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

tery much less than It's true value. Their
assessed value in 1900 was more than
million dollars less than the aggregate
assessment by tho local assessors in the
state, which was well understood TO be
on about a a per cent. basis. 1t was
therefore, but a matter of the simplest
calculation TO know that if the commands
Of the statute to assess at the full
value should be oDeyed by the state
board of assessment, at any time, then we
were absolutely certain 70 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 conferred
with Tax Commissioner ellison and urge
that he draw and have introduced n bill
limiting the amount which could be col.
lected under the mill tax to $65O,On
annually, and that he also prepare and
present to the taxation committee full
statement of the reasons why II was or
the utmost importance that such q bill
should pass. He did so and the bill was
introduced February 10, as Senate bill
DO.
The statement which he prepared 10
accompany the bill and furnished to the
committee on taxation as basis for
its action was as forcible a 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 bill for passage,
and may be found at page 800 TO 1913,
Senate journal. a reading of Judge Gil
sons strong and conclusive argument con-
tanned in this committees report, fol-
lowed by the decisive defeat of the bill
In the Senate on May 7, will convince
any unbiased mind that the Legislature
was fully informed upon every phase of
the question and fully assumed the re-
sponsibilty for the failure of the bill,
with all the facts and arguments in its
possession.
Legislature Alone Responsible for In
creased Mill Tax.
Why 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 an
fable 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 bill would have
my approval as governor no man can
doubt.
rhis unnecessary tax raised under the
mill tax law-concerning which there
has been so much wil!ful misrepresenta-
ton and so much honest misunderstand-
ing-has gone into the school fund. 1t
cannot be used for any other purpose.
Not one dollar of it has BEEN or can be,
lost or squandered or misappled. 1t is
aDportioned among the counties accord
tho n tba mum bpr of phiI1rpD NJ sphnnl
age, and just in proportion as this in
creased apportionment Is received the
amount required to be raised locally Is
reduced.
Assessment Of Notes ard 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 past; therefore, it should not now
be enforced at all; that if notes and
mortgages are taxed their owners will
take 1t 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
10 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
"inquisitorial' to ask the farmer how
many cows he owns, but Is very lin
qusitorial" to ask the money-broker how
many mortgages, how many bonds he
owns; and that instead Of this "inquisi-
toral" state law there ought to be
No., nd ct nd
tional law taxing incomes, which would
be sure to catch these NOR cages 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 Understanding
securities. Two men working side by
side, each earn and save 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 n real estate mortgage
from which he derives an income in in
terest Is it just that one should be
taxed on his house and lot and the other
escape taxation on his mortgage? If il
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
~ any more load? Farmers, merchants,
manufacturers, railroad men, mechanics,
and every laborer who owns a house
and lot, all, all, are taxed upon their
property. 1t is visible. 1t cannot be
locked up in safety vault. 1t is out
in the open and is never missed by 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
ly unjust, to these taxpayers to
allow millions Of dollars Of other
mortgages and rich interest-prO-
duciug 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 already over
loaded shoulders of their neighbors. Is
il 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 pOsiuOn-bear il away with you
and consider II in the quiet Of your
homes, carry II with you as you take up
your daily burden on the morrow-this
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-