The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1903-01-15
"A MANUFACTURERS VIEWS.
Frank Bull Warns Against Unjust Increased
Assessment of Railroads.

Frank Bull, OF Racine, in an address
delivered before the Manufacturers
Association, pointed out some of the
proba Bile results of the agitation for an
increased, and as he believes, an IN"
just assessment of railroad property in
this State. Mr.. Bull points out that it
is the producer who will "pay the
| freight" and that if local freight
rates arctic be fixed by the Legisla-
ture or a commission appointed for
that purpose, the manufacturer who
ships beyond the State will be called
upon to pay the difference in rates.
Mr. Bull said in part:
"If we impose upon the railway COM
panies the burden of paying vi, 100000
year more in taxes or reduce their in
come from local freight, it is fair to
assume that they will set about max
ing good the loss, In whole or in part,
from some other available source. The
railway company.whosesi income is alb
sorbed by the State cannot do justice
to the Wisconsin producer, and the
Wisconsin producer cannot do oojustice
to his employees while the balance is on
the wrong side of the ledger.
"If the railway companies own more
than one-twelfth of all the property
within the State they orght to bear
more than one-twelfth of the tax bur
den; if they do not own more than one
twelfth, then the amounts required to
be paid by them as taxes should not
be increased. There is no system of
| legitimate argument through which
any sane man can be convinced or
even led to suspect that thel railway
companies of Wisconsin own anything
like one-twe1fth of it's taxable prop
erty.
Gift is right to place value upon
the Opportunities of railway COM
pany for purposes of taxation, it is
right that every individual should be
taxed on his "opportunities"-his
chances in business way.
''I firmly believe that tollarge1y in
crease the amount collected from our
carrying companies in the form of
taxes would result in increasing,freight
charges imposed supon theJ producers
of Wisconsin, who must send their
goods beyond the State for sale; that
such increase of the; tax rate sis not
warranted by the extent or value OF
railway property; that it is not justi-
fed by the conditions existing in OUT
sister States around us; that it is ssbui1t
upon wrong theory, and that it calls
for and should awaken the opposition
of every producer of the State, whether
he be a manufacturer, al farmer, a
mine owner or 1umberman, or engaged
in any line of occupation which re.
quires the use on hislpart of thessrail.
way companies in disposing sof his
goods or products.
"The interests which we stand for and
to the strengthening of which we are
devoting our lives and energies are sc
important as to justify us in demand.
ing that the future .@.Wisconsin's
manufacturing business shall not be
jeopardized by placing any department
of it under the control of an appointive
board or commission. The extent to
which political favor in this and other
states of the Union has controlled in
the selection of those who, through
that strange providence which seems
to guide political action, are thrust in
places of prominence, on boards and
committees and commissions, is patent
enough to warrant us in opposing any
plan which would subject our business
in any way to the dangers of political
direction.