The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1909-01-28
THURSDAY, JANUARY 2S, 1909.

The city of Superior is making a
campajgn before the Legislature In favor
of a change in the laws of taxation so
tina, the different counties shall receive
a portion If the taxes assessed against
railway companies in proportion to the
vane of the railway property III the
different counties. The city of Mantle
woe, two years ago advocated similar
measure. The fairness Of the proposed
change cannot be questioned. Many
cities now have within their boundaries
much and valuable railway property
The cities must furnish fire and police
protection TO this property. must main
tain its street lighting for the benefit OF
this prOperty, must maintain its schools
for the children Of those occupied upon
the railways and in the railway shops,
and often must support the poor who by
misfortune have become unable to long
er earn their livelihood from the rail
WAYS Although the fact that railway
property is within the boundaries OF
cities aud imposes "A large local expense
upon cities, no return in the shape Of tax
es is derived from the property. All the
money Is paid over to the state. As
matter Of fairness, railway property
ought 20 contribute its fair share 10 the
support of the local government and NJ
is shown by a pamphlet issued by Nh.
Lyons, the city attorney of Superior,
the state of Wisconsin is the only state
in the union where no taxes are collect.
ed upon railway property for the sup.
port Of the local government
The state tax commission will probably
oppose this amendment. The claim is
made by the state administration that
all the money derived from the tax OF
railways, insurance companies, express
companies and telephone companlea If
needed for the maintenance OF the state
government 1t should not be "a ques
ton Of what II needed for the support
Of the state government because If
enough does not remain from these
sources, sufficient money can be collect
ed by n direct tax against all the prop.
erty in the state 1t should be the pur
pose of the tax commission AMI the
Legislature to equitably distribute the
burden Of taxation. The state admins
tration should not maintain an unjust
distribution of the burden of taxation
for the only purpose Of being able to GO
ont and tell the people during each
campaign thar the people of the state
pay no state tax. our tax system has
lnent and now whenever the state ad
mini-tratlon Is being criticised for its
extravaganza OF for t. incorporation
Of money the answer Is Immediately
made 1T Is none Of your money the
railway companies and insurance com
pauip- pay the bills so what do you
care. But who pays the railway com.
panle- aud the insurance companies
II seems to NJ that 1t woutd be great
deal better and it certainly would be an
incentive to economy and care in MAX.
ing appropriations to have the people
feel that they were directly concerned in
the state expenses The state govern.
mrut should not 5e the government Of
the railroads and other public service
corporations 1t should he the govern.
ment Of all the people Of the state and
all Of the people Of the state ought TO
feel that they are directly concerned in
all Of the affairs Of the state. We be.
lleye that if there was state tax levied
against all the property Of the state
each year the people would pay more at
tentiun 10 the extravaganza of the state
administration and the state administra.
ton would fee! that il was more direct.
ly accountable to the people.
We do not advocate reduction in the
tax against railway companies, but we
do believe that Il distribution of the taxes
20 AZ TO give to the various localities IN
equitable portion Of the tax upon rail.
way property ard let the deficiency in
the state budget, if any, be made up by
"A general tax against all the property in
the state
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