The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1902-11-01

Governments are republican only III
proportion as they embOdy the will OF
the people and execute it.'-Jeffersou.
1t Is the peoples constitution, the
peoples gove~nment made by the people,
and answeraDle 70 the people. Web
ster
THE fabric OF the American empire
ought 10 rest on the solid basis Of the
consent Of the people. The streams Of
national power ought TO flow immediate.
I ~ from that pure original fountain Of all
legitimate authority. Hamilton.
"A government Of the people by the
people, and for the people. Lincoln.
The great essential basic principle OF
democracy. asserted in the Declaration
OF Independence, and guaranteed by the
constitution, remains the same through
all time; but the maintenance. the
preservation Of that right from usurpa-
ton and encroachment under changing
conditions is the duty Of each day and
generation.
The citizen who thinks the constitution
alone will preserve everlasting good gov
eminent is mistaken. \ great nation
has great and growing problems, increas-
ing and grave responsibilities. As Pres
deut Mckinley said in one Of his latest
speeches
The progress OF a nation can alone
prevent degeneration. There must be
new life and purpose, or there will be
weakness aud decay.
The problem in government today is:
protection from public service corpora
tiOus and political machine domination.
Direct nomination OF all candidates by
the people offers a simple. practical sOlu-
ton. 1t is for us with courage and
patriotism TO discharge our plain re-
sponsibi!ity TO the state,
DO you believe in entrusting the people
with the Nomination of their candidates?
ia'fava in a lppI : hppnsFIV
endeavoriug to carry out the wishes of
the people These are the fundamental
questions you must answer by your bal
lot.
Equalization of Taxation.
As a result of public discussion OF the
unequal distribution Of the tax burdens
general demand for legislative action be-
came so strong that 1t found emphatic
expression IN the platforms OF both pOilti-
which assembled January, 1899 was,
therefore directly pledged TO equalize the
burdens Of taxation. But the powerful
lobby Of the public service corporations
opposed such legislation and after pass
ing the express company, life insurance,
and sleeping car bills, the bill increasing
the license fee on railroads from four TO
FIVE per cent. upon their gross earnings
was defeated in the Senate. Had that
bill passed it would have saved other
taxpayers 100000 each year since, or
S2,4OO,0O0 by the present time.
The Railroads Advocated Tax Commits
sion.
But representatives Of the railway
companies urged that further investiga-
ton was necessary TO insure fairness 10
the railroads. They advocated the es-
tabishment Of a tax commission to make
such investigation, promising that If such
mission fpnnH that rail rDa1a
paying their proportionate share Of taxes,
they would accept the decision and pay
accordingly. These arguments influenced
many legislators. The bill increasing
railroad taxation was defeated, and the
bill creating the tax commission was
passed instead. To secure its passage ii
was urged that the pressing work Of the
legislative session prevented Senators and
members from giving the subject OF taxa
ton that thoroughness Of Investigation
which its importance required. Besides,
they required men Of special fitness to do
this work-trained. skilled. experienced
men who should devote all Of their time
70 the business.
Tax Commission Created.
So It was provided in the law that the
members of the commission should be
men known 10 possess knowledge of the
subject Of taxation and skin IN matters
pertaining thereto" They fixed the
salaries high enough 10 command the
ability they sought. The men were
found. They were employed. They
were able men. OF experience and learn
ing. strong in the confidence Of the
people,
Delay of Legislation Secured
II was expensive business for the tax
payers 1t delayed the legislation which
had been promised by both parties in
their platforms of 1895 But the people
were persuaded to believe that when this
commission did report TO the Legislature
and formulate legislation is,
frame the bills for the Legislature to
pass-then the people were led to believe
the Legislature would act upon the
recommendations and pass the bills.
With great industry the unbiased, able
gentlemen appointed upon the tax COM
mission by Gov. Scofeld prosecuted the
investigation OF this subject. Their
In the confusion and distractions which
legislative committee encounters. but
with that thououghness and dellbeTation
insurirg wise and sound judgment.
Renewed Promises of Tax Relief.
Two years passed and again in 1900
the platforms of both political parties re-
newed the promises that the tax burden
should be equalized. The people now
felt doubly certain that at last their
patience would be rewarded. The Leglsla-
ture assembled and the entire state wait
ed In expectation for the forthcoming re-
port Of the tax commission, which was
10 light the way for intelligent legisla-
tive action.
First Report of Tax Commission.
And what was that report? 1t was a
clear, explicit. able statement Of the re-
suits OF their Investigation, proCaimlng
that there does exist gross inequalities in
the tax burden placed upon different
classes OF property in this state. ana
making definite and exact recommended
tons TO the Legislature FOR the imme-
date remedy OF the evils which they
have discovered"
First 49, They declare that large
amounts of taxable property are omitted
from assessments as ordinarily made,
and that much OF that which Is assessed
| is unequally valued" And in order 10
secure more complete assessment OF
the taxable property and make il more
uniform, TO the end that II should be
fairer as between man and man and sec
ton and section, the commission recon-
mended that taxpayers, assessors and
| boards Of review be required TO observe
the law and that some officer OF officers
be given Specific authority" 10 super
wise the work OF local assessments.
Report as TO Railroad Taxation.
Second They reported that If the
| railroads paid taxes upon the same basis
as the property Of private corporations
aud OF the individual taxpayers Of the
state. that they would pay over a million
dollars q ye-g more than they now pay;
and that II the other publc-seryice cor