Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1907-01-16

anu O.o1 per cent IN the same
periods. The act further confirms
the view that the rate of taxation
does not affect the interest rate TO
the extent claimed by the advocates
of exemption.
The inconsistency of lie present
law Is demonstrated in the TACT that
it exempts from taxation the best
securities while all other credits and
money remain taxable. There ia
certainly no reacon or logic in ex-
empting mortgages drawing nigh
rate of interest and taxing money
which when idle secures the ownar
no income" declared the governor.
Therefore the governor recommend
ed that chapter 37S, laws of 1903 he
repealed and the law be restored as
it was before the enactment of said
chapter. In restoring the former
law the balance of credits above in.
debtedness which should be assess
able and taxable should incllie
moneys as we'll as credits.
Income Tax Advocated.
The governor urges upon the legis-
lature the Importance of the constitu-
tional amendment providing for an
income tax. A resolution looking to
such an amendment was adopted by
the Legislature in 1905 and will re-
quire legislative approval before be
ing submitted to the people at the
next general election Such a tax,
the governor thinks, is unsurpassed
as a leyeller of the public burden. It
most nearly satisfies, with proper en-
forcement, the conception OF an ideal
tax
inheritance Tax Also.
The governor declares that the in
has proved to be a most fruitful
source of revenue. During 1906
there was collected S229,919.54, ana
the income from this source is con-
stantly growing. 1t is matter OF
much qualification that this large
sum is collected without any burden
to the people of the state, for it IS
paid by those who are amply able to
do so out of funds, the accumulation
of which has been entirely without
their efforts. Considerable difficulty
however, has been experienced in the
enforcement of the law. The secre-
tary of state, while charged with its
administration, has neither sufficient
authority nor legal assistance to
properly attend to this matter. Since
the tax commission is, by law and ex-
perience, better equipped to enforce
this measure, being organized under
statute elastic enough to permit
of the special work which is demand
ed for the proper enforcement OF all
taxation measures the governor re-
commends that the administration of
the inheritance tax law be transfer
red to that commission.
The experience of the last two
years has emphasized the fact that
some state supervision is essential
to a proper collection OF the tax.
There is a eneral belief that through
the differentiation of estates by 10
cal officers and the concealment OF
property, the state has been defraud-
ed of large sums. The state should
be represented by an attorney at
county courts when estates subject
to this law are in process of admins
tration at legislation authorizing the
employment of such an attorney is
recommended.
State Railway Commission.
| The governor continues that the
work accomplished by the railway
commission during the one and one
half years since its creation more
than iustifes its establishment. Up
to December l, 92 formal complaints
were made and filed with the com
mission. of which 81 were disposed OF
without a ruling. In addition, 557
informal complaints We're considered.
Transportation rates on grain, cattle,
coal. lumber and cheese have been
reduced and extensive original IN
vestigations have been conducted in
the field of passenger charges, maxi
mum freight rates, classlficauonS,
! weights and accommodations furnish
ed to the travelling public which Will
| De the OASIS Ci Important I0llu5S AZ
| the future.
Street Railway Regulation.
BY far the most important recon-
mendation for the legislature atten
! ton is the request for a more ex-
plicit definition of it's powers ana
duties concerning the regulation OF
street railway companies. Under
the construction by the attorney gen.
eral and he commission. the law at
present confers jurisdiction to regu-
late any street railway company
whose lines pass beyond the limits
of the city in which it operates. This
right OF regulation eXtneds not oni
to the urban business of the company
but also to the business OF the COM
pany outside of the city. AS re-
suit the commission appears to nave
the right to regulate the entire bust.
ness of a street railway company
where any art of it's lines extend oe-
yond the limits of the city but no
power of supervision where the ope-
rations of the company are confined
strictly to urban business. in other
words the jurisdiction of the comm.s-
sion is made to depend entirely upon
the fact of part line extending De-