Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1901-05-09

of the figures which formed the ba-is
of the tax commissions calculations
The best excuse or argument present
ed by the advocates Of delay, who thus
favor imposing a still greater portion
of the tax burden upon the property
within the state already bearing an
undue share, appears to be the claim
that the corporation paying less than
their fair share of taxes should not
be compelled to pay any more because
some kinds of personal property es-
capped the assessor altogether. 1t is a
complete answer to this, to say that
one citizen should not be permitted
to, shirk some of his obligations be-
cause his neighbor has succeeded in
evading all public duties.
''The propositions of the tax COM
mission like its statistics, are too
plain and simple to permit misundef-
standing or doubt in intelligent
minds which give them consideration.
They canont be obscured by selfish
plea that property which can be
Preached by the tax gatherers should
be allowed to escape part of its just
share of the cost Of government, at
the expense of property now paying
still greater share, until that very IN
certain and remote time when cam
Ipaign promises and legislative pro-
crastination conjoined will result in
bringing hidden and intangible
property within reach of the tax
officers. Nor is it probable that 4
majority Of the people Of Wisconsin
can be satisfied by framing appropria-
ton bills in accord with the theory
that citizens will bear the imposition
Of unjust and unequal taxation so
long as the increase of their burden
is made to appear to be due to the
betterment and support of the public
schools. When the tax payer comes.
| to compute profit and loss it cannot
change the result because the in
crease in his taxes, caused by neglect
properly to tax powerful corporate
interests, comes through a bill making
increased appropriations for common
schools.
''The tax commission has formu
lated and presented to you bills which
would increase the states revenues
from railroad companies, street rail
way companies, and from telephone
companies. These bills are still pend
| ing before the legislature or it's CON-
mittees. The commission has pre-
sented facts and reasons which have
not been discredited showing that the
increases proposed in these several
bills would impose less than the full
share of taxes due from such COM
panies in comparison with the tax
charges imposed upon the property
of individuals carried upon the tax
rolls Of the state.
81 am aware that members of the
legislature are desircus CT an adjourn
ment of this session at the earliest
possible day. but I am very certain
that the people of this state are more
anxious for an approximately
equitable distribution of the tax
burden, even if the session should
be protracted thereby. For the
reasons herein stated, l am unwilling
to permit to the people of this state
in lieu of the legislation to equalize
taxation which has been promised to
them and which they have a right to
expect from representative govern
ment, scheme which, in a general
way, may be described as an act to
relieve the farmer or city home-owner
of small measure of increased tax
upon his realty by imposing a license
fee upon his dog"
The veto was read in the assembly,
where the bill originated, and the read
ing was once interrupted by Mr. Ross
man, who raised the point of order
that the argument should be made I'M
der the special order, when the ad
valorem tax bill was to be considered.
The speaker Of course ruled against
him, the reading was concluded, then,
without discussion, the veto was sus-
tanned, the only negatives being by
Messrs. Eager, Orion, Owen, Park,
Silkworth and J. c.. Williams.