Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1901-01-31
RAILROAD TAXATION
STATE COMMISSION PREPARES
TWO RADICAL BILLS.
TO BE INTRODUCED TO-DAY
One Increases the License Fee from
! Per Cent TO s. a on the Gross
Earrtngs--Seeord Measure Places
Tax ON Property Value OF Com
panies-other Bills Coming,

kNVNNS NAllNN Nh'iNS NNN'''''NH
Two bills increasing the railway
taxes OF this state over a half milNoa
dollars a year win be introduced in the
two houses Of the legislature today
The bills were prepared Ivy the state
tax commission, and will be intro
ducod In the legislature 10y the chair
mau of the committees of each house
on taxation, The bills raise the taxes
from a million and a half to about two
and quarter millions In round mum.
hevs one bill docs this by increasing
the rate of taN the railway companies
now pay on their gross earnings from
/ per cout to 5'g per cent ON the
gross earnings, The other hill is stiN
more sweeping, and entirely rovom
tiontaCs the system OF railway taxation
by repeating the present laws proVid-
ing for a tax OF from | per cent, to
per cent. ON the gross earnings, and
substituting system of taxation on
the property value of the property Of
the companies.
All the big roads now pay 1 per cont
ON their gross earnings, and all the
railway taxes paid to the state amount
to a million and u hale IN round num-
hcrs EITHER OF the bills to be pre-.
scented viii bring II considerably above
two millions. This is the Increase
which was recommended by the tax
commission in It's recent report TO tho
! legislature The bills are the out.
growth Of the tax reform Rgtat ON
mado for years by Gov La Toilette
and Asscmblymou A. r. Hall OF Dunn
county Under the percentage tax
measure the lowest rate to be paid Is
/ per cent and the highest ais per
! cent
Both bills give the tax commission
extensive powers in addition to those
| they have at present The commits
sion "a given authority to inspect the
statements OF earnings made by the
! railroad companies. and II the state
ments are unsatisfactory to examine
all books, records and property of tho
/
! the officers. and the production of tho
| companies books The commission
! Is given power to fix the earnings at a
! different figure than that given by the
! roads If the evidence iustnCs IT, The
| bin taxing railroads as other property
makes the tax commission state
! board assessment and taxation, aud
! gives II power to make the assessment
and collect the tax, Both measures
are sweeping in their scope,
Fraternity Mans Bill
one Of the instructors In the mivor-
sity, and fraternity man, is propar-
ing bin to place the Greek letter fra
tenilics In the school under the super.
vision and control of the faculty. Just
when the measure will be ready for
the legislature IL not known, but II IL
thought It will he introduced before
the end Of the week
Shave the BARRIERS.
II the bill which Aascmhlymau Solt,
wedol is to Introduce today becomes
law all Wisconsin BARRIERS may pull
ont their purses and prepare 10 pay So
for "A tag permitting them to shout
next" as at present, and TO arrange
to plank down 81 each year for the
blessing of being allowed to keep On
shaving. me measure prov ides for
an examining board, for three BARRIERS
to be appointed by the governor, No
artist Is eligible unless he has bar
berod for five years In this state. Ap.
pointmcnts are for two years and the
lucky shaVerR who get on the board
are to be paid So per day while In SCI.
vice and 3 cents mile for travelling
Examinations Of BARRIERS are to held
-four times a year at West Superior, La
Crosse and Madison and twice In Mil
waukee, and elsewhere as tho inquis.
TORS may determine Every badger
shop must be inspected mt least four
times annually. and Within 30 days AT.
ter the bill becomes law every bar
Der shall fill an AFFIDAVIT with bond
giving his name residence, length of
time he has barbercd and pay 81 for
the certificate issued to him as well as
So when he makes application for that
certificate So in all Then each
year thereafter he pays 81 for a new
certificate or card. The money thus
paid TO the board Is supposed to pay
the members. BARRIERS cards may be
revoked by the board, but appeals may
be taken. Any violation Of the act
may bring a penalty on the derelict Of
a fine Of from $25 TO 500 or imprlson-
mcnt Of from 10 to 80 days. The al.
legged object Of such q law Is to render
barber shops more sanitary but there
is something right comfortable in It
for the fellows who hold the three fat
jobs created.