Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1903-03-25


sometimes make an impression of
aroused sentiment. But the routine.
petitions of -. Jones and II others"I
have little or no weight. Madison reI
cetved a petition on legs, howevert
the other day, Of a different orders.
1t was an invasion of big shippers
JobberS, etc, who came to protes;!
against the bill to establish a STATE
board Of railroad commissioners. Thd !
We're Joined by some big men of ~ :
railroad companies who, of course,
want no supervision of their freight
rates; but ii was an influential de-
scent on the assemblymen and SEN
ators, especially thc wealthy and in
huential business men from their own
districts. Gov. LaFollette in his
message urged strongly the idea and
quoted figures showing apparently
lower rates in Iowa (where they have
had n commission since Granger
days., and the superior prosperity of
that state as a result Replies were
made TO these claims; hut the main
argument of the jobbers was that they
don't want an expensive state board
set up--that the present railroad com.
missioner is capable of righting their
wrongs, etc The administration was
shy of able speakers, Frank w. Hall
being an exception. Mr. Hall is u
Madison attorney. who tries cases in
the supreme court in the morning,
manages hospital and public library
matters in the afternoon, and writes
articles for the logical reviews in the
evening. He is beautiful talker, and
while smiling graciously all the while
can put the knife in to the hilt--
as he did at the railroad hearlng-and
turn it with great effectiveness.
1t is true that the bill assumes pres
ent freight rates just and provides for
their lessening only after most guard
ed and even judicial review. 1t is
true, too, that heavy retailers favor
such system, though not organized
to assert themselves as are the manu-
facturers, but the proposition is so
new and the big shippers SO lnfluen-
tial that 1t is likely the proposition
must mature and mellow before be-
ing enacted into law,
Part of LaFollette's Programme.
1t must be a great disappointment
to the governor, for It has been reas-
oned there isn't much use IN raising
the taxes on railroads, when they can
so readily reimburse themselves by
raising freight rates. The effect,
however, will be TO make the rail-
roads more cautious in their dealings
with the people, nUw that they know
more about the state rIWrlatlon idea.
Exemption of Credits.
The senate passed easily the bilt TO
exempt credits from taxation. II was
no surprise, after the attitude taken
by the tax commission, and I'm article
in the Milwaukee Free Press conced-
ing the proposition. by this bill 'aort-
cages are exempted from taxation, as
well as bonds. notes and all other
forms of credit The measure was
opposed by Senator McGillivray, who
made a lengthy speech agalns It. In
the exemption of mortgages from tax
alton, the administration men swert
away much Of the work of the super
vIsors Of assessment appointed to dig
up such intangible property as cred
its are called, and naturally there is
opposition to the bill 1t is likely
that the bin win pass the assembly
when II comes up on that side, but 1t
cannot become a law at this session.
BY thus adhering to the tax commits
sion's judgment, the ad valorem bin
for taxing railroad property is put in
better shape.
Taxation OF RaiIroads.
Ad valorem taxation Is not yet on
the floor of the senate. 1t has been
supposed that with the governors
backing and the prestige Of the ta1
commission, together with stalwart
supposed to favor it, the new systeI1
would surely be substituted The Ia
cense fee is very convenient however
and there Is some t. TX Of raising II
from per cent or 'he gross earnings
of the big roads to 41s or even 5
Presumably the railroads would pre-
fer this to the uncertainties Of the new
system. lie IL u Wihc HlNIt Wio can
tell what will happen IN this matter.
Dinner 10 Horwegians.
The governor gave dinner to the
venerable Editor Anderson OF the Chi
cagO Skandlrmven the other evening,
to which he gathered some forty infu-
ential Norwegians about his board.
Anderson has been connected with th1
paper since 1886, beginning it in a
small way, and 1t has a circulation n
every state I'm the union. lie has
aver beon q Ioval adbere1t of Gov. La