The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1903-03-06
why Railroads Always Object.

up legislative proposals until forced on
them, so the unconscious rule is to be
in the opposition. With net earnings
Of some $40,OQ0,000. It is possible the
100000 or 100000 increase threaten
ed is not so much a factor with this
and other big companies as many sup
puSe. The four per cent on gross
income seems pretty big to them, Of
cOurSe,-it would do man on 81 1000
salary who nad to pay $40 taxes fat
every year; and rather than have that
sliding scale moved up on them it is
said they prefer the assessment and
taxation of their property as other
property is taxed.
City of Superior Convulsed.
Superior is SO far off that some for
get it is city Of Wisconsin-and one
OF the pregnant ones as respects the
future. Well, the other day Superior
made itself felt. 1t sent down nearly
one hundred OF its leading men to
urge (and few to Oppose) the bin
setting up system of inspection Of
grain by Wisconsin business which is
now done by Minnesota). It is a bit
ter contest. The $6,000,00O invested
in elevators which are content with
the present system say that the hue
and cry is 70 saddle $4,000 a year
expense on The state, that the effect
will be impair capital which does
things and says little; that the whole
movement is by Il lot of 'hurrah,
boys" and bankrupt board Of trade.
Those who say these things are the
clever attorneys of the elevator and
railroad interests; they also say the
law of 1895 is sufficient to enable Su-
perlor people to set up inspection, if
they will. But the people" want the
change. AS their literature reads:
1T is now proposed to make the name
OF Wisconsin familiar word in every
grain market of the civilized world
to enact law by which the
grain trade Of the northwest may be
emancipated from that commercial
briSandaGe that has Of late years in
tested it.
'"The total amount collected during
the five years ending the LIST of last
September for inspection and weigh
ing in Superior and Duluth amounted
to %4S2, 2SS.'
Z Want the Money in Wisconsin,.
1t is alleged that most of this is
paid to Minnesota. though 80 per cent
OF the weighing is done in Wisconsin:
and that the salaries, etc, are diverted
from the state. Frauds in inspection
are alleged by which low grade wheat
is given choice marking.
/ 1t is q hard fight and the lobby on
Both sides is very active.
Odds and Ends of Legislation.
The bill establishing a state COM
mission to fix maximum charges on
freight rates will soon be introduced.
Help has been secured from Iowa of
ticials, Il drastic law on the subject
having been in force for 10 years. and
some sort OF supervision having been
i'll force since the granger" days OF
the early seventies.
The absurdity caused by the mill
tax for educational uses Coy which on
the new full assessment a third more
money is taken from the tax payers
than needed Will be corrected, and the
plan proposed as q new system is said
to be novel and effective.
We all live and learn and the bill
eNempting credits from taxation finds
much less opposition than it would
have done two years ago when Gov.
LaFollette's message dealt so streni-
Ously with that subject. The tax COM
missions ringing declaration that cred
it's are not only intangible, difficult
objects Of taxation, but not ready
property in taxable sense has
done much to abate excitement on that
subject. 1t IS understood. the COVER
nor himself prefers to war about the
other bigger topics now before the
legislature The bill specifically notes
that existing laws shall continue in
| force for the taxation of shares of
stock of banks capital or private bank
ers and taxation of trust companies
! and all other corporations or Organiza-
tons representing money capital
The agitation for compulsory educa-
ton and to prevent child labor is
warming and hearings have been held
1t is said there is considerable oppo-
sition from Milwaukee manufacturers
The object is to prevent all employed
| work in school time by children un-
der IA years. The loop-holes in the
present laws make it impossible to
correct the evils for when parent joins
with employer in deception. how can
| child labor be prevented? Children
between II and16 if they wish to work
must be approved by representatives
| of the state. The police and others are
made truant officers and the effort will
J be to get into school and keep there
| all Wisconsin children under IS. or GER
! tainly under II. The educators saw
| Wisconsin makes bad showing in
this line. If every man and woman
among us gets Il good schooling II
| will lessen crime. Not every uneduca
| ted child becomes a criminal. but the