The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1903-10-02

GOVERNOR LAFOLLETTE.
the railroads will seek to catch the
public mind OH the rebound. 1t is
delicate business, for if there is any
broad, sweeping claim that Wisconsin
rates are not higher but lower than
in Iowa and Illinois, the legislatures
of those states will very likely take
up the matter and demand as Low
rates as v isconsin.
The railroads, Of course, IRE not
eager for the additional supervision
that the establishment of Il railroad
commission implies. Therefore they
cannot relish the disposition even
among conservative Republicans to
cOncede commission. It is not i'm
possible that this universal Republican
disposition explains the backwardness
Of the railroads, some say. even to
contribute to campaign expenses to
down their veteran aggreSSOr, the
governor They may feel that they
might as we'll drift with the tide.
When to this one adds the feeling OF
not a few Republican newspapers that
carrying on fractional warfare is not
particularly interesting to readers OF
profitable to the business office, the
reasons begin to appear why some La
Toilette men actually expect to win
"by default However, many stall
warts are very confident, and when
Senator SpOOnec gets into the miX-up,
as is expected alter, there will be things
as is expected later. there will be
things doing. The governor is in the
best of health and spirits, and we shall
have lively times from now on.
Value of Railroad Properties.
The state tax commission is busy
these days seeking to ascertain the
value Of the railroad properties in the
state. Prof. w. ID. Taylor, of the Ell.
giheering staff of the state university,
with ten assistants, has been i'll the
field inspecting the plants of the small
roads. and they are now figuring UP
results 1t was pleasant outdoor en-
perience for them. The three big roads
of course. greatly outrank in import
ance the little roads (Of which there
are some forty. The st. Paul and the
Northwestern companies have trackage
of 1920 miles each in Wisconsin. the
Wisconsin Central and the Omaha" of
about $50 miles each; the 800" road,
the Green Bay and the &c. B. & O."
run from $50 to 30 miles. and there
are 80 roads (mainly logging routes;
which have under 40 miles. The big
systems are making their own esti.
mates of their property, using their
own employees; and the tax commits
sion is holding off to get their figures
from the roads. Representatives Of
the company were in Madison the other
day asking that assessment of general
property be raised, and in general to
urge the fullest listing of general prop
erty Under the ad valorem system
all property is listed and taxed alike,
the more there is. the less the rate. 1t
has been generally supposed that thfs
new system would squeeze another
million out of the railroad companies.
but it IS by no means sure. The rail
rOau HeH say tHdt Tue visible property
of the roads is not so great that under
an ad valorem assessment of the prop
erty. the taxes can be materially
raised from what was paid under the
license fee system. In all states where
a charged system Of taxation is in.
troduced the railroads naturally put
up their best efforts to resist and miti
gate additional burdens.
1t is likely there will be prolonged
litigation.
University About to Open.
Madison will be alive with collegs
boys and girls this week Already