Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1901-04-25

Mcmillan, Zinn--50
Mr.. Overlook voting for the bill
and Hartung against were paired,
There is no hope for an increase in
railroad taxation in Wisconsin for at
least two years. The assembly this
afternoon did the unexpected and
killed the first of the railroad taxation
bills prepared by the tax commission
refusing to consider any amendments
or compromise. This action was uneX
pected because it was believed that
the assembly, being the popular branch
and standing nearer the people, would
/ favor a proposition to eQualize taxa.
alton when it was backed by the rec
| Ommendation of the tax commission.
But though Mr.. Hall and Mr.. Dodge
ably championed the measure,
the vote was not even close. The
/ Dodge amendment was lost by a vote
of So to sc, while the Hall amendment
went down so to 80.
Mr.. Dodge believed that 51a per
cent was too high a license fee and
so offered an amendment to reduce
the tax provided by the bill to 5 per
cent Seeing that DEBATED, he rose to
offer another compromise, fixing the
rate at 4 per cent, but upon advising
with his friends he withdrew it. Mr.
Halls proposition was the one con
tanned in the minority report of the
committee on assessment and colleC-
! ton of taxes, and was to all intents
| and purposes the original bill as pre-
! pared by the tax commission, COnse-
Quently when his amendment was lost,
the contest was dropped and the bill
Indefinitely postponed by a vive voce
vote. The committee still has the bill
prepared by the tax commission and
will probably report it for passage
with three members, MCCabe, Lane
and linn, dissenting. But this mea-
sure, it is thought, will not receive as
much support as the license fee bill
/ just killed. 1t is foregone cOnClu-
sion that no bill to increase railroad
taxes would pass the senate, conse-
Quently so far as this Legislature is
| concerned an increase in railroad tax
alton in Wisconsin is a closed incident.
| The consideration of the measure
was made a special order for 1890
yesterday morning and when it was
reached there was considerable diff
| ference of opinion on the parliament
! tary situation brought about by the
| majority of the committee amending
the bill and then reporting it for in.
definite postponement. Mr. Eline, the
| democratic leader, made the point that
| the motion should first be on the in
| definite postpOnement of the bill carry
ing all amendments with it.. f. A.
Williams took like ground but Mr. Hall
contended that the amendments
should be considered first, and the
chair sustained him.
The Debate Begins.
Messrs. Hall and Rossman were the
principal speakers at the morning
J session, the gentleman from Dunn
making the opening argument.
Reviewing the legislation Of 1899
| Mr.. Hall said bill taxing railroads
per cent failed in the assembly by
vote of AZ to 3S, and that Judge Or
/ tons per cent. measure then pre-
vailed nearly unanimously (S6 to 49,
/ but was defeated in the senate. The
/ speaker with a good deal of vigor dis
cussed the growth Of the tax commits
! sion government. Two years ago the
railroads said to the state delay the
matter until your railroad commission
can investigate" That commission
has done its work faithfully. The
railroads raised objections and pointed
out triding mistakes but did not sug-
gest any way TO better the system.
Mr.. Hall discussed printed argument,
which not a member of the committee
on taxation had received--a 44-page
pamphlet by F. b. Crandon, tax com
missioner of the Northwestern road.
Mr.. Hall said the secret" argument
was not sound; its circulation was an
instance of indefensible methods.
Mr. Rossman Speaks.
Mr.. Rossman opened the attack on
the tax commission work. He said he
did 1T with reluctance But it had to
be done and he did not care II II
meant his political death knell. The
situation. he said, was complicated by
the needs Of money for appropriation
and also by the governors message.
All who had read the tax commissions
report could see its incongruities. The
findings OF Messrs. Hall, Frost and
Stevens. the minority Of the commit
tee aia not cnincide with the cnnclu.