Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1902-10-08

rery much less than rs true value Their
assessed value in 1900 was more than n
million dollars less than the aggregate
assessment by the local assessors in the
state, which was well understood 10 be
on about a A per cent. basis. 1t was,
therefore, but a matter of the simplest
calculation TO know that if +he commands
OF the statute to assess 1T 1.-THE full
value" should be oDeyed by the state
board of assessment, at any time, then we
were absolutely certain to have a tax col
lection for the school fund greatly in ex-
cess Of the public requirements.
Recommended Limitation of Mill Tax.
1t was in view of this that l conferred
with Tax Commissioner ellison and urge
that he draw and have introduced a bill
limiting the amount which could be col.
lected under the mill tax to $500, 900
annually, and that he also prepare and
present to the taxation committee a full
statement of the reasons why it was of
the utmost Importance that such a bill
should pass. He did so and the bill was
introduced February Is, as Senate bill
go.
The statement which he prepared to
accompany the bin and furnished to the
committee on taxation as basis for
it's action was as fOrcible presentation
of the arguments for the passage of the
bill as could possibly be made by any
one. 1t was used as the committee re-
port recommending the bin for passage.
and may be found at page $50 to S93,
Senate journal. A reading of Judge Gil
sons strong and conclusive argument con-
taircd in this committees report, fol-
lowed by the decisive defeat of the bill
in the Senate on May Z, will convince
any unbiased mimi that the Legislature
was fully informed upon every phase of
the question and fully assumed the re-
sponsibility for the failure Of the BILL
with all the facts and arguments in its
possession.
Legislature Alone Responsible for In
creased Mill Tax.
W. this bill, drawn by the tax COM
missioner after full conference with the
executive and supported by the strongest
reasons for its enactment into law was
not passed by the Legislature / am un-
able to say. That the responsibility is
theirs, and theirs alone, no honest man
will deny. That the next Legislature
will amend the mill tax law, limiting
the amount to be raised under it for
school purposes to the sum reasonably
required for that purpose, is absolutely
certain. That such a bill would have
my approval as governor no man can
doubt.
This unnecessary tax raised under the
mill tax law-concerning which there
has been so much willful misrepresenta-
ton and so much honest misunderstood
cannot be used for any other purpose
Not one dollsr Of il has been, or can be-
lost or squandered or misapplied. 1t is
apportioned among the counties accord
ing to the number of children OF school
age, AID just in proportion as this in
creased apportionment is received the
amount required to be raised locally is
reduced.
A. sessment of Notes and Mortgages Not
New Law-0bjections Ill-Conceived.
What is the further complaint urged
against this legislation? 1t is charged
that it makes a great many mortgages,
notes. bonds, and other securities pay
taxes which escaped taxation before
that this is unjust because the law tax
ing mortgages and other gilt-edged Sc
curities has not been strictly enforced
in the pasJ; therefore, it should not now
be enforced at all; that il notes and
mortgages are taxed their owners will
take it out Of those who borrow in in
creased interest, or they will send their
money away to some place where peo-
pie able to own mortgages and gold
bonds Of various kinds are not expected
to contribute anything toward the sup
port of government; and, finally, that
the law enforcing the taxation of mort
cages is ''inquisitorial;" that It is not
"inQuisitoriaF to ask the farmer how
many cows he owns, but is very ''in-
quisitorial' to ask the money-broker how
many mortgages, how many bonds he
owns; and that instead of this "inquisi-
torial' state law there ought to be a
more thorough and more inquisitorial ma
tional law taxing incomes, which would
be sure to catch these mortgages and
securities and make them pay taxes to
the federal government, even though 1t
did increase interest rates for the owner.
Criticisms of Tax-Dodgers Answered.
These criticisms naturally raise GER
tain questions besides those which an
swer themselves. Why is it unjust to
tax mortgages and other interest-bei ring
securities. Two men working side by
side, each earn and save a thousand dol
lars. One invests his earnings in a
house and lot from which he derives an
income in rents The other loans his
money and takes real estate mortgage
from which he derives an income in in
terest Is it just that enc should be
taxed on his house and lot and the other
escape taxation on his mortgage? If it
is true that very large percentage of
the mortgages have escaped taxation,
has that established any right forever
to shift their burden upon the owners
of little homes who can i'll afford to car
ry any more load? Farmers, merchants,
manufacturers, railroad men, mechanics,
and every laborer who owns n house
and lot. all, ALL are taxed upon their
locked up in a safety vault. 1t is out
in the open and is never missed hv the
assessor. And then there are thousands
of exact, conscientious men who own
mortgages and list them to the assessor
for taxation under the law. How I'M
Just, in many instances how cruel
iy unjust, to these taxpayers to
allow millions of dollars of other
mortgages and rich interest-pro-
ducing securities which have borne
no part of the burden of government,
to remain hidden away from the assessor,
while the owners, so well able to pay,
shift their taxes onto the slready over
loaded shoulders of their neighbors. Is
II not shocking to the moral sense, to
every principle Of justice and equality,
that a law should be boldly condemned
because il simply aims to make each citi-
zen pay taxes in proportion to his ability
measured in taxable property? This is
the proposition--bear 1t away with you
and consider it in the quiet Of your
homes, carry it with you as you take up
your daily burden on the morrow-thls
Is the proposition: That the gentleman
who converts his thousands and tens OF
thousands into mortgages and interest
bearing securities who clips his coupons
quarterly and gathers In the golden har-
vest of his mortgages semi annually
that this gentleman shall be excused from
paying anything to support the schools,
improve the streets, build the bridges,
and pay all the expenses of government,
but that his share must be carried by some
mechanic who is earning two dollars and