Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1901-06-19

There are still echoes OF the iegisia-
tive session, For instance the Gates
county law Is TO be contested by lum'
bermen end others who do not Ike the
extra taxation that follows on new
county offices and new public build.
ings, This fight Is usually made when"
ever new county Is set up. Both the
points made by the contestants, name
ly, the dividing Of legislative district
and the naming la advance of the
| county seat, were discussed by the
governor In his communication accom-
panying the signed bill. Able lawyers
have been chosen on both sides and no
doubt they at least Will get something
out of It.
Latndry Work and the Farm.
Assemblyman Frost (who is asso-
Gated with ortgage taxation) went
home from the legislature to work up
something new and possibly something
big. He would have steam laundries
established in connection with creamer-
les and cheese factories. There Is pow
err enough, and as for management, 1t
might be cooperative under one wo-
| man, who should hire her help.
Many assessors announce that they
propose to follow the instructions OF
the Madison tax commission, ana
| value property at its selling mark.
| Hitherto property has been assessed
| at anywhere from 10 per cent to 70
per cent, according 20 locality and the
| practice OF the local assessor People
| who scold the tax commission for its
| Instructions should remember that the
| law of the state has long provided for
| assessment at full value, as do the
| laws Of most states. There is nothing
| new in the situation except determ
nation to initiate the practice as IN
| tended by law. IL everybodys prop
| erty was assessed at full value it
| would be an advantage to the tax
| payer, for then he could prove in
| justice If he felt he was taxed too
much. He would simply have to show
| that he was taxed more for his prop
| erty rhan he could sell it for; whereas
now on basis, say Of 90 per cent.
assessment he must make COMPARE
sons with many other pieces of prop
erty. This is so difficult to do, that tax
payers rarely resist. The promise of
a full tax list is attractive. says Sen
| ator Munson in his paper tViroquo):
THE laws are little changed from
past years, but they have not been
| observed heretofore. What a splendid
! showing would he made for Vernon
county If its tax rolls gave a valuation
| of $16,000,0C0 instead of one-fourth
| of that amount, as now assessed and
capitalized. The per cent of "A tax OH
al average would then be about one
fourth what it now Is"
| Schools and Library Work.
Marathon and Dunn counties have
| led the way in county normal schools
| for the training of district school
teachers. They already report success.
These same counties are already pre-
pairing to go step farther and set up
county schools of agriculture and do
mestic economy.
| Schools and libraries are closely re-
lated. The date of the meeting of the
American Library association at Wau.
kesha Is July $40. On July an ex-
cursion to Madison will occur with a
free lunch and ride provided by the
citizens and some 800 visitors are ex-
pected. The motto of the association
is THE best reading, for the largest
number, at the least cost This is
somewhat at variance with President
| Gilman's John Hopkins advice. De-
| Iloring the EZRA of Carnegie-too
much reading" don't read too much"
Gilman advises, but study the art of
| thinking" There is no Inconsistency.
Gilman belongs to contingent who
read too much and public libraries are
addressed to the rank and file of
Americans who read too little.
Gilman is right about the value of
more thinking. 4 friend of mine was
passing along the street when he saw
an Irishman whom he had known
lifetime leaning on his shovel and
wiping his forehead. "Why is ii,
Pat?" the friend asked, why is it
that you and | who have worked so
hard. and SO long, and so faithfully
have not made more of success?
Some Of our old mates who didn't
have nalf our brains have reaped the
bigger rewards"
Faith was the reply, we haven't
spent time thinking"
There Is a good deal In that. Hard
work is not to he discredited, but some
of the time mould be reserved for
planning that less work may be neces-
sary; or that the same results may be
achieved and more with time left for
something beside sleep.
Attempts are being made to enforce
Indian school attendance. The Wash
ington experts, headed by Jones tof
Mineral Point have visited the schools.