Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1903-03-26


some of the committees are backward
in sending in their measures. This,
Of course is n matter largely within
the scope Of the chairmcn, who are
very influential folks, where the pro-
grcss, and indeed the destiny Of legis-
latiOn Is concerned
State Control of Freight Rates.
There is saying that petitions
have lost their efficacy and it is SO,
except on the. rare occasions where
the American flag and tOtcd into the
halls Of legislation by four pcrspirng
Workingncn. In such Il way one can
sometimes make an impression of
aroused sentiment IIut the routine
petitions Of H. Jones and II others"
have little or no weight Madison re-
cciVcd Il petition on legs. however,
the other day, Of n different order
1t WAS an invasion of big shippers,
jobbcrs, cite, who came TO protest
against the bill to establish Il state
board OF railroad commissioners They
railroad companies who, Of course,
want no supervision Of their freight
rates; but it was an influential de-
scent on the asSemblymcn and sen.
ators, especially the wealthy and in
fIucntlal business men from their own
districts. Coy LuFollcttc in his
message urged strongly the idea and
quoted figures showing apparently
lower rates in Iowa (WhCrc they have
had Il commission since Granger"
days., aud the superior prosperity Of
that state As Il result Replies were
made to these claims; but the main
argument of the jobbcrs 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 IN exception. Mr. Hall is n
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 Il beautiful talker and
while smiling graciously all the while
can put the knife In to the hilt-
MS he did at the railroad hcaring-and
turn ii with great effectiveness.
1t Is true that the bill assumes pres
cnt freight rates just and provides for
their lcsscning only after most guard
an iIIi 4,
true, too. that heavy retailers favor
such n system, though not organized
to assert themselves as are the manu-.
facturcrs,. but the proposition is SO
new and the big shippers SO mhucn.
tial that II Is likely the proposition
must mature and mellow before be-
ing enacted into law,
Part OF LaFolIette's Programme.
1t must be Il great disappointment
to the governor, for It has been reas-
oncd 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 he to make the rail
roads more cautious in their dealings
with the people, now that they know
more about the state regulation idea.
Exemption of Credits.
The senate passed easily the bill TO
exempt credits from taxation. 1t was
no surprise, after the attitude taken
by the tax commission, and an article
in the Milwaukee, Free Press roncpd-
ing the proposition. by this hill mort
cages are exempted from taxation, as
well nS bonds, notes and all other
forms of credit The measure was
opposed by Senator MCGillivray, who
made lengthy speech against 1t. In
the exemption of mortgages from tax
alton. the administration men swept
away much of the work OF the super
VisOrs of assessment appointed to dig
UP such intangible property as cred
It's are called, and naturally there is
opposition to the bill 1t Is likely
that the bill will pass the assembly
when II comes up on that side. but ii
cannot become law ut this session
by thus adhering to the tax commits
sion'S Judgment, the al valorcm hill
for taxing railroad property Is put in
better shape.
Taxation OF Railroads
Ad Valorcm taxation Is not yet on
the floor of the senate. 1t has been
supposed that with the governors
backing and the prestige of the tax
commission, together with stalwarts
supposed to favor 1t, the new system
would surely be substituted The Ii.
cCnsc fee is very convenient, however,
and there is some talk of raising it
from ( per cent on the gross earnings
OF the big roads to ~ or even >.
Presumably the railroads would pre-
fer this 10 the uncertainties Of the new
system. lie Is Il wise man who can
tell what will happen IN this matter
Dinner to Norwegisns
The governor gave Il dinner TO the
venerable Editor Anderson of the Chi.
cago Scandinavian the other evening.
to which he gathered some forty intiu-
entail Norwegians about his board
Anderson has been connected with the
paper since 1856. beginning II in a