf
Itaes the law in the discharge of his |
official duties, in addition to the pen
alties for the violation of duty now
prescribed by law, shall also be sub
Ject 20 removal from Office on applica-
ton to circuit courts, the grounds for |
such removal being in brief the wilful |
or Intentional assessment or valuation
or equalization of property at other
than its true cash value or the wiIful !
or Intentional omission of taxable
property from the assessment roll or
the wilful or intentional assessment
OF the property of one person lower
than that of another person with the
intent to show favors and make dis
elimination between taxpayers: also
the solicitation or receipt or demand
OF any favor, money or anything of
value by any assessor from any tax
payer for showing favoritism in as
sessments.
Bad for Bribers
Still another bill is for the punish
ment of assessors and taxpayers for
asking or giving brides. 1t also adds
new provisions to the statutes to the
effect that any assessor who shall
ask or receive from the owner of
property situated in and liable to as
sessment in his assessment district
any reward or money or favor for the
assessment of his property at less
than the true cash value shall be pun ;
lshed by imprisonment in the county
jail not more than six months or by
fine not exceeding $500; or who shall
ask or solicit the owner of any DROP
erty in his assessment district to take
a policy of insurance on such proper
ty shall be punished in the same man
ner, and all contracts of insurance or
policies of insurance negotiated or
made by any assessor with the owner
Of property in his assessment district
in pursuance of any understanding or
agreement for favors to be shown in
the matter of assessment shall be alb
void, and the assessment of
at less than the true cash :