Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1903-06-01

The legislative session q ASN9 VIII
close when both houses adjourn sine
die az noon today.
The records OF the members are
made mp. II IS claimed by repuo-
Hcars OF both factions that every de-
msud of the last state platform is in
e1rporated into statute law. That the
concentrations Of Gov. la Toilette
the establishment Of railroad rate
controlling commission and the pas
sage Of the maximum rate bill-were
killed. the administration people
blame the senate
The records Of the legislature COM
piled yesterday snow that the senate
cOrcurred in Us assembly bills, killed
G.. and returned ] and passed $50
senate bills. killed 149, three were
withdrawn and six died in committees.
The assembly concurred in zoo sen
ate bills. passed 373 and killed S45 Of
its own. Il were Withdrawn, 9 died in
committee and 50 senate bills were
nCncCnCurred in
Ad Valorerl Most Important
The legislature which completed its
work yesterday although il did not &C
cCmuIish al that some expected Of il
I'm the way of reform. nevertheless
enacted many laws. By far the great
est piece Of legislation which passed
and has become a law Is the bill Great
ing the state tax commission board
for the assessment OF he property Of
t.s railroads of the state and the
taxing q that property IN the same
way that other property IS taxed in
the state. While the new law does
not become operative until 1905 the
first valuation OF the roads under
which they viii pay taxes viii be made
fu 1904 and the people viii know be
fore the next election the amount
which win be collected from the rail-
roads IN taxes in 1905. The bill pro
viEes that the taxes shall be paid d.
rectIy into the state treasury and il
is calculated that Il viii result in in
creasins the amount which the roads
ray about $1,000 900 a year.
The other tax reforms which be-
Carc a law were the measures reduc-
ing the amount OF the school tax and
euactiuE a mortgage taxation law and
a law for the taxing Of gifts and in
hsritanCes.
Primary Election . Statute.
The principle election which was
passed az this session was the pri-
mary election bin which provides that
all party nominations shall be made by
direct vote OF the people. The law
viii rot becCne operative until II has
been voted uuon BY the people in the
General election Of 1904. The other
-tanges in the election laws Of i'm
u0rtance relate TO the election Of
school officers. County superintend-
ents Of schools VIII hereafter be elect
ed in the spring.
Spent More Money.
The total Of the appropriations
PASSED by the legislature Is about
S650.000 in excess Of the appropria-
tons Of Two years ago. OF this
amount. however. 100000 is taken
from the general fund and added 10
the common school fund OF the state.
OF the balance $4,000 is what II is es-
tiuated 10 viii cost the state 70 make
he valuation OF the railways under
the al valOrem bill, $4,000 for the St.
Louis worlds fair and 100000 IS TO
enlarge the capitol so as 10 accommo- /
date the supreme court The balance
OF the increase was made up for a
large part Of the increase made neCes- T
sary because Of the growth Of the char
table and ueraI institutions.
Railroads Affected.
The principal measure affecting the
railroads which passed was the bill
empowering the commissioner Of rail
roads 70 examine the books and &C
counts Of railroads 20 determine
whether the roads have made truthful
returns OF their gross earnings in this
state for the purpose OF determining
whether they have paid the full
amount OF license fees which they
should pay. This legislature was
principally distinguished because OF
the railroad legislation which It did
not enact The Bill 20 establish a
commission for the regulation of rail-
way rates failed OF passage. The bill
90 establish the rates Of June l.. 1902, .
as the maximum rates in the state, the .
bin 20 prohibit the giving or receiving !
Of rebates and other measures of les b
ser Importance were killed in the up
per house
Advance in Game Laws.
Wisconsin took a long stride for