Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1907-01-22

Taxation.
Since the passage of the mortgage ex-
emption law in 1903 the united efforts OF
the tax commission and of many able ana
conscientious supervisors of assessment
have been exerted in vain to secure proper
assessment of personal property. Inc
reason for this failure is the great dill
Guilty experienced in listing it. Ii all
property were reached by the assessor and
assessed at a uniform though inadequate
rate, no serious injustice would ensue,
but when property is entirely lett IRON
the assessment rolls or is assessed at
great differentiation, the defective work
of the local assessor results IN the pun
ishment of the innocent for the guilty..
The fundamental principle OF taxation,
that each citizen should contribute to the
cost of government in proportion to MS
ability to pay, finds little practical dem.
onstration in the present method Oh
reaching personality.
As regards the taxation OF personal
property, the results in Wisconsin are
the same as the experience of other
States. Able economists and students
of taxation in this country and abroad
have criticized this taxation as archalc
and have heaped invective upon lnVectlVe,
while in some governments direct eHorts
to reach this form of property have been
entirely relnquished. 1t would seem that
the evils of the present system OF taxing
personal property are inherent and that
a grelter reliance should be placed upon
corporate, income and inheritance taxes.
The inconsistency of the present law
is further demonstrated in the fact that
it exempts from taxation the very best
securities while all other credits and
money remain taxable. There is certainly
no reason or logic in exemptiag mort
cages drawing a high rate of interest and
taxing money which when idle secures
the owner no income. The present law
violates the true rule of taxation that
every citizen should contribute to the sup
port of the government according to his
ability to pay as measured by the prop
erty he owns. | therefore recommend
that chapter 3TS. laws of 1903, be re-
pealed and the law be restored as it was
before the enactment of said chapter. In
restoring the former law the balance of
credits above indebtedness which should
be asseSsable and taxable should include
moneys as well as credits.
Income Tax.
l wish to urge upon the Legislature
the Importance of the constitutional
amendment providing for an income tax.
A resolution looking to such an amend
ment was adopted by the Legislature in
1908. and will require your approval be-
fore being submitted to the people at the
next general election. Such a tax is
unsurpassed as a leveller of the public
burden. 1t most nearly satisfies. with
proper enforcement the conception of an
ideal tax. The income tax should aim to
reach such property as otherwise escapes,
and to compel contribution to the public
funds from those who are best able TO
pay them.
Inheritance Tax.
The inheritance tax law. as passed in
1908, has already proved to be most
fruitful source OF State revenue. The OK
perience of the last t;To years with this
law has emphasized the fact that some eff
fective State supervision is essential to
a proper collection of the tax.
State Railway Commission.
The work accomplished by the State
railway commission during the brief pc
riod of one and one-half years since its
creation pursuant TO chapter So of the
laws of 1908, more than justihes the long
struggle for its establishment. The dis
patch with which this commission has
proceeded 10 unravel the many problems
growing out of our intricate tranSporta-
ton system the painStaking thoroughness
which has characterized its laborS. and
the speedy relief which has been granted
TO all interests in answer TO complain as
varied as they were numerous. must chal-
lenge the admiration of the entire State
The work of this commission being high
liz technical in character. il is a source
of much qualification that its present
membership is SO strongly equipped for
iCs task. not only with practical expert
ence and knowledge. but also with such
expert technical skill for each special
line of Investigation and decision as TO be
completely in sympathy with the impor-
tant interests which it was created TO
protect and TO harmonic.
Transportation rates on grain. cattle.
coal lumber and cheese have been reduc-
ed. resulting in material savings to the
public. Extensive original Investigations
have been conducted in the 6eld of pas
SenSer charges, maximum freight rates.
claSSihcationS. weights and accommoda-
tons furnished 10 the travelling public,
which viii be the basis of important rul-
inss in the future.
While their operation under the law
has revealed no serious weakness in its
structure. but on the other hand has
demonstrated the excellence and eonsci-
entiousneSs OF the work done in in pre-
paratlon, yet the commissioners desire leg
iSatlve action 10 meet certain conditions
not existing at the time the law was
passed or not then anticipated. to har-
monize it with other statutes relating TO
corporations and which have been upon
the statute books for many years.
BY far the most important recommend
alton for the Legislatures attention is
the request for more explicit definition
of its powers and duties concerning the
regulation of street railway companies.
Whether the power and duty to regulate
all public service corporations. including
street railway companies. shall be lodged
with the railway commission. is one of
the problems which this Legislature
should solve. | respectfully recommend
to your honorable body that this law be
80 amended as to extend TO the commits
SON jurisdiction over all transportation
companies of the State. regardless of the
location of their lines with respect TO
municipal limits. or the character of their
service