The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1901-12-20
The State Commission Smiled
Upon by Both Factions.
WHY OUR TAXES ARE HIGHER
That One Mill School Tax Explains 1t
Who RespOnsible?-Keepi
congressman in Office.

strife over the governorship is to be
disputed are hardening. 1t is good to
see that the state tax commission
gains in estimation, as short time
back, under the inevitable friction OF
'eQualization.' there was a disposition
in some quarters to scold that body
for most anything people did not like.
Taxpaying time approaches and as cit
liens find their taxes higher, owing to
the fruit of the 1-mill school tax OH
the increased assessment (due to the
full-value assessment plan) there will
Zoe a renewal of protest. But there is
DO sense in laying blame on the tax
commission, which sought in vain to
limit this tax, but failed, owing to the
eagerneSs of northern counties with
more children than taxable property
to get q lions share for their schools.
It is true that when they sat as equal
izers Il majority Of them ruled for the
carrying out of the system, using the
full assessment as a basis; but in this
they reasoned that they were setting
precedents for all time and could not
imperil the legal system of full assess
ment by temporary concession to the
convenience of taxpayers.
Some of the governors opponents
have also sought to blame him
though, of course the matter of impos-
ing taxation is purely Il legislative
function. There is some danger that
people who do not think may associate
ton in the same way that tariff is
credited with good crops and moon
light nights No doubt the enemies
Of the governor will seek to seduce the
very elect on this line. However, Gov
ernOr LaFOllettes friends trust to the
long campaign, opened thus unprece-
IDENTIFY early, to clarity the public
mind and put responsibility where it
belongs. In insisting that the mill
tax be not modified, none were more
strenuous than some of the governors
opponents in the northern counties.
The commission is doing good work
these days, Mr.. Haugen, the third
member, having strong body and a
vigorous mind, no doubt rendering ma
terial aid. No one of the three has
had better opportunity to understand
how the country districts reason as to
n,,1 tIoOiy.
tees.
Something To Be Glad Of
l have said that the outlook is good
for very hearty endorsement of the
tax commission in all quarters. This
is something to be glad of from a cit
izen's standpoint. The LaFOIlette peO-
pie are very generally with it, and
point to their legislative record in up
holding it's recommendations. The
stalwarts. on the other hand, have al
ways claimed to be the creative pow
er in bringing it into being; and some
of their most active spirits are
trusted by the people to make the cor
pOrations toe the mark. The stalWart
leaders are now understood to be lay
ing out campaign, newspaper and
otherwise. which shall put them in the
attitude of being better friends of the
people in the way of more equitable
taxes than any one else This will
likely be double barrelled effort,
first, to discredit the governors claims,
and second, to indOrse the commission,
although how heartily all of the stall
warts, especially those with railroad
connections. will have heart in this,
remains to be seen. But tax reform
is the popular cry these days and we
are all rushing to get aboard the train
which will start as soon as the scram-
bic for delegates begins.
In the meantime, the demand for pri-
mary elections will not down. In this
Governor LaFollette has the clear field
for his opponents are so bitterly on
lrecOrd against abolishing the delegate
system that they cannot retrace their
steps and probably do not want to-
Over in Michigan there is movement
to get some sort of a direct vote sys
tenn in nominations, even to the point
of calling special session of the leg
iSlature and in other states there is
restlessness along this line. Governor
LaFoHette believes he has an impor
tant thing in this reform which he ha:
urged for so many years and will
which he is associated all over the ma
ton, and it will cut lively figure il
the busting months that precede tn
state convention. The governor is a
his daily duties and in the best OF spir
its and his friends have confidenc
that whether the dove OF harmony ur
,expectedly shows herself in the skies
,or whether Greek meets Greek on tn
floor of the convention, all will b
well
Senator Spooner has just score
fresh laurcls in an able speech on TIL