Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1901-03-21
LEGISLATIVE DOINGS.

their time and attention to the
matter, have lately had a good
opportunity to be instructed in
all the details of railroad taxa
ton. The attorneys of all the
leading railroads in the state came
here to speak before the commit
tee on assessment and collection
of taxes concerning proposed leg
islation on railroad taxation.
The senate and assembly commit
tees sat together in the senate
chamber and listened to argu-
ments that took up most of their
time for two or three days, in
fact, those arguments were the
features of the week, most every
thing else being forgotten for the
time.
The tax commission had pre-
pared the bills under discussion
and the members of that body
were present during the hearings.
Judge Gibson and Geo. Curtiss,
embers of the commission,
made extended arguments in favor
of the bills, The debate through
out was able, dignifed and cour-
teous. 1t was like eminent legal
talent before the Supreme Court.
There was by no one the least at
tempt at oratory. George 4.
Peck, of Chicago, council for
the Milwaukee and St. Paul road,
who is one of the foremost ora
tors of the Northwest, spoke
about five hours in quiet tone,
much as one would converse with
a dozen friends. It was a matter
of business, and he condensed
every possible argument into a
logical series of factsih favor of
his company's idea Of taxation.
The committee have not yet
made their report upon the bills
concerning railroad taxation, so
/ cannot tell anything definite
about the effects Of the long dis
cussion. It is generally under
stood, however, that the state
should by good rights get at least
half a million more dollars in
taxes from the railroad companies.
| l may say here that the people
in general have good degree of
faith in the state tax commission,
and the bills they have drawn
| will naturally carry force with
them. There was q time when
many men honestly opposed the
creation and support of this COM
mission. / think that it is now
coming to be acknowledged,
though that the work of these
men is likely to result in great
good to the state.
There has been considerable
discussion before the assembly
committee on railroads on Mr..
Halls bill providing for state
railroad commission. This bill
provides for a commission whose
duty it shall be to hear and decide
upon all matters concerned with
railway tariffs both freight and
passenger Unjust determinations
etc. I do not need to say that
railroads have sent their best men
to fight this bill. Mr.. Hall did
not 90 before the committee to
argue the case, but said that he
would make his fight on the floor
of the assembly. When this mat
ter comes up in the wing of the
capitol there will ( be
lively time of it. Mr.. Hall is
capable of making hard fight
and he will do it then.
All kinds of guesses are being
made about the chances of the
primary election bill. My pres
ent opinion is not much differ
ent from what it was two weeks
ago that some bill of the kind
will be passed, but that it will
not be in detail the one that Mr..
Stevens introduced.
The cigarette bill was the cause
of a good display of oratory and
some argument in the senate
few days ago. It had come up
for indefinite postponment, when
Senator O'Neil moved that it bel