Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1903-05-27
SOME THINGS THE LEGISLATURES DID
A Brief Review Of Important Matters Transac
and Killed.

. saturday last, although 1t uu not q
complish all that was expected Of /
nevertheless took long step forwar
By far the greatest piece of legislatid
which passed and Is become law
the bill creating state tax eommieH
ion board for assessment of t
property of the ;. roads of the sta
and the taxing Cd at property in Il
same way that q property is taxt
in the state. We the new law dO}
not become opi= i've until 1905. Il
first valuation q e roads under whid.
they will pay es will be made
1904, and the ri q will know befot
the next electiCE he amount which wi
be collected fro he railroads in tax4
in 1905 The b { rovides that the tax
shall be paidac ectly into the sta4
treasury, and it is calculated that it wi
result in increasing the amount whic|
the roads pay about 81 600, 600 year.
The other tax reforms which becanj
laws were the measures reducing ts!
amount of the state tax and enactiDg
mortgage taxation law and law for til
taxing of gifts and inheritances I'D
mortgage tax law makes it possible I'd
the owner of mortgaged property to d4
mand that the mortgage interest be Al
sessed against the owner of the morI
gag
PRIMARY ELECTION LAW.
The principal election reform whicI
was passed at this session was the pri
mary election bill which provides tha|
all party nominations shall be made bI
direct vote of the people. The law will
n become operative until it has beel
vottd upon by the people in the genera
election of 1904 The law would hay|
been made applicable Immediately Il
conformity with the pledges made d
the people but for the objection of th|
seventeen senators who were banded
together TO prevent the consummatio|
Of those pledges in law.
APPROPRIATIONS.
The total of the appropriations passe.
by the legislature is about $3.50, 900 il
excess OF the appropriations of twI
years ago. OF this amount, however
k400 900 is taken from the general fun,
aud added to the common school fun,
OF the state OF the balance. $40 O0O |
what is estimated it will cost the stat
TO make the valuation of the railway
under the ad valorem bill SIS. 900 20
the st. Louis Worlds fair and 500. 90
is to enlarge the capitol so as to accom-
Icodate the supreme court The bal
ance OF the increase was made up for;
large part of the increase made neces
sary because of the growth of the char
table and penal institutions of the state
RAILWAYS.
The principal measure affecting tn
railroads which passed was the bill err
powering the commissioner of railroad
to examine the books and accounts q
railroads to determine whether the road
have made truthful returns of thei
gross earnings in this state. for the pu,
pose of determining whether they hay
paid the full amount of license fee
which they should pay. The legisls
ture was principally distinguished b,
cause of the railroad legislation whic
1t did not enact. The bill to establis
q commission for the regulation of raj
road rates failed Of passage. The ser
ate was principally responsible for til
failure Of the legislature to enact an
legislation regarding the railroads TO
the benefit Of the people The hill /
establish the rates of June IS,
the maximum rates in the state
to prohibit the giving or recs
bates and other measures of
portance were killed in the upI 10,
GAME Laws.
Wisconsin took long stride forwar
IN the game laws enacted this session
the law which prohibits the sale Z
sale of game. The sale of all game
strictly prohibited and this will remoy
| the incentive for market shooting. Th
other amendment in regard to the gam
laws Of Importance is the allowing {
fifteen days shooting ia the sprins
There We're q number of amendments
| the general law which affect pa.t!cula
localities and for the protection of quai
prairie chickens and deer in certai
| counties. Farmers are permitted I
hunt rabbits and squirrels on their ow
possessions at all times without Obtain
ing license.
TAXATION.
For the ad valorem taxation Of raj
| roads; for the taxation of inheritanc,
| and bequests seventeenth mill tax {,
| schools; for exemption of public libr
ries and parks exemption Of mechanic
tools to value Of $50, on bicycle. o
watch less in value than $50.
EDUCATION.
Raising salary Of state superintendel
81, 200 TO So, 900 a year; requiring thI
all children under IA years Of age shs
attend some public, parochiai or pl
Yate school as many months of the ca
epder az the school Is in session increa
| ing the number of county trainir
schools from six to eight, and perni
ing two or more adjoining counties
which there is no state normal school
! combine in the establishing and mali
tenance of county training school Il
| teachers, increasing the number
county schools of agriculture TO for
and providing that the state shall NJ
appropriate to exceed $4,000 TO Il
! maintenance of each school. providin
that nonresident pupils may attend ii
| free high school nearest their resident
and have the expense incurred to Ii
school charged to the town in whic
they live.
| ELECTIONS.
Providing for the election of count
superintendents in the spring; forbi,
J dag the taking Of beer or other intox
eating liquor into any election booth {
any election or registration day.
The Capsr Of a Nephew.
A. Spellum has been getting who
lot of notorietY in the Gaily papers whiS
he has not looked for aud which do
not rightly belong to him. Telegram
from La Crosse have been keeping Il
wires hot with a report that he hs
elope1 with II year-old girl Of 1
Soto. The fact is Mr.. Spellunl is sti
| with rs and was rnIInh arl1.nriand nf Il