Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1905-01-24


Governor La Follette's third bien-
NAL message was read by the Gov
ernor in person to the joint session of
the Legislature. 1t was probably the
longest executive message ever deliv-
cred to any legislative body in the
United States The reading took near
ly four hours and much of the message
was omitted for oral delivery, but an
unabridged version in pamphlet form
was handed to the members. II makes
printed document of IA pages. There
Is an average of something over 400
words to the page, which means not
far short of $4,000 words in the mes
sage-and many of them are long
words at that The message is in fact
a treatise, discussing voluminously, If
not exhaustively number of import
ant subjects,
A comprehensive system of State,
county and municipal civil service, the
multiplication of taxes on corporations,
and particularly on railroads and life
insurance companies, and increased APP
preparations for education and general
State institutions, are the leading fea-
lures of the message. The greater
portion of the voluminous document
was devoted to the presentation of
statements and arguments relating to
the railroad rate commission, the Gov
ernor using some of the campaign ma
terial so often called attention to dur
In fho 90
In brief the message recommends
the establishment of a railroad rate
commission with adequate power to
regulate transportation charges, train
service, ard adjust all complaints. It
advocates legislation providing for an
increase in the taxes of electric rail
ways and recommends that these cor
porations be taxed upon the ad valor-
EN- basis instead of paying a license
fee upon earnings. 1t recommends
changes in the laws taxing telegraph
companies and calls attention to the
discrimination practiced against Wis
consin insurance companies in favor
of foreign companies and recommends
q change in the law governing the pay
ment and amount of their licenses.
The message recommends the adoption
of a constitutional amendment favor
ing an income tax and also calls for
the re-enactment of a law providing
for the taxation Of mortgages 1t rec
ommends a State civil service law and
calls for legislation whereby the rec
ords of any department of the State
government can be Investigated.
Opens with Review of Finances.
The message opens with statement
of the condition of the State finances,
saying that on Jan. 1, 1901, there was
a net balance of $4,125.44, with appro-
priations of $3.50, S40.S4 unpaid. Jan. /,
1905, the message says, there was $407,-
506.S5 in the general fund. As an expla-
nation the message says:
''The balance now in the general fund,
while extremely gratifying, conveys no
information of the extraordinary condi-
ton of the State finances which has pre-
vailed during the last two years, con-
dition which enabled the State officers
authorized by law to omit all taxes for
State purposes for the years 1908 and
1904. The only tax levied during these
two years was for the support of the
common schools. This can in no sense
be regarded as a State tax, since no part
of it is used to defray the expenses of
State government. All of the money col
lected under the mill tax, as amended,
and in addition 100000 from the gen.
eral fund, is distributed among the coun-
ties, cities, and villages of the State and
:. g., r. N,,A e L.
schools.
During the years 1903 and 1904 there
was a large surplus in the State treas
ury, and it was clear that the public well
fare demanded that such surplus should
be applied to the State tax levy. 1t was
so applied in accordance with statutory
enactment, with the result that during
this biennial period the people of the
State were relieved of 81 1855, 140 of di-
rect taxes. In addition to this sum, and
for the same period, 100000 was trans
ferred from the general fund to the COM
mon school fund income.
This is the first time in the history of
Wisconsin that the condition of the gen.
eral fund has been such as to warrant
the complete remission of all taxes for
administrative purposes. This was posi-
the State, resulting from a rigid enforce
ment of the statutes requiring payment
of certain fees to the State by collection
from the federal government of Civil
War claims amounting to $460, 1920,
and by the increase of taxes upon the
railroad property of the State"
In addition to this statement the mes
sage says there is S545, $40 in railroad
taxes still to be collected.
He then takes up the question of the
responsibility for the care of the States
funds, saying that early in the year
there will be under the control of the
treasurer about $3,000.000. The message
then says:
',Fhe moneys may all be withdrawn
upon check signed by the State Treasurer
alone and securities all be negotiated by
his simple Endorsement. 1t will be adj
mitted by all that the unlimited power to
dispose of the funds and securities of the
State ought not TO be lodged in a single
individual or officer. A dishonest official
in the absence of a legal check or re-
straint upon him might easily deplete the
treasury and cripple the conduct of pub
lie business. The Legislature cannot act
too swiftly in correcting these defects by
the enactment of efficient laws applica-
bic to the subject.
Strong Against Railroads.
The Governor argues for vigorous en-
forcement of inheritance tax and enact
ment of graduated income tax law; laws
for the protection Of railroad employees
by the Improvement of railroad appara-
tus and By shorter hours of labor; efTec-
tive antitrust legislation; restrictions of
corporations in politics and in lobbying
at the Legislature: provisions for the
possible quick busting of incompetent
or violent municipal officials; a munich
pal referendum system; appointment of a
woman on State board of control, and
a new capitol to cost 5000. 600. to take
the place of that partially destroyed By
FIRE last February.
Gov. La Toilette ridicules the claim
Of the railroads that scientists are re-
ouired for the difficult work of making
rate schedules" and quotes Wisconsin