Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1905-12-27
STATES CHRISTMAS GIFT.
RAILROADS OBEY NEW LAW AND PAY
IN BACK TAXES.
Governor La Follette's Persistence for the
Right Accomplished Resuits-A
Big Lump Of Money.

IL the late special session of the legis-
lature had accomplished no other thing
of moment and Importance to the peo-
pie than to pass the law compelling the
railroads TO pay their taxes, as other
people do, when they are due, instead of
delay aud fighting every step in the
conrts, that one enactment is worth ten
times the cost of such special meeting
Bat that was one of dczsn matters
transacted that will be of service to the
commonwealth and its people 1t was
the thoughtfulness and determination
Of Governor La Toilette that made this
accomplishment possible And this is
but fair index to the labor and ser.
vice he has accomplished for the state
during his five years term in the execu
tive chair The partisan, corporation
controlled prees may howl and talk
eFut "cary pnn," game wsIdens, "
aL1 other unimportant subject in at
tllapss - deceive the citizens, hat the
p7.ln facts and figures stand ont boldly
tic NE goat credit of the governors pur-
pase to bring about substantial results
ref re taking up his labors in the larger
field, the United States senate
The suploined Madison dispatch tells,
in part, the effect of Governor IA Fol
lette persistence In dealing with the
railroads:
The state of Wisconsin is to receive q
Christmas present of $500, 003 81.
The Chicago, Milwaukee and St Paul
and the Chicago and Northwestern rail.
roads, Saturday. notified State Treasurer
John J. Kempf that they would pay
their back taxes for the years 1904 and
1895, which had been levied under the
ad valorem tax law of 1908, but which
the roads up to this time had refused to
pay, substituting therefor an amount
which would have become due under
the old license fee system.
The taxes which under the ad valorem
law the Chicago. Milwaukee 81 st Paul
owes the state amount with interest to
S464 256 "A, and the taxes for 1905 which
the Chicago & Northwestern intends 10
pay amount with interest to s25 s34 n,
making a total of $500, 093. q.
The Chicago 81 Northwestern no
titled Mr.. Kempf that 1t would pay its
back taxes for 1905. amounting with in
terest to s25, s34 r., of which amount
"a, oil Oh is interest The Northweste rns
taxes for 1904 are the subject of litiga-
ton now in the conrts and for that ress
on there Is no payment of these taxes
offered at this time. The North western
did not include in its notice to State
Treasurer Kempf the taxes of the Chi
cago, st Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha
Mr.. Ksmpf was unable T. give the fig.
ures Saturday as to the amounts owed
by the Burlington, the Omaha, the Soo'
Northern Pacific and the Illinois Cen
trail It Is generally believed, however,
that these roads will pay their back tax,
es within a comparatively short period.
This decisiI n on the part of the rail-
roads is largely the result of the new
law passed at the recent extra session,
which provides that railroads must pay
all taxes assessed against them before
being allowed to sue in resistance to
taxes, but making clear the right of the
roads to ATTACK the law after payment,
and recover them back from the state If
successful in the ,urts.