Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1903-01-22

demand that the oft-repeated appeal of
the interstate commerce commission.
supported as it has been by the mes
sages Of the president, for authority
to regulate rates and prevent discrim-
nations should be promptly given to
the interstate commerce commission.
1t may be quite as we'll for us to be
admOnished at this time that opposf-
! ton to the establishment of a commits
sion to regulate transportation rates
will not be limited to the corporation
and their lobby agents before the leg
| islature. They will be able to summon
| to their support every shipper in Wis
consin who is. or who thinks he is, at
! this time receiving some special favor
or concession from the railroads, or
| who has, or thinks he has, assurance
which will give him exceptional rates
and advantages over his rivals and
competitors in business for the future
| The shippers will be able through Or
/ ganized effort to make their influence
| felt as a commanding one, but it is
we'll for us to remember that we stand
here representing the interests of all
| the people of Wisconsin, the thous-
ands of merchants and manufacturers
! who are not receiving special rates
| and concessions, and the hundreds of
1 lie of -bi
! pers who are being grossly wronged
in the millions of dollars exacted from
| them in excessive and exorbitant
transportation charges, year after
year. They are entitled to an equal
chance with the merchants and man
ufacturers and farmers of adjoining
/ states.
Primary Elections.
Concluding an exhaustive discussion
of the subject Of the primary elections
the governor says:
Il submit that it is not for us to
determine what shall be the scope of
law to nominate candidates by direct
vote. This has been settled by the
| people CT Wisconsin, to whom the mat
! ter has been referred again. They
have determined that all candidates
! for state, legislative, congressional,
and county officers shall be nominated
at primary election upon the same
day by direct vote undec the Austral
ian ballot
Mortgage Taxation.
Taxation in general is dwelt upon at
! length. To the we'll directed admin
istration of the law creating the Office
of supervisor of assessment and the
| diligence of these county officials in
the field, may be largely attributed the
marked advance made, both in the
uniformity and in the more complete
assessment Of the property of individu-
ais and private corporations taxable
under the law, says the governor.
| Since the public interest was first
aroused upon this subject, and through
| the effective direction of the assessors
| by the tax commission and by super
| visOrs of assessment, there has been
| added to the tax roll more than $780,
! 100000 of intangible property in the
!
other credits. Whatever difference of
opinion may prevail with respect to the
possibility of placing all intangible
property upon the assessment roll and
| of continuing it upon the roll to be
taxed against the individual owner, it
cannot be disputed that nue. at least
has been accomplished for the time
! being.
With the rapid accumulation of
wealth, the increase in the amount and
value of intangible property but
strengthens year by year the reason
and justice of its taxation in some
| form. That vast accumulations OF
wealth may be invested in interest
| bearing securities, insuring large in
comes to the holders who throw their
share of the expense of maintaining
! streets and schools and public institu-
tons, and all the burdens OF municipal
and state government upon the owners
! of factories and shops and stores and
farms and homes, violates eve.y prlnci-
pie of equal rights and equal RESPONSE
! bilities guaranteed to each American
citizen.
With respect to mortgage taxation.
which it is to be remembered repre-
| sents only a part of the vast amount
of intangible property subject to taxa
! ton, it is not SO difficult to discover
| and secure the assessment of the prop
erty interest represented by the mort
gage. This may easily be done by as
| sessing the mortgage as an interest in
realty, and providing that if the tax
levied thereon be not paid by the
! owner of the mortgage interest, it may
! be paid by the owner Of the mortgaged
property and deducted from the
amount of the mortgage debt AS no
! piece of taxable property should be
! taxed twice, wherever this plan is pro
| posed it is agreed that the owner of
| the mOrtgaged real estate should have
the valuation of. the assessment upon
his mO-tgaged premises reduced al
! the time Of the assessment, by deduct
/ ing from the value thereof the amount
of the mortgage theron.
But it is contended that by agree
ment or understanding between the
| maker of the mortgage and the holder.
this plan of mortgage taxation is sub
ject to evasion and notification by the
borrower agreeing to pay the tax e.
sessed against the mortgage owners
agreement be not made, it is asserted