Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1903-05-21
GOVERNOR SIGNS
SCHOOL TAX BILL
BUT ATTACHES A MEMORANDUM
OF DlSAPPROVAL.
SCORING FOR WHITEHEAD
La Toilette Declares Provision to
Take 100000 Out of General Fund
for Schools Will Preclude PossibiI-
ity Of Reduction of Taxation and
May Embarrass Treasury.
Madison. May 10.

Gov. La Toilette yesterday approved
the bill amending the ore mill tax bill
and also the bill refunding the
amounts collected under the inheri-
lance tax law which was declared IN
constitutional. To the school tax law
he attached a memorandum calling at
tention to the futility Of taking $780,
900 of the money to be used for school
purposes out of the general fund of
the state. He shows that the taking
Of this money out of the general fund
can in no way relieve the general tax
payers Of the state and says that it
was manifestly done for the purpose
of precluding the possibility Of max
ing a reduction in the taxes during the
next two years. He calls attention to
the fact that a veto should be inter
veto might result III the one mill tax
being undisturbed
The governor exposes what he as
sumes to be the plan of the majority
in the senate under Senator White
head to hamper the administration and
if possible increase the cost Of govern
ment to the people Of the state. The
following was the memorandum at
tached to the bill:
"In 1899 the amount of money raised
of the common schools was $500, 900.
In 1902 the state board of assessment
had so increased the total valuation of
the taxable property Of the state that
the amount Of money collected under
the mill tax law was 81 ,504, 346. That
this enormous increase was unneces-
sary and, indeed, greatly in excess Of
the amount required by the best in
terests Of the common schools was
not open to dispute. In the session Of
1901 effort was made to secure legis-
lation limiting the amount which
could be collected under the mill tax
to $650,000. This was defeated by the
senate.
I'm the first message at the begin
ming Of the session Of 1903, recon-
can be collected under the mill tax law
to $3.50, 000.' The tax commission in
its report, submitted to the legislature
some time after the first message was
presented, said with reference to this
tax, we believe the tax levied by the
state should be reduced from one mill
on each dollar Of assessed valuation to
a definite amount and suggest that it
be fixed at 100000 The annexed
and foregoing bill aDpropriates to this
particular purpose an amount equal to
seVen-tenths Of one mill on the dollar
of the taxable property Of the state,
or upon the basis Of the valuation Of
1902. there would be collected the sum
of $1,053,042, or $403,042 more than
the amount recommended in the mes
sage, or $353,042 more than the
amount recommended by the tax COM
mission.
The bill further provides that Of the
total amount to be raised under it the
sum Of 100000 shall be taken annu-
ally from the license fees Or taxes
paid by the railroads and other public
service corporations, and the balance
shall be raised by direct tax on all
other taxable property. This provi-
sion,-which means taking 100000
from the general fund during this BIZ
ennial period,-was inserted in the
bill by the senate committee
on taxation. What good pur-
pose can it serve to withdraw this
100000 from the general fund? If it
is needed in the treasury to meet the
then it ought not to be drawn out IN
der this bill. If it transpires that it is
not needed in the general fund, when
the time comes to appOrtion the state
tax, it would be distributed as surplus
under the statute, and the rate Of tax
alton reduced thereby The only pur-
pose which this provision can serve,
is either to create a deficiency in the
general fund. Or prevent the reduction
Of taxation during this biennial term.
ut can in no way relieve the owners
Of other taxable property in the state,
and it surely can serve no good pur-
pose to resort to this circuitOus meth
Cd of maintaining an excessive tax by
giving It the semblance of a reduction
of 100000 to the Individual tax payer,
and at the same time the appearance
of an increase of 100000 in the IL
cense fees or taxes paid by corpora