Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1903-04-29
NO INTENTION OF BEING FAITHFUL.

With people who have knowledge of
the character of men who'compose the
state senate majority it is no disappoint
ment when announced that primary
DISQUALIFICATION is doubtless at an
end for the present session Of the legis-
lature, the senate end of the conference
committee having refused a seventh
proffer of compromise. The proposition
last submitted being for a vote on the
general subject of primary election, to
be taken at the town and city elections
in the spring of 1904. By this refusal
to come to a reasonable understanding
the small senate majority has exhibited
it's general contempt for the people and
the promises made by the republican
party in the past two elections The
story Is plainly told that the senate has
no intention of giving the people relief
from the clutches of the state senate,
where they are now firmly held. The
wrongs to the:general public will be per
petuated through the senate If that body
can by any possible strategy keep its
grip o. the throat of the people, and
thus legislation demanded by the masses
can forever be killed.
Hon. Nils p. Haugen, member OF the
state tax commission, made strong ar
gument before the assembly committee
ON assessment and collection of taxes
against the senate bill for exemption Of
notes and mortgages from taxation. He
dealt exhaustively on the subject and
his words will make deep impression
on the public mind That small possess
ions Of the laborer, farmer, widow and
minister shall be taxed and the large
holdings of wealth in notes and mort
cages go untaxed, is beyond his COM
prehension. But that is the Whitehead
stalwart idea Of fairness, and it is the
contents of bill that passed the senate
and is now pending in the assembly,
with assurance that it will be killed.
No bill during the present session of
the legislature has absorbed more inter
est than the Superior grain inspection
measure 1t is designed to correct a
long series of wrongs inflicted upon ives
tern farmers wko are compelled to sub
NIT to extortions by Duluth warehouse
men. The proposition is to protect such
by an inspection under Wisconsin regu-
lstion with Superior as the point of in
spection. The Jim Hill Minnesota rail-
road interests and combined grain ware
house dealers have maintained big lob
by at the capital all winter to defeat the
measure. At first it was thought there
would be little opposition to this correct
ion of long-standing evil and the
prompt passage Of the bill. But the lob
by has managed to drag the thing
throughout the entire winter. and on
Friday killed the honest measure by
vote Of II to 16, the almost solid stall
wart vote being cast against this Wis
consin measure and In favor of outside
corporate interests. This is on a par
with all other acts of the superior
body, as state organ of the corporations,
is pleased to designate the senate. Wis.
consin and her material interests are not
'fn it" when considered by Wisconsin
senate that is dominated by Whiteheads
1t Is charged that improper means were
employed to accomplish the defeat of
this measure, and an investigation may
be the result. A Chicago paper said
wholesale bribery had been resolved to.
Governc- Ia Toilette sent message |
to the legislative bodies as they were |
to adjourn for the week on Friday morn
ing, which will doubtless create a sensa-
ton when the subject matter Of the
message is fully digested. 1t is virtual
ly chatge that the railroads have per-
petuated fraud upon the state in max
ing returns of their gross earnings, which
are basis for their taxation to the state
The governor urges that bill be passed
giving the state banking department
authority to make thorough investiga-
ton of the subject. The governor says
that IL determinations are made to fav-
ored shippers as against the weaker
shippers and farmers it is not only dis
honest to patrons of the road but to the
state, because by this practice the state
Is defrauded ont of its rightful taxation
from railroads. He further calls atten-
tion to the evil as unearthed in Mime
sofa, where the same system of taxation
is in vogue as here showing that Mime
sofa has been defrauded Of five millions
of dollars by dishonest reports on part
of the corporations. The matter will
open q new avenue for thoughtful con-
sideration by the legislature. The two
houses can not well adjourn without
sitting this matter to the bottom. If |
the governor is wrong In his assump-
lions the legislature and the people
should be advised of it. And the rail-
roads will not wish to rest under such
imputatIon. 1t is limited that the gov
ernor will communicate along the same |
lines more startling things some day the |
present week.
Up to date little consideration has been |