Ladysmith news. [volume] (Ladysmith, Wis.) 1906-1907, 1907-01-19
CHIEF POINTS IN THE MESSAGE

Taxation Recommends repeal of
law exempting credits from taxation;
urges constitutional amendments pro-
viding for an income tax.
State Railway Commission-Recom
mends that the law be amended to in
clude urban as well as interurban and
steam railway lines.
Local Public Service Corporations
Urges revision of the statutes to bring
about state control; that no local fran
chise run for more than twenty years;
that control of such corporations be
that enabling" legislation allowing
municipal ownership be passed.
Insurance - Urges legislation to
protect the rights of the people"
State ons-Recommends the
purchase of more land, so that labor
may be provided for inmates; an APP
preparation of $4,000 to complete
dollhouse at Waupun, and $4,000 for
dormitories at the home for the feeble
minded at Chippewa Falls.
Labor and Industry-FavOrs legisla-
ton to relieve congested population
Would build trade school in Milwau-
kee.
Banking - Recommends legislation
which will place commercial banks un-
der the same restrictions as national
banks.
The Primary Endorsed as a sue
cess.
Gov. James o. Davidson, in his mes
sage which was read by the chief
clerks of the senate and assembly in
their respective houses, takes rank
as one of the strongest reform gov
errors this state has ever elected.
He advocates legislation to enable
cities to establish public utilities and
recommends the municipal ownership
of gas and lighting plants. The whole
trend of his message is for state con-
troll Of interpretations.
He boldly asks for greater an1 more
sweeping powers for the state railroad
rate commission. He believes the COM
mission ought to have jurisdiction over
street railways, SO that the commits
sion may be able to regulate fares. He
also recommends a commission Of
three to regulate gas companies at the
expense Of the corporations them
selves. He asks for stringent statutes
relative to watered stock.
Following is synopsis of the mes
sage, some of the important topics
treated and the recommendations
More Work Yet to Do.
In recent years this state has accom-
plished much in the way of bringing
public service corporations under state
control and compelling them to give
the people better service at more rea-
sonable rates than before obtained.
While the advance made is in every
way commendable. the work along this
| line is far from complete. The people
are supreme What they want in just
| legislation they will have, and if OBJ
stacles come in their path, no matter
| in what form they present themselves
| they will be swept aside.
| 1t would seem that the evils of the
|
property are inherent and that great
er reliance should be placed upon cor
porate, income and inheritance taxes.
The mortgage exemption law has en-
tirely failed to meet the expectation of
| it's advocates, and the results of its en-
action have improved every argument
advanced in favor Of the exemption OF
credits. It's only result has been to
exempt the owner of the credit with
out any corresponding advantage to
the borrower. 1t has increased the tax
rate upon all other property except
| that of the mortgage and has demon
allied our local assessments and ere
ated a feeling of discomfort and lnlus-
tice from all classes whose personal
property is reached for taxation. me
interest rate has been somewhat hlgn-
er during the three years since the
passage of the law than during the
three years preceding. There is GER
tainly no reason or logic in exempting
mortgages drawing high rate OF IN
terest and taxing money which when
idle secures the owner no income.
Income Tax Recommended.
I wish to urge upon the legislature
| the Importance of constitutional
amendment providing for an income
tax. Such a tax is unsurpassed as
leveier of the public burden
The inheritance tax law passed IN
1903 has already proved to be most
fruitful source of state revenue. The
experience of the last two years with
this law has emphasized the fact that
some effective state supervision is es-
sential to a proper collection of the
tax.
The work accomplished by the state
railway commission during the one
and one-half years since it's creation
more than iustifies the long struggle
for it's establishment. The law. how
ever. should be so amended as to ex-
tend to the commission lurid1ctlon
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